DC is BEAUTIFUL This Time of Year

Now... Post #2 of the expectant trio! (Don't worry, this is the short one of the three...:)

Immediately after getting everything cleaned up Monday from Devin's graduation, I was off to pack for a business trip. A conference in Washington DC! How fun, right!? The second leg of my flight was tough... being couped up in a plane for over an hour with 25 eighth graders on a field trip screaming across the room to their friends seated far away. So much for getting a much needed "cat nap":(

The business side of the trip was wonderful and contained some very valuable information that I will undoubtedly gain from. I was also able to meet a lot of new people. The relaxation side of the trip was amazing! The food was okay, though I expected it to be much better considering the culture and area. And the trip from our Bethesda hotel into downtown Washington DC for sight-seeing was by far one of the bigger highlights of the three days! We even got to witness President Obama and his Secret Service motorcade as they headed from the White House to an evening event... too cool.

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial reflecting in the pool

World War II Memorial

Inside the World War II Memorial where the fountain is

World War I Memorial

Presidential Address street sign ;)

The front of the White House

The back of the White House with the Presidential Flower Garden

Washington Monument

The view from my hotel room... Beautiful!

Upon my return home from this trip, we have been off on another one. Quite literally. I got back from the DC trip at 9:00 pm (after numerous gate changes, lots of long walks, and a harrowing hour and a half delay in Chicago). Just in time to go home, get Devin situated since he was not making the trip with us, get the suitcase re-packed, and load the car to hit the road by 10:30 pm with Tony and the other three kiddos. Tony's uncle Tony passed away on Wednesday... so we decided to move up our planned summer trip to Louisville, Kentucky to visit with the Haag clan now. (This trip will be covered in the final post of the trio... complete with driving tips for traveling 10-hours with a toddler!).

Check back soon.... :)

Graduation Madness...!

Things have been soooo crazy in our house the past week! Emmalie successfully made her way through her preschool graduation... Tony and I made it through Devin's high school graduation and pre-event party... I was able to get through yet another business trip (finding Washington DC to be quite the beautiful place this time of year)... and we now sit in Louisville, Kentucky visiting Tony's family on a rather hasty and unexpected trip.

Because there is so much to share regarding each of these endeavors, I will break this post up into a few different posts... Starting with the two household graduations (hence, the title "Graduation Madness")!

Emmalie's preschool had a great little 'Fun Night' and indoor carnival complete with a montage of artworks and awards for each child and a formal "class award" event. Em had such a great time telling us about EVERYTHING she could! If this was any preview into what Kindergarten will be like with her next year... she'll be excited all the time! Here is a video of her graduation highlights...:)

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Devin's high school graduation was so rewarding... for him and for us! I have never seen him more nervous and excited all at the same time. We started with Mass at the church, then moved on to a lunch party in his honor. There were 22 people in attendance at our cozy little home, which was a good number for this type of thing... not too many and just enough to eat all the food:) Devin was all smiles as he walked across the stage at Koch Arena and about knocked us down afterwords when he jumped into us to announce "I'VE DONE IT MOM & DAD! I MADE IT THROUGH!". I think the only bad part of the day was the song that the choir sang... "Keep Holding On" from the TV show Glee. I was sooooo ready to stop hearing "fa-la-laa-la" by the time they were half-way through the song;/ (Not to mention how out of tune it was.. OUCH!). Here are some highlights from Devin's graduation...:)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

That is the most I can manage to conjur up tonight. We're enjoying a Kentucky rain storm right now, so I'll move to the second of what should be three posts soon. Check back often... and have a blessed and safe Memorial Day everyone!

Tuesday's Funny... ;)

So I walk into day care to pick up Bethanie yesterday after work... and I walk into a scene that I would never have expected in all my life:0 Simply put (and into words, since I never would have thought I needed to take a camera into day care)...

Bethanie + Magazine = Potty Time Fun!

Yes! As I opened the classroom door, I could see Miss Bethanie sitting on the toilet reading a "Parents" magazine. Needless to say, my jaw dropped as I watched in amazement since Bethie was totally oblivious to me... just kicked back for some light reading while she pottied:) Bethanie thought is was so funny later that she proceded to tell her Daddy how she "read on the potty chair" too.

Such funny things to brighten a long day! Hope you all got a smile from this story too:)

And Another Month Goes By....

OMG! Where does all the time go?! It seems that there are not enough hours in the day right now to get everything done that we'd like (like update you all here!). So I'll try to provide you all with another relatively quick update... :)


Devin:

Devin has been officially enrolled in college! He thought smart about his class schedule and will only end up going to classes two days a week, with some that are "blended" (or half online) that he only has to attend every other week. Dev has decided to major in Film and Media Design. Go figure, right!? His last day of High School is Tuesday... followed by the Senior Parade, Senior Picnic and Graduation practice to lead us into the weekend celebration. As of Sunday, he will be 100% through High School. Seeing him try on his cap and gown made my heart sink a little bit last week.


Dalton:

Dalton is heavy into baseball... and ONLY baseball now! Yes, his track season has officially ended. He had a very good first year in track and never took part in an event that he didn't place in the top four. He will be starting football conditioning in three weeks, so we're thoroughly enjoying the lull in his activity schedule!

Dalton enjoying the "pre-running" jokes

Dalton & his best bud Bailey in competition!

Ready... Set... RUN!

Out in the lead... Dalton showing his hurdling form

This is what happens when you talk big... WIPE OUT!

Look at all those 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place medals (from ONLY TWO track meets!)

Emmalie:

Emmalie is ready to start gymnastics. I really thought she'd want to play T-Ball, but the "Music and Movement" class she takes after pre-school has been teaching her basic gymnastics and she's now officially SOLD on the idea! We have Em enrolled in Kindergarten and are just waiting to hear back on which grade school she'll be attending. Her Pre-School Graduation ceremony is Thursday...! Emmalie is so excited about going to "real school". And she has hit a major growth spurt, wearing a size 6 clothing due to length needs with her height now off the charts (and a size 4 waist). She's definitely built like her Daddy... tall and thin!

Bethanie:

Bethie-Boo is the same adorable little thing as always! Because of her outlandish picky eating, she has yet again fallen off of the growth charts (back to under the 3% mark). She is still wearing 18-24 month sized clothing, too:( But Bethanie makes up for her size with everything else she excels at these days! Two weeks ago day care transitioned Bethanie up to the 3-yr-old room. (Yes, we know she still has about 6-months to go before her 3rd birthday). Bethanie talks very, very well... and her fast pace through potty training along with her communication skills have resulted in her being moved up early. She has walked around all week talking about how she is "in the Big Girl class" and "ready to go to Kindergarten with Emma"! Bethie will start in 3-yr-old dance class this summer, too!

Tony and I:

Work, Kids, House... REPEAT! That is a cycle enough to keep anyone busy from sun up 'til sun down;) Tony is remodeling my kitchen (my mother's day present). And I have been busy trying to get things situated before my trip to Washington DC in two weeks. We are hoping to make a summer trip out to Kentucky to see Grandma Haag and the crew out there... that will be our next adventure to work on.

That is the "latest and greatest" news from our wonderful world. Hope everyone enjoys a good end to the school year and Let the Summer Begin!