We are so fortunate to be here in McLean at Brooke and Ed's.

Thought it'd be fun for some of you to see how beautiful it is here.

We love it!

The street going toward the house

The driveway....

Destination, slice of Heaven!

The Zip Line!

Brooke and Ed have the coolest zip line in their

yard. The kids have a great time!

It starts here....

Then down....

Then the dog (Tyson) is a sport and pulls you

all the way back up the hill.... Makes for a

fun ride!

The Easter Bunny came to McLean

The Easter Bunny came on the last day Morgan was here from Hawaii. We had a great day, but were sad Morgan had to leave that day. Apart from all the bunny stuff, we're so grateful for the Saviour that he rose again and gave us the greatest gift of all!

The Easter bunny seems to have a sense of humor.

Don't know if you can see it from the picture

but the big bunny left some tracks going up the

book case. Good thing I didn't dust that week

Kids with their spoils....

Even Clay got some goods

The annual Easter picture in the front yard

Recipients of the cupcakes, our friends the

Carraways, Brandon, Mary Lynne, and Carson

Spring Break 2009 Morgan here from Hawaii

Morgan came to visit us for a week during Spring break. We had a great time at the Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria, riding bikes along the canal road into Georgetown, and, you got it, mom making the kids join her cupcake's anonymous. The addiction is still not under control. It was good to have him home.

Luke with his masterpiece.

Alright already, enough with the cupcakes...

It was fun doing them together though.

Riding into Georgetown. We had a picnic in

the park there. Great time!

Chloe sportin' the Hotel Monaco's child size

cheetah robe. Add a little agua in a wine glass

and you've got a 5 star vacation....

Most Boring Museum On Earth

By far, the most boring museum I've ever been to.

Boring museum=Interesting pictures.  What else

was there to do?

Smithsonian American Indian Museum.  Don't 

my kids look excited?  This was before we

even went in.....

Very cool life size bronze statue.  Pretty

yes, interactive no, kid interest level, oh so no

She looks interested.  My kids thought it was

pretty creepy.  It felt cool though.....

A face only a mother could love.  Ready to ward

off any evil spirit, I assure you.

Modern Indian Art.  

Top of rotunda.  Beautiful building

Beautiful hat.  Again, the kids were really

thrilled with this one.  I thought it was quite 

pretty though.

Here's where I came alive.  I told them all

about Outrigger Canoe Paddling.  Man I miss

that sport.  Their interest level was staggering

as you can see by the pic.

The ride on the metro seemed to perk them up

Oh yeah, that was the itouch....

The hoods.  Our friend Molly Carraway met

up with us and she definitely brought life to the 

visit (although Clay looks like the grim reaper

and Luke's looking like Diablo....maybe life wasn't

what I meant...)  Thanks Molly dear...you made

it much more fun!

At least the architecture was amazing.  Actually

I think Indian History is TOTALLY FASCINATING.

But this museum didn't catch it for me.  Maybe

they need a giant dream catcher to hang from this

roof.  Might bring something interesting in the wind....

Luke's Blue & Gold Banquet

Luke's Blue and Gold banquet was really clever.  They

had the boys dress up like an American Figure.  They

memorized a song with all of the state capitals.  Luke 

loves cub scouts.

Fun times with Chloe

Luke was Thomas Jefferson

Elvis, Thomas, Barack, and Paul  aka John, Paul

George and Ringo

Chloe's FHE

Chloe loves to plan things.  She's really great at it.

The other night she came up with this object lesson

right off the top of her head.  She came out looking

like this and said how it's more important to look

at the inside of someone than the outside.  She's

AWESOME!

I'm addicted to Cup Cake making

So it's true.  I need a 12 step program to get over

my passion for cupcake decorating.  Ever since I

bought the "Hello Cupcake" book, I've been hooked.

These ones were made by cousin Sarah and myself

and we took them to a relief society auction.  It

was fun.  I got 6 hours of sewing lessons and 

dog care for a week.  Totally scored on the points.

Petit fore minis in a basket

Faux popcorn cupcakes.  Aren't they so cute!

Thanks Sarah, it was fun!

Aly's Visit THE BEST!

Aly came to visit and we had a FABULOUS time.

We went to NYC to see the production of Wicked,

took the kids to a tour through the capital building

and ended the trip with a home spa experience to 

get her relaxed and ready for the trip home.

She is the best sister and Aunt ever and we had

such a great time with her.  Now all we have to do

is get used to having my boring food again.  She's 

a fabulous cook!  Thanks for the eats, the great time,

and just being the best!


Our lovely organic face mask.  We were soft

and pretty after.  Oh the price for beauty....

Aly in the fashion district in NYC

She took a pic of the Naked Cowboy, but

this is a G rated site....

A very windy photo in front of the capital

At Wicked.  It was SOOO good!

The March of the Penguins

Chloe and I had our first attempt at cake 

decorating....cup cakes that is.  We made 24

marching penguins.  Not too bad for using

baggie pastry bags and no tips.....  We had 

a great time!

The darling chef showing off her creation

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAY! My baby's 14!

Clay turned 14!  Sunrise,  Sunset.  Where did

all the time go?  OK, enough with the sentimental

stuff, but seriously?

I took Clay and the kids to dinner and baked

him a cake.  We had a great time. We listened

to singing from Baba and thanks to everyone

who remembered.  I will probably forget yours

but Happy Birthday in advance...

 I am very blessed to have such a great son.  I couldn't 

be away from Morgan without Clay.  He's an

amazing help and a great person to be around!

Happy Birthday!

Clay got a "flip" video camera.  The thing's

actually amazing.  It takes great video and 

sound.

The family (including cyber dad) singing 

"Happy Birthday"

Look What the Dog Dragged In

OK, so Tyson, Brooke & Ed's dog likes to chomp

on sticks, so you can imagine my surprise when

I went out to get the stick out of his mouth and

I found this instead.  Yes, it's a deer leg.  I'm

just hoping it died of natural causes.....

SNOW DAY! NO SCHOOL PARTY ON!

When it snows here they cancel school, so we

hung out with about 5 inches of the white stuff

It's good to be cold after 3 years of sweating

in Hawaii!

Chloe's ice wand

Yummy 

A little walk through the woods

More camera experiments

My New Camera

So I'm in love with my new camera.  Thanks

Morgan!  Here are a few shots I took to get 

acquainted.  It was love at first sight...

Botanical gardens.  

Our cousin Sarah Sand's daughter Grace taking

time to smell the flowers

Orchid at the Botanical Garden in DC