Caught red-handed!

So, I walked into our family room the other day to see this:

Apparently, Jude found my diaper bag, found the snack bag and dumped it out in the two minutes I was in the other room. I walked in to see him carefully picking up the little cookies and happily eating them, totally content. What a stinker! 

Lance, we're still missing you and can't wait to see you in three days! Hooray!

Cooking with Daddy

George came home a little early today from his Pediatric rotation and cooked dinner for me and Jude.

Jude thought it was great fun to watch and kept loudly voicing his disapproval of his view from the floor.

He really wanted to see what Daddy was doing.

We had a good time being together for dinner--roasted pork loin in curried coconut milk. Yum!  The only thing keeping this evening from being perfect was Lance's absence.

We've been trying to get situated this past week in our new apartment and I have to admit, it's slow going. Jude has been a great sport, though, and is usually content to play with some toys in whatever room I'm working in. Lance is still in California having a great time. As convenient as this trip was for both of us (so Lance could escape the move, and so I could unpack and not feel guilty not playing with Lance), I miss Lance so much! I can't believe it's still a little over a week before I get to see him again. I can't wait to have him home!

Busch Gardens!

George's old roommate Nolan came into town late Thursday night last week to spend the weekend with us and Andrew (aka Louie). George and I went to High School with Louie and George roomed with him in college where they both met Nolan. They're all really good friends.

The weekend was spent visiting Busch Gardens and Water Country USA down in Williamsburg. Nolan, George, Jude and I all stayed in a rather sketchy hotel so we could frequent the parks while Louie drove into town on Saturday to go to the water park with us. It was a lot of fun!

Jude and I spent most of our time together, which is why most of these pictures are of Jude. I thought I would hate waiting outside the rides, but it turned out to be fun anyway. George was really nice and waited with Jude so I could ride some of my favorites and Nolan even volunteered to watch Jude so George and I could ride Apollo's Chariot together. Thanks, Nolan!

Hmmmm... Jude, I'm not sure that seat is big enough for you.

It was extremely hot that weekend, so we were all loving the Iced Lemonades.

See?

George and Nolan on "Griffon". George is the one with his hand in the air with the "rock on" sign.

Nolan snapped this picture of us as we rode the sky carts to Germany.

Nolan. :)

"I'm on a horse."

So, Jude was too small to ride the carousel, even with me holding on, but I put him on a horse and snapped a picture anyway. I think he would have been fine, but we were shown to a stationary bench on the carousel and had to be content with that.

Jude was a really good sport through it all, although there was a little bit of this:

...and this...

...and maybe some of that...

...but mostly this.

Happy boy!

George and Nolan in line for "Alpengeist".

On the coaster...

Nolan, George, and Jude.

Jude finding a way to entertain himself while we waited for George and Nolan.

Yes, this is how we all felt at the end of the day.

The day we went to Water Country USA, I didn't take any pictures because I had Jude with me the whole time and I figured it would be too hard to snap photos and keep him from drowning at the same time. Priorities, you understand. We had a great time! Jude loved the wave pool and the lazy river. We put a tiny life jacket on him and we all floated down the river that pushes you along. It was so much fun! George, Nolan, and Louie tried to ride the water slides, but the lines were so long they only got to ride a handful. 

After the park we all caught some dinner at a great surf 'n turf restaurant in Williamsburg before Louie had to drive back to Lynchburg.

Jude, George, Nolan, and Louie

After dinner, Nolan, George, Jude and I walked around the downtown area of Williamsburg. It was 8 p.m. and most of the shops were closed (yes, they closed at 8 on a weekend night in a college town), but we did get some ice cream and got to see the entering Freshman class for William and Mary parade down Main Street led by a fife player and some drums.

Jude managed to stay asleep for all the noise. 

I'm so glad we got to see Nolan and Louie. They're good friends and now that we all have our own lives we don't get to see them enough. It was a great weekend!

Life in Ashburn

So, we've been up in Ashburn for the past week and a half while George finishes his Ambulatory Medicine rotation. What have we been up to?

