In D.C.

 

 

DAYS IN D.C.

 

Theresa (9), Me, Eleanore (7), Dad, Laura(5)

 

 

 

The first day we took a bus to Pentagon City Mall to hop on the Metro  into Washington DC to visit the Capitol building. The girls loved the Metro going on underground and then above ground over the Potomac was very exciting.  I think that by the end of the trip the novelty of the Metro had worn off.


We hooked up with my brother and SIL for a tour that was given by an intern.  The  tour wasn't all the great I think next time we don't bother contacting our Representative for a private tour.  The tour guides for the regular tour had mic systems and pointed out lots of things our didn't.

We had a quick snack at the visitors center and headed for home. 

The apartment living room, when at home the girls played legos or tablets.

 

 

Over the next few days we visited Air and Space and Natural History Museum we picked those because I felt they would hold the interest of the girls the best.  So after 5 trips to D.C. I still havn't been to the zoo to see the pandas.

 

 

  
We did sneak into the Library of Congress on Monday President's Day. I'm so glad for a smartphone I saw that the floor was actually open to the public on President's Day so we made sure to get there. It was pretty neat being on the floor and getting to go inside the card catalog room and book storage rooms.

Theresa in the card catalog room

Theresa and Laura with President Lincoln

 

 

AirPlane Ride

THE FLIGHT

 

 

 

I took Theresa(9), Eleanore (7), and Laura (5) to Washington D.C. over President's Day weekend to visit the deployed hubby.  Our flight was delayed 1 day due to a winter storm on the east coast. Delta canceled us on the flight leaving Bismarck which was great. I was so glad we didn't leave Bismarck and end up sleeping in Minneapolis airport.  

 

I will admit I was a bit frazzled by rebooking of the flight. I didn't like the option Delta provided of flying the next day to Minneapolis then to Detroit with a 4 hour layover before heading to D.C.  

After waiting a few hours I was able to get onto Delta's website and rebook to leave early from Bismarck and to have my big layover in Minneapolis then fly to D.C. 

 

It worked out great except that D.C. airport wasn't even open when we left Minneapolis in the late evening.  The pilot said " I'm assured that the plane will have a place to land when we get there." not the most comforting words. We ended up as the 1st flight in to D.C. in over 24 hours. I believe that our plane made a very boarding and got back in the sky before the airport was closed again.

 

The girls enjoyed the thrill of flying in the sky and the fun of an empty Minneapolis airport. It was crazy empty because no flights were coming in from the east coast.  

 

 

The story to be continued  ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting for bags in D.C.

Quick Takes Vol.56

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It was carnival time at the local Catholic High School so I'm taking it easy on the writing this weekend. I'm just posting up some pictures. 

Laura on Blackie! 

 

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Eleanore winning at Plinko

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Anne picking a colored pong for a prize. 

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Theresa used 4 tickets to get some food.

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Micheal with Eleanore's prize sheep.

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Mr. Man and me!

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We went 1 week to hour between visits to the Today Clinic in town. On Monday I attend a meeting at Head Start and girls were in gym with a babysitter after meeting I found Laura in tears. Her right arm hurt when she tried to move it. I drove to ER but, didn't go in Laura kept saying she was OK decided to take everyone home and do snack and bed and then take her back with out other kids.  She went right to her bed and was asleep before Anne finished snack. 

Next morning still couldn't move arm so off to clinic we went. turns out she had a case of Nursemaid elbow. Her arm was dislocated from elbow joint. The X-ray tech popped it back into place on accident during the X-Rays.  She was all better just that quick.

Laura at clinic

Mr. Man relaxing waiting for Dr.  he weighed in on Monday at 14lbs. 15oz.

 

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Quick Takes Vol. 55

 

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Saturday night the Team braved to cold to head to the YMCA for family fun night. First stop the old gym for some jump rope, balance balls, and running around

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Second stop was the track around the new gym for an obstacle course. There was rolling on a mat, stick horse barrels, climb through a tunnel and finally scooter boards.

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What kid event isn't complete without the dreaded face painting?  I normally give a big NO to face paint, but for some reason I didn't at the Y. Big mistake. We had paint on our clothes and hands and for some reason the black on Laura's face got crusty and it kind of flaked off. 

 Laura as a butterfly

 

 

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Anne with a sparkly heart, she may not have understood what was going on but, she did seem happy when we got home and washed it off.

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Tuesday brought us to the clinic for a sore throat for Eleanore.  We got placed in the exam room pretty quick but, then it took for ever.  I know this because we finished Sesame Street and Daniel Lion before we were done in the exam room.  The verdict was sore throat and some penicillin.

Can't share the chair to watch TV

 

 

Michael enjoyed the waiting for the doctor

 

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Wednesday our parish had a Souper Bowl of Caring party.  It was great fun, we arrived 20 minutes after it started and all the Chicken Soup, Hamburger Soup, and some other kind were already gone.  I was happy to have Chili and Anne's leftover Potato.  The girls found some sandwiches to eat and cookies.  Local charities were invited to come and have a booth setup with an activity and info about the charity.  We had fun at the local Head Start booth

The activity was cup bubbles it was really cool and the kids loved blowing all the bubbles of course. Theresa did a quick tie blanket for the local animal shelter. Eleanore and Anne colored place mats for homeless shelter.

