Michael for President!

Since we are less than excited about our options for the next President, we offer you a new, fresh choice . . . Michael! We went to the White House Easter Egg Roll on last Monday and Michael was pulling on this fence trying to get in. We can only assume that he has a few suggestions for W. or that he would like to live there someday. (Actually, he was enjoying the toe-tapping tunes of the military band on the balcony, the little music lover).

It was cold and the boys missed their afternoon nap to be there, but we didn't even have to wait in line for our tickets and we couldn't miss the opportunity. Here we are with the Easter Bunny. Sam liked pulling on his whiskers but he didn't seem to mind!


The boys got to color in their own bunny ears but were more interested in eating the crayons, so we didn't do that for very long. The actual Easter Egg Roll requires children who walk in a straight line. We didn't do that, but let them run around on the lawn. Sam made a bee line for the White House itself and both he and Michael danced to the music of the band on the balcony.


This year's theme was literacy and we were going to stay to hear the Secretary of Agriculture read a book to the kids, but we were starting to get looks from people wondering why our kids were crying, so we left. In our goodie bags we got the famous collectible Egg Roll wooden eggs and a book for each of the boys.


Here I'm explaining to my little boy that, unfortunately, he has to wait until he's the legal age to run for president and live in the big white house with his own band to dance to whenever he wants. For now he'll have to settle for my Ray Charles cd in the family room. Sorry, Bud.


But if you're left without a candidate in November, consider writing in Michael's name and hoping for some fresh ideas in the big, White House!

*Adorable Easter outfits courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa O. Thank you!

Four Car Seats, Three Moms: A Trip to the Zoo

A couple of weeks ago I went to the National Zoo with 2 friends and their babies. It was one of those days near 70 degrees and we just couldn't fathom staying inside. I love the National Zoo. They have a lot of animals I've never seen before. The monkeys are outside once in a while walking above the sidewalks between two parallel hanging ropes. Here are some highlights.

Have you ever seen a real, live panda? There are three at our zoo. A daddy, mommy, and baby, of course. They are great fun. Once we saw the baby up in a tree scratching its leg. I don't know how it was going to get down from there. This is the daddy panda eating some bamboo for lunch.

For the Sandra Boynton fans, here's "But not the Hippopotamus." They are enormous!


Our friends with the boys in front of the flamingos. It's getting a little harder to keep the boys happy in the stroller these days. Since they started walking they want to get out and go where they want to go - always 2 different directions, of course.


We got to see them feed the elephants before they went back out to enjoy the sunshine.

Michael Bear

Since I last posted I have been called to teach early morning seminary two days a week - just scripture mastery - and it's making me very, very tired. Imagine jet lag every Monday morning. I teach Mondays and Tuesdays and just about recover from feeling like I've been hit over the head with a 2"x4" in time for the weekend. Naps have taken on a renewed priority and blogging, well, not so much. Seminary is great, though. On the days when I am very prepared, I come home feeling so happy. I know it's important for me to study the scriptures more and the students really need to be spiritually fed before they go off to the great and spacious buildings they call high schools.

So, fair is fair and I took these pictures of Michael right after the ones of Sam, but haven't gotten around to posting them.That being said, here is the photo shoot of Michael! Josh did a better job that I did at capturing some of his classic moods.

This one is the adorabley sweet look he gives us when he is happy and content, which is most of the time. He was understandably pleased with himself for getting and eating a bite off of the fork.

This one is for Josh's family. You will all understand. A "chip off the old block" and Pepaw's kindred spirit with the ketchup bottle.Here's a shot where he looks like he's about 40 years old. Sometimes he gives me these looks and I cannot treat him like a baby. He's a grown up inside that little body.


Here he is growling like any one of a dozen animals who growl: dinosaur, lion, bear, giraffe (well, what does a giraffe say?)

Michael loves learning new things. Especially the names of things. I think he's going to be an early talker. He still likes to snuggle, be chased around, and eat potatoes in any form. He pats his brother on the head when they're in the stroller together and loves his stuffed animal monkey like a baby. He makes friends easily and flirts with abandon. He has learned to dance by walking backwards quickly and bobbing his head up and down like a head-banger. He loves reading books and dancing with me before he goes to sleep. He's our social "animal" and we couldn't love him more!