East Coast Road Tripping

Updates on Clifton -
He got into Late Start Art class and couldn't be more excited about it.  He didn't get in last time and it broke his heart, so this news made him so happy.

Updates on McKay -
Is excited to start soccer but we will see if she keeps that excitement up.  She tends to get bored easily.

Updates on Stanley -
Loves to talk and to anyone who will listen!  His favorite things to say is "really" or "super" like thats really big or super cool.  It's adorable!

Monday we started Pee Wee soccer and I am coaching.

It was a cold start to the season but we had a lot of fun.  I love coaching, the kids are so much fun to play with.

Alex left for DC early that morning for work so we spent a lot of time face timing him.

Thank heavens for modern technology.  The kids love seeing daddy while he is away for work and playing silly games over the phone.

Tuesday we had a playdate with our friends and celebrated the end of the preschool year.

It has been a great year of preschool with great friends!

Making dinner with my helpers.  It might take a little longer but that smile on their faces makes it worth it.

Our deer has come almost everyday to say hi and eat our food.  We just love our deer!

Wednesday morning family workout.

 Stanley takes his safety very serious ;)

We made it three miles and Clifton had to take a picture to show Dad how far we made it.

It was a beautiful day for soccer!

 Aren't they all just so stinking cute!

When mom coaches, pee wee soccer looks a little different for Stanley.  He was all smiles about it :)

Thursday afternoon Grandma Peterson came up and I headed to the airport to fly to DC and meet Alex.  He has another work trip in Boston next week so his company said he could drive over from DC over the weekend.  We had enough air miles to pay for my flight and the hotels and car were covered so I felt I had to jump on this opportunity to go.  Thanks to my mother in law for being willing to watch the kids while we go explore the East coast.
I got in late Thursday so we started our adventure Friday in DC.  I was there not to long ago so I wanted to see things I haven't been able to.  Sadly the Holocaust museum has reserved ticket and they were booked through the end of the month so we didn't get to do that.  But we did stop by the temple.

And it did not disappoint.  It is HUGE and beautiful.  The visitors center was cool too.  And it's really a small world.  A sister serving there is from Poulsbo and cousins with one of Alex's YM.

We then drive to Philly.

 We stopped at the Liberty bell.

And the Rocky stairs.

We had to do it, it just felt right!

 Adrian!

Then we stopped at the Philly temple.  And it was awesome.  Crazy it's right in the middle of the city. And the story of how they chose the land and how it worked out perfectly was cool to learn.
We then went to our hotel in a smaller town in Pennsylvania.

The next day we woke up and headed to NY.  We parked our car at our hotel in Brooklyn  and took the subway to meet our friends.  He works with Alex and was going to the conference in Boston as well,  but came up early to visit NY.

We took the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of liberty - cause its free and gets pretty close.

Then we walked around NYC.

 Jimmy!

So many amazing chapels.

 NY library.

Grand Central station.

Whispering corner.  If you whisper in the corner the person in the opposite corner can hear it loud and clear.  It is so cool!

 Another beautiful building.

Time square!

Yes it is crazy busy!

9/11 memorial.

The bull.

The view from our hotel.  The city lights are beautiful!  A wonderful day.

The next day we woke up and drove to the Manhattan temple to attend church under the temple!

It was such a beautiful service!

Then we got changed, had a picnic, and walked around central park for a little.

A lovely day in NY.  Except for the parking ticket we got, ya we learned the hard way there is no free parking in NY even if there isn't a sign saying you cant park there or its pay to park.  And parking tickets are 4x's the price in NY!  Now we know :)

We headed out to Boston, the longest drive thus far.

So we made the best of it!  Loves that we had such awesome road tripping friends.  How lucky are we!

On the way we passed another temple and decided to stop in Connecticut and see it.

Another marvelous temple.

We finally got into Boston late, but thankfully the temple grounds were still open.

I love to see the temple!

The next day the boys went to work and Shawnte and I explored Boston.

