Family Vacation 2

Checking out the new WWII memorial

Lucas looking at his future home :)

Mt Vernon

National Harbor

Lucas and I have become quite the travelers! We went with my parents to visit our nations capitol for a family vacation. It was sooooo much fun! We stayed at a nice resort at National Harbor - which is a new area near DC with lots of shopping, restaurants, and a convention center. It is in the first phase of six development phases so it was not too crowded or busy. I think it is going to be pretty amazing when it is all done but right now it has just the right amount of "city" for traveling with a baby.

I think it is probably pretty easy to get swept up in the tourism hubub of a big city vacation but we tried really hard not to do too much and overwhelm Lucas. I did not want to become that parent who was hauling around a tired and cranky child. What is the point of trying to fit in a million sites that he would not even remember? So, we would let him get some crawling/play time in during the mornings and then take off to see one or two things after his morning nap. We would come back to the hotel for a late afternoon nap and then go out to dinner or order some food in. With this restricted schedule we still saw a lot! We visited Alexandria (and the pharmacy museum), Mt Vernon (where Lucas saw his first movie in a theater), the National museum of Natural History, and a bus tour of the monuments. The best part of the entire trip was seeing Lucas interact with his Babby and Grandpa. He is one loved little boy :)

At the peeps store

Playing with Grandpa

Learning to look up to see those T-Rex bones!

At the Natural history museum

Babby playing with Lucas and his new snake stuffed animal

Car ride home - check out his hairdo!

The Big Move

We moved! Ross finished up his three year commitment to the US Navy and we packed up and headed back "home" to Ohio. This is the primary reason I have been a little slow of the blog posting :) I moved several times as a little girl and also a few times after Ross and I married. But no past experiences could have prepared me to move with a baby and two dogs. I am so thankful that my mother was able to come and help me! The packers took 2 days to pack up the house (I guess we have acquired more than our fair share!) and it was really hard to find a quiet spot for Lucas to take naps with all of the tape ripping and the paper folding. When he was awake he wanted his Mommy to hold him. I think this is because he could have a better view of what was going on. On the third day they packed us onto the truck - what a whirlwind that was! I was glad the dogs could go to doggie day care so they wouldn't be locked in the backyard all day while the front door was perpetually open. After they finished my Mom, Lucas, the dogs and I hopped in the Rav and headed to Ohio.

We made a trip of it - staying the night in a hotel and stopping at rest stops as needed. Archie refused to go to the bathroom the entire trip! I was so worried he was going to get a UTI. You know the thing about hotels that allow dogs....they aren't very nice. My mom and I had a difficult time sleeping because the dogs were hyper aware on guard duty barking at every door slam and loud noise. Boy am I glad that night is behind me!

Now we are (almost) settled into the rental I found - seriously one rental with a fenced yard that allowed dogs in 6 months of searching. It is huge! It has 5 bedrooms and was probably glorious in its hey day but years of renters and an inattentive landlord has really worn on it. I may complain that it is my own personal frat house I get to clean up but I am really thankful for the location and to have a roof over my head. And having a pool isn't half bad either :) One of the best features isn't even a feature at all...Garry and Kippy live around the corner so Lucas will get to see them more! I am so glad he will get to grow up seeing his grandparents (one set in town and another just a short drive away).

Archie didn't know what to think about the move

Lucas had fun discovering all kinds of packing supplies

Family Vacation!

It is official! I am way behind on what has been going on in the Gille household! And a LOT has happened in the past month+! I will begin with our family vacation to Virginia Beach. Garry and Kippy (Bompa and Nonni) rented this awesome beach house with enough room for the entire family - plus a pool :) Lucas had a great time meeting and playing with his cousins and we enjoyed the camaraderie of the adults. There is just something about spending time with family that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside (especially after living away).

Lucas and Wesley in the makeshift playpen

Lucas and Annie

More playing

Beach time with Gretchen

Taking in the site and sound of the ocean

The 3 story house with a pool! I have secretly always dreamt about what one of these houses might look like on the inside and now I have seen one!

Gretchen and Annie in the pool (it took a million shots to get this one)

Lucas in the pool - on day 3 he finally smiled in the water :)

Funniest picture ever...Uncle Clint with all the kids at the end of the photo shoot. As you can see most of them had had enough posing for the camera.