DOVE FAMILY

Good Friday, March 29, 2013- we decided to take the kids to the Museum of Natural History in DC.  We LOVE LOVE LOVE going to the museums and the monuments in DC.  The kids just love walking around downtown and checking out the sites.  We wanted to pack a picnic and eat near the Washington Monument but it was a little chilly that day so we decided to eat the museum instead. 

If ya'll remember, many seens from Night of the Museum with Ben Stiller were taken from here.  This is a wonderful museum for kids and family.  We spent all day here and we even missed a few of the rooms.  We did see the BIG elephant, the mammal room, the Hope Diamond and gems, Ocea Hall, Butterfly Exhibit, the Dinosaur room, Egypt which some very cool mummies and of course the anatomy of the skull and neanderthal room...  so many wonderful things to see right here in our own backyard.  Well, not really backyard but seriously less than an hour away and its free, educational and something that you should see.

We also visited the American History Museum but the kids were a bit tired by that point and we didn't go through the whole museum so we have to go back to visit that museum another day.

You have to check out the Museum of Natural History....amazing!

The Hope Diamond...beautiful.  It was so crowded around this beautiful peice of jewelry and let me just say...there was also plenty of security around it!

Medals of Honor

Parts of the World Trade Center...it was such a site to see and so many people were around this area as well, reading and remembering...

As President Ronald Reagan said, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

What?!

Girls on an old New York City Subway!

Check it out!

Dave and his neanderthal girlfriend with no shirt....

Dinosaurs...oh my!

Triceratops!

Beautiful tiara and jewels!

Julia and I loved the gem room!

Some kind of rock, crator thing that had a super deep hole.  All of the kids tried to see if they could touch the bottom and no-one could!

Whale

Ocean Hall

Mammal Room was awesome

Magnetic Rock- this was pretty neat. The kids could throw metal on this rock and it would cling to it.  I don't remember where it was from but I thought it was neat!

Wow...do you remember this from the movie Night of the Museum?

So-- while the boys were practicing during flag football and Dave was getting to know his team a little better. Julia and I had some fun on the sidelines.....check it out...

WHATEVER!

Cold!

Silly!

Wha-what!

You all know that Matthew loves sports- just like his dad.  I was surprised this spring when Matthew decided to play flag football instead of baseball.  But I would much rather him play flag football than regular football. I don't think I am ready for all the hitting that real football has yet!
We had the first day of practice and a scrimmage and I have to say- they did pretty well.  We are with i9 Sports and we love it.  Its not a competitive league but they do keep score and the important thing is that they are teaching the kids the sport and the game of flag football. 
Another big thing is that Dave decided to coach Matthew's team.  He is such a natural and he looks great out there too :)

There he is...listening at the coach's meeting prior to meeting his team!

Matthew is number 25!

Dave guiding Matthew around on the field.

Matthew ready to get that flag!

What dad?! I'm playing here!

We had a last minute sleepover a few weeks ago with Alex and Amaya.  Matthew & Julia were so excited once they found out their cousins were coming over. It was an unexpected but fun weekend.  Alex and Amaya sure did miss their parents but they did a great job when they spent the weekend with us.  The kids played great together and I think they liked having someone to sleep with at night.

Matthew & Alex sound asleep

The princesses sleeping with all their friends!

Breakfast!  So good!

Dave decided to do a science experiment-- InstaSnow....great fun but messy!

We want more InstaSnow!

Another day during my spring break was grandparents and friends day at Matthew's school.  Dave's mom was lucky enough to be able to take off and enjoy a concert and fun filled morning with Matthew.  Julia of course wanted to tag along and mom was such a great sport with both kids during lunch and our little outing.  The school had agreat turnout and the auditorium was FILLED with grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends who supported the kids. 

Matthew is the 3rd one from the right!

Singing to the grandparents, friends, aunts & uncles

Grammy spending some time with Matthew in his classroom doing a project

The final product!

So since Matthew had a full day with me on his field trip, I thought it was important to have a day with Julia as well. Earlier in the day I met up with my girlfriends for lunch and then Julia and I went shopping and had FRO-YO!  We had such a fun afternoon checking out girly things, shopping, trying on clothes and ending it with some amazing frozen yogurt from YOLAVIE!

Oh yea baby!

New short haircut- ready for girls day out!

I think the boys would like it here!  We can add all kinds of toppings to our frozen yogurt to make it extra yummy!

David celebrated another year on March 12th.  We had a celebration at my mom's house and one at his mom's house.  Dave had some of his favorite foods, cake and got some awesome presents.  I know I probably bore you with this all the time- but I love this guy and he is absolutely the best husband and father.  No- he is not perfect becuase no one is ever perfect but boy he is so loving, caring, honest and just an all around good person.  He is truly a good man and I am a proud wife.

Dave, Matthew and Julia with her tigress mask

Happy Birthday to you!

Redskins Reserve Wine - 80th Anniversary! He says we can't open this until the Redskins make it to the Super Bowl.  Do I really have to wait that long?????

Robert Griffin III poster with tickets to the first game RGIII played for the Redskins.  Great photo but it is not going in the bedroom or living room :)

Love!

One of the fun things about our family is that we have two sets of birthdays that fall on the same day!  Ashley shares her birthday of March 5th with her son Alex.  I think it's kind of neat and of course fun to have your birthday with someone else in the family.  Alex had a bowling party to celebrate his 5th birthday.  Now many of you know I am not a bowler, so I cheered from the side lines and helped the little ones carry the BIG balls :)  We had a great time at bowling and the kids certainly had so much fun and a bowling party wouldn't be a real party without pizza and cake! 

We celebrated Ashley's birthday at my mom's house and it was a nice afternoon with the family.  We are happy to have her in our family and trust me when I say that my brother Abe can't do without her!  She is a great mom, teacher and sister inlaw!

Lola helping Julia!

Matthew trying NOT to get a gutter ball!

Big Boy Alex blowing out his birthday cake!

Ashley and her princess Amaya blowing out her cake

Alex, Abe, Ashley & Amaya- Happy Birthday Ashley :)