Air And Space Museum

So our long awaited vacation arrived. We left early afternoon from Atlanta and got into Washington, DC very late on Friday morning. We got up, got ourselves together and got ready to go tour the Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Mom took care of Nicole and Locke while the Lous went and toured the rockets, airplanes and such in the museum. They had changed quite a few things around and had added some new things too. LV really liked all these different carriers and we think enjoyed himself there. The picture of him with the Starship Enterprise was downstairs in the basement in the museum where they had a ton of educational 'toys' for kids. This is the model used in the Star Trek series.

Even though the little guy couldn't get much out of all the facts dad was telling him about each craft in there, LV enjoyed telling everyone about the airplanes, astronauts and rocketships he saw there. We cannot wait to go back to DC and experience this all over again!!!

Moose at Six Months

Nicole had her six month appointment already. She weighed in at 16 lbs 14 ounces and a lengthy 27 inches. That put her at 50% for weight and 90th for height. Again we are puzzled where we got such a long girl. I think its the taller genes from mom's side showing through which is odd because mom is only 5'2!!! She's growing like a weed though. Every day she tries to say more and more with her baby babble. She is sitting up for the most part. We're getting better at that in the bathtub which makes it easier on mom and also her bedtime schedule has been going a lot smoother. She has been going to bed a little earlier then her brother and then waking up once during the night which has made it easier on mom!!

Reptile Day

We had the chance to go to Fernbank's "Reptile" Day. There the Georgia Herpatological Society brought in their snakes, lizards, geckos and turtles for kids to see and some of them to touch. LV enjoyed looking at the various snakes and touching the turtles. We didn't get a great shot of him petting a lizard but we did get one of him touching a razer snake that a woman had around her neck.

LV also enjoyed the dinosaur bones in the museum commenting that the dinosaurs were asleep! Well that is one way to look at it.

TN Aquarium

This week we had the chance to catch up with Mom's cousin Rebekah in Chattanogga. Mom had always wanted to see the TN Aquarium and she had her moment! Rebekah was technically on vacation from her kids but enjoyed taking care of ours while we strolled through the place. Its really an amazing aqarium if you ever get the chance to see it!!!



Boris the Sturgeon

Hyacinth Macaw

Rebekah and Nicole

Rebeckah & LV at the spider crab tank

The whole gang!

I love my bumbo

But mom wants me to sit up.

Nicole as been trying hard to keep up with LV. She's been trying to balance sitting up and manages to turn at different angels while on her belly. We've started her on baby food at 5 months and she is NOT a picky eater which is fantastic. Her brother was the same way too. Then he got picky, but now he's not so much.

Reading with Dad.

I'm much more wigglier then my brother EVER was!!!

All Grown up

LV has hit a major milestone in our book. We have achieved great potty training thus far from him and are excited. Its a tough process and honestly I could start a potty training camp, I could make millions. We are really happy he has turned this corner. Everything was mostly on his terms and has been going great so far!!!!

4th of July

Fourth of July is supposed to be more of a holiday and relaxing day but it sure does not seem like it with two children in tow.

Three major churches held a 4th of July Freebie event that included free food, free inflatables for kids and a free car show. So we headed down there and first saw our neighbor's car on display at the car show. 90% of the time we've seen this car its been in his driveway covered up but we now know why. His refinishing on this vehicle is amazing and he enjoys showing it off at local car shows.

Next we let LV climb all over the inflatables that were there for free. He enjoyed it for a good hour but the lack of nap during the day didn't help. We've been working on him with potty training so the nap has gone by the wayside. He is adventurous trying to climb up the steeper inflatables. I swear he would be happy living in one of those things!!!

That night we hung out with our good friends Joanna, Brett, Abigail and William to watch fireworks in their neck of the woods. The older kids enjoyed the fireworks. LV was really wiped afterwards though having had no nap so that didn't make it easier but he quietly fell asleep after all the hubub died down and we were back in the car!!! It was a great day all around though!!! Happy Birthday USA!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Congrats to Lila & Lenny!!!!

