Daniel's 8th Birthday

   Daniel turned eight today!! We were all rather excited by this birthday because now, by state law, he no longer needs a crazy car seat! It'll be nice to have more room in the car with that big thing gone now! =)

He got several army things this year... little army men, an army helmet, a noisy battery-operated hand grenade, and a wooden gun. Nathan actually made the gun himself, except for the wooden stock.

Grenade!

  Daniel chose to have a cookout for his birthday meal... with pizza pockets! Interesting combination, but, hey, it's his birthday, and it's his choice (within reason of course! =D).

he couldn't blow this birthday candle out!

Nate's "party face"...... ???

Happy Birthday, Daniel!

School Pictures

We got a little more professional with our pictures this year, partly because these would be my senior pictures. We got our very own, professional-in-the-making photographer and went down to the Botanical Gardens. The day was nice and sunny, and the scenery was positively gorgeous!

the sun was a little bright =)

Beth, Mom, and I

He enjoyed being in the spotlight =)

Love this picture! So cute!

{the '2014' is for my graduation year}

With my photographer!!

Megan did such a great job taking and editing the pictures! They turned out wonderfully! Thanks, Megan!!

Washington, D.C.

This past weekend, we were finally able to go tour Washington D.C. for a couple days, something we've wanted to do for a long time! We all love history, and where can you find more history than in our capitol!

(Unfortunately, the fact of our current administration dampened the joy a little bit).

Pictures don't do any of the buildings justice. Their magnificence just can't be caught by the camera!

The Signing of the Declaration of Independence

The Supreme Court Building

Looking up at the spiral staircase in the
Supreme Court Building

  We learned that the Supreme Court is not the highest court in the U.S. There is a court above the Supreme Court: a basketball court! When the building was built, there was a big empty room right above the Supreme Court chamber. Some of the lawyers, aides, and other employees that worked there wanted to be able to get some exercise, so a gym was constructed up there!

Snacking... (and goofing off, in Nathan's case =D)

Boarding the metro

The Potomac River

Daniel had read about the Lincoln Memorial in his history and really wanted to see it:

Mom and Daniel by the Reflecting Pool with the Washington Monument
in the background

Our other stops were the Holocaust Museum - a very sobering experience- and the American History Museum, where we were happily engrossed for several hours! The original "Star Spangled Banner" was really neat to see! 

  We also got to stop by to see Paul, Priscilla, and Victor on Friday evening. That little guy is growing like a weed! He just turned one a couple weeks ago.

Haha... monkey see, monkey do!

 Dad made Victor this hammer and peg set.

 Purpose--keep child happily occupied; 

help child learn to hammer; 

drive child's parents crazy!  =D

I think he enjoyed the gift bags and wrapping paper as 

much as the gifts themselves!

  After a busy weekend, we got a day off school to make and can applesauce (Well, at least I got a day off school. Beth and Daniel worked on school when we didn't need them). We didn't get as much made as we had hoped; the apples were bigger and didn't make the best sauce, but it still tastes good and it'll last us long enough. I believe the final tally was about 37 quart. We saved some apples for dumplings and for mince meat, since we were recently given some venison. Mince meat pie coming up! =D