Trip to New Jersey

Me and the kids drove up to New Jersey to Katie and Doug's house on Sunday night so we could be there for Meghan, Riley and Piper's visit. They live in NY and we became friends when our husbands were all attending business school. We hadn't seen Meghan or Riley since we moved to GA almost 2 years ago, but it didn't feel like that long since we get to watch picture and video updates on Facebook and blog. It is so nice that today's technology can allow us to be so much more connected than we were once able. I think the girls enjoyed, as Meghan put, "having their virtual friends come to life."



This was also the first time Katie, Meghan and I got to meet each other's newest addition. Piper and Jack were born two days apart. Piper on August 12th and Jack on August 14th. They are both 7 months now. Mark is just about to turn 4 months. Piper and Jack sat and played a bit with each other, it was very cute.
Jack was very determined to get the cow that Piper was playing with.



Piper was definitely living up to the stereotype that girls talk more than boys. Here she is chattering away, and even seems to be using the cow as a telephone. Meghan and Riley are teaching her well. :)



We even managed to get a picture of the 6 of them together. Ok, we did have to bribe the older ones with M&Ms. :) This picture cracks me up. Isabella and Jack both have something in their mouth, Riley and Piper are all smiles, and Gianna and Mark are both similarly unimpressed with the show that is being put on for them. :)

Washington DC and the Circus!

So our first week in Northern VA was definitely a challenge as we all adjusted to our new arrangement. Nick is in Scranton, PA Monday through Thursday and then he drives down here on Thursday evening and then he works from his dad's office on Friday and then drives back to PA on Sunday night. It works for now.

On Wednesday of last week I decided we all needed to get out of the house and have a little adventure. We drove in to D.C. and went to the Museum of Natural History. I hadn't been in there in quite sometime and so it felt like a brand new experience to me. I know I have been there but I honestly didn't remember anything except the Hope Diamond. Isabella loved all the animals and the dinosaur bones and she loved the giant whale suspended from the ceiling. It was a freezing cold day, so cold I actually turned in my flip flops for shoes before getting out of the car (I know, it must have been really cold). We stayed there for about 2 hours or so before heading back to be home for afternoon nap. It was a good day.

We did spend a lot of time hanging around the house last week too though. Isabella was sticking stickers all over herself and then decided Jack should join in the fun!





On Friday we went to the mall just to get out of the house. Isabella had a little breakdown in the parking lot saying she needed to "go to the white mall" and then describing all these things about our mall in GA. I admit, I got a little upset too, because of course I was missing our old home too. We mustered up the courage to head in to the new mall :) and we had a lot of fun. We rode this little train that they have that runs through the mall. Then we went up to the food court and got some lunch and then Isabella rode the carousel up there. She loved that and it was only 1.50 for a ride. I think she found she liked the new mall just fine.
On Sunday we went to the Big Apple Circus. It a non-profit organization and they put on a great circus and do special programs for children as well. It was the perfect size circus for Isabella and Bello the clown was really good. He was the star of their show. Apparently his family has been in the circus business for 7 generations, over 200 years!! Wow! They use dogs in their show as well and all the dogs the use are rescue dogs from shelters all over the country. Very cool I thought!










As you can see we tried to keep busy and all in all it was a good week. We have had great weather so far this week so we spent yesterday at the park and hope to do so again today!

Georgia on my mind... (oh and Jack is sitting!!)

Well we are officially settled in Virginia and living with Nick's parents. They are so kind to take us in and make room for us here. Nick has started his new job so he has been gone since Monday. We miss him but we know it is going to be temporary. I miss Georgia. I miss my friends and my house. Here is some more of our last bit in Georgia.

We went to the zoo in Atlanta one last time before we left. Isabella enjoyed the petting zoo. She watched a goat poop and seemed very interested in that part of it. :)





We also went to The Varsity, an Atlanta institution, for burgers, chili dogs and onion rings. It was delicious and fun!Our last weekend we spent with our friends Brad and Bridget. This was from Sunday at their house. They had a kick toy that Jack just loved.

Here are a few others of Isabella and Nathan
Me and Bridget

Last bath in our old house
Savoring the last days in GA

Now here we are in VA. Jack is officially sitting up on his own now. He does pretty well and can maintain the sitting position for a while before giving up and wanting to relax. So we set up some pillows to catch him if he fell.

Aunt Jenn came over and braided Isabella's hair on Saturday. It looked really cute.
Isabella had olive hands at Sunday night dinner thanks to her daddy who remembers eating olives off his fingers as a favorite pastime from his childhood.

She tried to eat them but, much like mommy, she doesn't think black olives taste very good. :P