Lance is still in California with his dad and will be until September 2nd. We do talk almost daily, though, and he's having a great time! George leaves for the clinic in Fairfax around 7:15 a.m Monday through Friday and Jude and I stay and hang out with either my family or George's. That usually entails playing with Callie and Bryce who come over to George's parent's house every day while Jen and Eric work. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided by George's mom. I swear, this woman is cooking constantly, and treats us to things like roast, steak, homemade eggrolls, curry, homemade dumplings, and omelets. If you ever visit, you will be greeted by at least three different kinds of food and if none of them suit your fancy, she'll make you something special, just for you. We have been totally spoiled! Lance and Jude will be sad to return to our home where what we're having to eat is it--like it or not.

George usually comes home around 6 p.m., just in time for dinner.  It's been nice because we actually get to see him and play. A couple days ago, George walked in the door and Jude perked up and started babbling "Da Da! Da Da!" Who know if he really understood what he was saying, but it was cute anyway.

It's been fun to be with my family, too! Jason has marching band camp every day so I haven't seen him much, but on Tuesday I got to go to the Temple with my mom and Stephen, the first time I've been in several months. It was so nice to go and be there with people I love so much. I am becoming more and more grateful for the Gospel and the truths that it teaches us, especially about the eternal nature of families. What a blessing to know that our family is forever!

The three of us in front of the Washington D.C. Temple

Today we were eating lunch and Jude was ready for his nap. Can you tell?

We've had a good time up here in Ashburn, but we're ready to be back in Charlottesville!

AND... back to real life

So, contrary to what is becoming popular belief, our family is not always at the beach. We came down from our wet and sandy euphoria this past Monday and real life began once again.

George continues to be in his Ambulatory Medicine rotation in Fairfax, VA and seems to be "enjoying" it. He is starting the final week in this 8-week rotation today which is a big deal, not only because we get to go back to Charlottesville, but because he has to take his Medical "Shelf"--a difficult test that measures his knowledge and skills as a medical professional. Yay. This is the score that residencies look at when considering students for their program, so it's a little nerve-wracking. Despite the fact that he's home today with Bronchitis/Sinusitis, he's been doing very well with his rotation so far.  Hopefully, he'll feel better with the Z-pack he's taking and be able to finish strong. If the past is any indication, George will pass his rotation with flying colors.

The boys and I had a good time last week just relaxing and enjoying having cable TV at the Glass's house where we're staying. Speaking of cable, you know how sometimes the kids like some really ridiculous shows and you can't understand what they see in them that's so great? The Disney channel is full of such shows that I know, had I watched them as a child, my dad would have labeled as "brain-rot" (like Scooby Doo, which he did label as "brain-rot" and we were, therefore, not allowed to watch it). With that said, I'm only a little ashamed to admit I have a new favorite kid's TV show.

Phineas and Ferb. Absolute brain-rot hilarity. I think I'd even have to rank it above Rugrats and Doug. It's clever, funny, well-animated, and is mature enough to make the adults laugh, but on a level that rings true for the kids as well. I'm actually thinking about trying to find the episodes on DVD. Yeah. My siblings all love it, too, and the other night Amy, Laura, Stephen, Jason, and I stayed up until midnight watching recorded episodes and laughing hysterically. Mom joined us for a bit and while I don't think she saw it for it's true genius, I caught her laughing, too. If a cartoon can get my mom to laugh, it must be incredible.

On Friday, I took Lance to his dad's house and they flew out to California to spend time with the Dahlquist cousins for three whole weeks! Honestly, it never gets any easier to drop him off and hug him good-bye. I know he loves his dad and I know he has a blast and will love being in California with his cousins, but it hurts my heart to drive away after we say good-bye. I know he's having a great time, though, because when I talked to him last night, he wasn't that interested and kept wanting to go play with Calvin and Clare (cousins). Scott's sister Denise is an amazing person and I miss her friendship a lot. Lance is a lucky boy to be able to stay close to such a great family. I'm glad he's enjoying himself. Happy for him, sad for me. Lance, your mommy misses you like crazy. Be safe, have fun, and come home soon!