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I have been leaving Mr. Michael on the floor more even if he fusses. On Wednesday night he was fussing so I pulled him off his boppy pillow to just be right on his tummy on the floor and went back to working in the kitchen I came back and he turned himself over.  There has not been a repeat of the roll a few close ones yesterday but no full turnovers.  I guess getting mad and kicking your feet and legs is the way to learn to roll for this guy.

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Quick Takes Vol.54

 

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Eleanore lost three teeth in the span of 2 weeks. She lost first big front tooth during on Sunday during Caroline Panther game.

The next one came out the next Sunday right before lunch. The Tooth Fairy didn't make to leave a gift or to take the tooth. On Monday night Ella received a nice note and 2.00 for her tooth.

Eleanore missing teeth

 



Tooth three came out on Tuesday night with no trauma. This time Tooth Fairy stopped the same night and left another $2.00 with a note

 

Eleanore missing three

 

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I got to watch my niece and of course I had to take shot of the cousins on the floor

Micheal 4m and Helen 7m

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I finally purchased some bathroom decor.

Shower curtain

Actually the coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase in Bed and Bath plus 25% of using Cartwheel app narrowed down my choice to Target and the need to buy before the coupons expired.  I liked this rug and picked the other stuff to go with it.

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Finally remembered to grab the DVD and the pictures from the Nutcracker performance.

My two dancers

 

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Laura Jo as a cupid

 

 

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Eleanore Mae as Sugar Plum Fairy Attendant

 

 

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I read two books on organizing kids. Both were geared for middle school and high school age and more for keeping track of papers from school and homework.Both books had very similar ideas and suggestions. I checked the books out from library because the books were just setting out and I was hopping that I would get some ideas for my home.  I learned the following:

- Left handed people may not like writing in binders and spiral notebooks because the hit the spines. Solution is to use legal pads and an accordion style organizer.

- Just cause the kids bedroom is messy doesn't mean they are disorganized and lazy.

- The normal student planner often isn't setup to work with all students. Solution - purchase a teacher planner which gives a look at a week at a time.

 

 

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Quick Takes Vol. 53

Ending 2013

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Mr. Man turned 3 months.

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North Dakota along with the rest of the country experienced cold cold weather from the Polar Vortex or Artic Vortex can't remember what it is called. So we had many days inside or just quick playing outside to burn some energy.

My sister and I taught big girls to play Canasta, a form of rummy. This is the game of choice when the Jiras side of the family gets together it can be played by 2,3,4 or even 6 players.  We have gotten in a few practice hands since learning. The girls like to play and Theresa and Ella have both started to talk a little smack during and before the games. So far their skills have been living up to the hype.

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We had a great New Year's Eve night with the Team.  Theresa had a friend over and watched the ball drop in New York.  None of the kids made it to midnight central time, maybe next year.

Anne and Theresa watching the New Year's Eve show in Time's Square

 

 

Snack time at 10pm ~ both ABC and NBC took a break in coverage from Time Square

 

 

 

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New Year's Day went to my aunt's house to celebrate with soup and chili. I made an angle food cake to share at the party. My sister did the decorating using the leftover frosting from Laura's party.

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We had more time to practice our Canasta skills and even Mr. Man got in on the action.

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We have taken up watching football .  Theresa is quite into the technical part of the game like should you go for touchdown or field goal and when do you go for 2 points.

Theresa and Michael very into Wild Card Saturday football

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I have started taking pictures of Anne at night and napping. She sleeps in the strangest positions, none of the other girls have done this.  I have to organize all the photos I've taken and make post just about Anne sleeping.

 Sleeping on the 29th

 

 

Napping on the 31st

 

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Quick Takes Vol. 52

Christmas Wrap Up

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Laura celebrated her birthday on the 19th with her sisters.

 

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Our awesome aunt had us over for cookie decorating on the Friday night before Christmas! I'm so lucky I didn't have to bake the cookies or clean up the mess.

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On the 22nd I sat the Team down for a picture by the tree.  I think the last few years I took the picture at the last minute before taking the tree down. 

Laura 5, Eleanore 7, Anne 2, Theresa 9, and Micheal 3m

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 On Christmas Eve we headed out to my cousins farm. It was an awesome lunch with lots of great baked goods just like my grandma use to make. The whole day was so relaxing that I could have stayed forever.

We did a white elephant gift exchange with kids the girls had fun stealing gifts. Theresa tried to get Eleanore to steal a gift since it would come to our house so that she could have it but, nope Eleanore opened a new gift. As the girls get older it is fun to see them learn about strategy.

The kids gift exchange table

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We remembered to spread reindeer food on the lawn when we got home Christmas Eve night.  The girls made the bags of food at National Guard Family Readiness Support Christmas Carnival. 

Eleanore spreading food

 Anne with her food bag, I think that Laura or Ella ended up spreading her food out since she wouldn't leave the steps.

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Proof that I followed Eleanore directions for Santa: cookies, milk, letter she wrote thanking him for gifts, Edward the Elf ready to go back home with origami and magic loom necklace.

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Christmas morning was a success - Thanks Santa! Christmas lunch was at my brothers house after mass.

More presents to open

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A Santa Baby

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