If you want an experience...Go to a Buffett Concert

(To quote "Knocked up") Dad and I have been trying to go to Jimmy Buffett Concerts for as long as we have dated (oh about 11 years or so ago). The whole point of going to a Jimmy Buffett Concert is not the concert itself but the wonderful tailgating beforehand. We had the chance to have Grandpa and Grandma P watch the children while we enjoyed a day of festivities with our friends CHristy, Lisa and Matt as well as many many many Parrotheads!!!

The NJ Invasion

Not meant as a scary invasion or anything...

LV and Nicole's grandparents from NJ arrived for Nicole's baptism and since we needed some sitters for the Jimmy Buffett Concert and Lila's wedding, they agreed graciously to come to Georgia to watch the kids. Even though we were all in the same house for a week, it felt like we never saw that with all the activities going on all week. The kids and grandparents did make it to the aquarium. I've posted some pictures on the right hand side there for everyone to enjoy....

Nicole's Baptism

Nicole's Baptism:

We gathered up the families this weekend to share with us a special moment in Nicole's life - her baptism into the Church. LV had been baptized by Lou's cousin, Fr. Louis Papera and I had always wanted my second child to be baptized by my dear high school friend and classmate, Fr. David Oldham. Fr. Oldham and I go wayyyyy back - 1st grade! We have remained close friends since and I had the opportunity 5 years ago to attend his ordination into the Holy Orders of Priesthood. Fr. Dave agreed to come out and baptize Nicole. And we were blessed to have so many friends and family join us on that very special (and very hot) day. We met on Saturday morning for the Baptism then headed back to our house for lunch. We had 25 people total which was a perfect crowd. I have attached some photos from some family members, our camera and friend's that captured the moment. Enjoy!!!!

Funny Pictures

These are just too funny NOT to post.

This is my son fighting a nap - and the nap winning...

The Great Train Race

The last weekend in April, Mom and the kids went to TN for a few important events. Months ago, LVP and mom went to see Kate run the Columbus 1/2 Marathon. Mom caught the Marathon Cheer spririt and promised to go to Nashville, TN if Kate decided to run the Nashville Marathon. Well fast forward 6 months and there we were driving up to TN to see Kate. So the plan was to see Kate on Saturday run then spend the night in Chattannooga to see the BIG Thomas the Tank Engine at the Tenneseee Valley Railroad Museum. Well, I didn't get my act together and a la Hervert style, booked my tickets and they were sold out for Sunday. Luckily work was really slow, so we all piled in the new car, and drove to Chattanooga to see Thomas on FRIDAY.






Its amazingly gorgeous on the drive up there. As soon as we set foot outside the car, it started to rain! Not to fear, the rain let up and we were able to enjoy the rest of our day there. Thomas's Day out is really a neat little event. The big thing is to ride the big Thomas. But there are other trains and things to look at there at the TN Valley Railroad Museum. There are trains, a petting zoo, a bouncy moonwalk, and of course a gift shop.

After that we headed to Nashville. We only got to see Kate 10 minutes because we had to get to bed early and she had to get to bed early. So we got settled into our bed at the hotel and got some good sleep before the big race the next day.


The next morning it was rainy (even worse for the runners who had to stand in the rain) and we agreed to post ourselves near the 3 and the 8 mile marker at the race. We did see Kate both times! It was really fantastic. We missed her again at the finished line but caught up with her in the family area. One of these times we'll figure out the finish line properly!!!! I don't know if the kids were into it as much as I was but it was still fun. Aunt Kate did really well and the weather did hold up. Later we went out for brunch and headed on back to Atlanta.

Joe Cool

....to dust off an old Charlie Brown refence. LV has found his sunglasses buried deep in his closet. Mind you this is the opinion of a toddler. Some days you really do want to wear the hats and sunglasses - some days you don't. So LV is sporting his sunglasses lately. The weather warmed up again, so we've been trying to get outside as much as possible. LV enjoyed doing circles in the driveway on his airplane. He does enjoy walks which are harder on mom since she's lugging two of them around. But its all in good fun for the most part.