To add insult to injury, right after I dropped Lance off, Jude and I drove down to Charlottesville to do some cleaning. We had our final walk-through in our old house with our landlord the next day and I needed to do the deep cleaning before we would be ready. When the boys and I left for Florida three weeks ago, most of our belongings were still in their place and it still looked like we lived there. The Glass family came the following day and moved everything that was left to our new apartment. I hadn't seen it empty yet and as I opened our front door and walked into our old house, I almost cried. I know we didn't own it or anything, but for the past two years it was our home. Our first home as a couple. We made so many good memories there and had such a fun time being our own little family. I'm really going to miss it.

On a happier note, Jude and I had a good time working:

He helped me mow the lawn and edge. The car stood in as the camera-man. And yes, it was dark and I couldn't see very well. The next morning I noticed a few placed I missed, but all in all, I think I did a good job for mowing almost blind with a baby on my front. And yes, I did it all in white pants! I hadn't really thought things through when I got dressed that morning.

Jude even helped me clean the kitchen. Actually, I couldn't keep him away from the refrigerator and the mess I was making while trying to clean.

I find it funny that as you scrub and brush, sweep and mop, everything around you gets cleaner but you get more and more dirty. Why is that? 

George drove up that evening after his clinical and studied for his "Shelf" while Jude slept at the new place and I finished up at the old house. I staggered back to the apartment after 1 a.m. and felt more nasty and greasy and dirty than ever before. After a long, cool shower I crashed in bed.

We had to get up "early" to do the walk-through at 9 a.m. Jude had somehow made it to our bed in the middle of the night and I couldn't resist a picture:

Not only did I capture the moment, but I effectively woke up George as well. :) After the walk-through, we organizing our new place a little bit and then drove back up to Ashburn where we are currently while George finishes his rotation.

OBX--Day 2

OBX day 2 was spent mostly on the beach. It was a beautiful, hot day--perfect beach weather.

Jude getting ready to be in the sun. I love this picture!

Allen, Jen, Pop-pop, Callie, and Lance out enjoying the waves.

You can't tell right here, but there were some good 6-foot wave if you got out past your waist. The under-toe was pretty strong, too. 

The kids. If Lance has his goggles on, there is no wave that scares him. He likes to dive in head-first or try to body surf.

Allen

Lance and Pop-pop watching the waves.

Callie and Pop-pop fighting the current.

Jen and Bryce

Grandmom playing with Jude under the canopy.

There were TONS of jelly fish that washed up on shore and were floating the surf. They didn't hurt when they stung you, but they left itchy places that were more annoying than anything else.

Doing the lotion rub.

Jude crashed in Grandmom's arms, so while he was asleep, George and I tried to catch some waves with the boogie boards. It was simultaneously the scariest thing I've done at the beach and possibly the most fun. The waves were huge (5 and 6 feet) and very strong and choppy. It was almost impossible to catch them and when you did, you almost wished you hadn't. I've never been tossed around like that--the waves would really just take you and have their way with you. Once you got out in the water up to your shoulders, you had to just ride with the current--there was no fighting it. Even just getting out that far was a feat. George and I spent a good 20 minutes catching waves before we staggered back in, both sporting casualties. I caught one wave that dumped me off, twisted me around, and then grabbed the board and ripped it off my wrist, leaving bruises and scrapes in it's wake. George caught a wave that tossed him and while he was under the water bent him into a "reverse taco" or "scorpion" where his feet ended up over his head the wrong way. Two days later, we're both still sore and George's back is pretty stiff. Was it worth it? Most definitely!

Grandmom and Pop-pop enjoying the beach.

George, Eric, and Terry all tried to surf the waves but didn't really succeed. I didn't get any pictures because they were so far out and the current washed them down the beach too fast to get any good ones. George said it was a lot of fun to be out there in such huge waves trying to catch one. I wish I had brought my board so I could have joined them.

After the beach, we went back to the beach house and cooled off in the pool. Jude and Lance had a great time riding the surf board around.

My boys.

George had to get back to Northern Virgina, so we packed our things, loaded the boys, and drove back to Ashburn, stopping in Charlottesville on our way to pick up the other car. It was a long trip, but the boys did a great job! I'm so glad we got to spend time with the Glass family at the Outer Banks, even if it was a short trip. Such is the life of a med student!