Where the idea for the show of Cheer's started.

Norm!

After work the boys joined us and we walked Freedom Trail.

 So much history on a short couple mile trail, it is crazy!

 Water taxi

Stopped in Mike's Pastry's in little Italy for yummy treats after dinner.  Dinner that night was at a little Italian restaurant along freedom trail and we are all 100% it was for the Mafia.  Not even being dramatic. But hey just another cool story to add to our trip and we survived!

After tons of walking and in the cold rain in Boston ( I know what are the odds Washington is having the best day of the year and we are getting rain!) a hot tub and pool was needed.

We spent the night playing beachball pool volleyball.  Yep great night!  We sure are lucky to get to take this trip and to be able to travel with some of the best people we know.  

Thanks for everyone who helped with the kids and getting me to the airport. And a big shout out to Grandma and Grandpa Peterson for staying with the kiddos while we played. I am sure I didn't deserve this trip but am very happy I had the opportunity and took it.  Alex probably thinks I will calm down on wanting to travel more but he probably just fueled the flame :).  

Mothers Day 2017

Update on Clifton -
Now has two wiggly teeth and anxiously waiting for them to come out, but won't let me touch them.

Updates on McKay -
Got a hair cut!  She has been wanting to grow it out and I agreed to let her but she has been complaining about combing and taking care of it so I suggested she cut it.  She said no and I said ok let me know when you are ready.  One morning she woke up and said she's ready to cut it.  S much easier and whole lot less tears.

Updates on Stanley -
Loves making pouty faces.

Makes me laugh.

This week I was able to help with teacher appreciation all week.  It was a lot of fun working with this group of ladies and being at the school.

Stanley found his own ways to entertain himself and probably drove everyone crazy, but he sure is a trooper and super cute.

Monday for FHE we went to the bay with friends.

 My goodness I love Washington especially when the sun comes out.

 Picnic time.

 Lesson was about helping others and then we tried to find ways to help around the bay.  Love this group of kiddos.  They are so cute together!

The men joining in on the fun.

Wednesday was such a beautiful day so we busted out the BBQ.

Stanley loved handing food back and forth through the kitchen window.

McKay's friend was having a birthday this week and she really wanted to make rainbow cupcakes for her.

I love that she wants to do something thoughtful for her friends.  She loves birthdays as much as I do.  We thought they turned out pretty cute.

We also got to make yummy cookies for one of the teacher appreciation days.

McKay loved how much baking we did this week.

Friday was a simple day of running errands.  But we decided to stop by the pet store before heading home.

The pet store is always so much fun for us.  Stanley really wanted to take home a ferret. 

That night these three headed out for a very wet and cold camping trip with friends.

They had a lot of fun but came home super tired and cold the next day.  

The plus to that, they all took a nap Saturday!  Even Daddy and Treasure.

So that left just Stanley and I at home.

 We cleaned, cuddled and played hide and seek.

Stanley is pretty good at hide and seek.  

And an early morning jog.  Love having one on one time wit this cutie.  He sure is calmer with out his siblings around.

Saturday was Clifton's soccer game.

He played goalie again and no one scored on him.  He was very happy!

Then we headed over to our friends Batman birthday party.

They got to be the bad guys and everyone had to get them.  We all had a blast.  Our friends sure know how to throw a party.

That night our friend had a birthday party.  Dancing time!

Had a fun night dancing with these lovely ladies.

Sunday was Mother's Day.

I sure am lucky to have these kiddos.  

After church we headed over to Grandma Peterson's.

 Alex helped prepare dinner.

And we all got to say hi to Aunt Sister Adams.  A very good Mother's Day.

Fun things from this week...

We sure lucked out in the cat department.  She loves and and we just love her.

We have a deer friend that visits every day now.  She may only like us for our food, but she likes us.  I am hoping she will let me feed her out of my hand one day.  We absolutely love that we have deer visit!

Clifton's card to his Dad the week of Mother's day.  Thanks Clifton :)  Dad's get all the credit.