Showing John the DVD player

Thanks, MA & Jimmy!

David loves the coloring roll with pictures of cars.

John found his feet this morning!

Bubbles in the courtyard

Folks were too sick to venture far, so we just enjoyed some bubbles in the courtyard tonight.

Sickness makes DAM stir crazy. 

Bubbles tire John out!

the courtyard

Mama called the doctor

and the doctor said -- no more sick boys.  Sleep in your own bed!

And that's what Team Mitchell is doing this week.  John's getting better, but still sick.  Ned took ill yesterday.  And David got sick last night.  We're talking fevers, coughs, sore throats, runny noses, etc.  And whining.  Lots of whining.

In an effort to contain the continued reinfection rate around here, everyone is sleeping separately -- John in his pack-n-play, Mary Beth in her bed, David in his bed, and Ned on the couch bed.  We're hoping there's some improvement here over the weekend.  And, selfishly, Mary Beth is hoping she doesn't get sick again, because she was sick all last weekend.  Here's an investor tip: buy stock in cold meds.

Happy Birthday, Granddaddy!

We miss you!

Ater visit to expensive medical clinic

John turns out to be okay, progressing normally with cold and cough. Reassurance for MB was worth the visit. Ned agrees.

Meeting Fr. Marv

Or, as we like to call him, Fr. Marvelous.

When you live in a temp apartment

You can jump on the bed...or so DAM thinks.

Valdosta Flashback: Meeting Fr. Dan

Meeting Mr. Charley

Ned's good friend from college days, Charley Sabatier, came by to visit last night and to meet the boys. Good times.

Valdosta flashback: post-bath bath

The crayon soap during bath time didn't really do the job, so Aunt Sarah and Gram had to give DAM a post-bath scrubbing. He didn't mind.

Big day for John

He's big enough that he can now face forward and see what's happening on our trips!

No blog posts lately

because everything's boring and we're all exhausted from travels last weekend and crazy work schedules this week. John exhibits boredom + exhaustion here.

Measurements in Big Daddy's shed

David's getting so tall!

John's first height measurement, aided by Uncle Daniel

Boys are all on the plane!

Baptism

The godparents composed and played a beautiful original piece for the baptism.  We loved it!

Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents

Godparents, Uncle Brian and Cousin Claire

Thanks to all the friends and family who traveled to be with us today.  And for those who could not make it, know that we remembered you in our thoughts and prayers.  And now, for photos.

Post-Baptism nap

With Big Daddy. We're beat!

Meeting Cousin Jennifer

Waiting for Big Daddy

In Tallahassee. Close call making our connection in ATL after Delta took its sweet time departing DC. Yes, there was running and some pleading with a gate agent to hold the plane, but we made it. Whew!

So far, so good

Travel

The excitement about riding on a plane has been overshadowed by his anger that we woke him early. Fun day ahead.

Wednesday's haircut

David got a haircut at one of those kid cartoon cut places. No tears and two suckers later, he once again has short hair--thank goodness!

Granny would have turned 85 today

She's about 51 in this photo with me.

Wiped out!

Thanks for dinner!

Had a great Sunday night dinner with Becky, her daughter Kimberly, son-in-law Jamie, and grandchildren Dalton and Caroline.  If only Caroline were older, she could be our DC babysitter.  She held John like a pro, and even chased and tackled DAM when he tried to escape by running away in the back yard. Thanks!

Air & Space Annex Recap

David was unimpressed by the shuttle.  John slept through the exhibit, too.

At least they didn't scream.

A Monumental Day

We began our tour at the Iwo Jima monument. Then we drove to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to tour the church.  Last night, we did the walking tour of all the monuments: Thomas Jefferson, FDR, MLK, Korean War, Vietnam Wall, and WW2.  It was a lot of walking, and we were appropriately tired when we returned home at midnight.

DC Blog Catch-Up

We've had long days, late nights, and I've been neglectful about posting photos on the blog each evening.  So here's a catch-up post.

At the Capitol -- Daddy correctly identified one of the statues sent by Idaho  before reading the inscription of his name.  Senator William Borah was known as the Lion of Idaho.  Who knows that?  Dad.

After telling everyone what wasn't allowed into the Capitol, MB goofed and packed her back with two new bottles of aerosol sunscreen.  They're $10 each.  Aerosol cans aren't allowed into the Capitol.  Guards wouldn't let me stash them in the bushes.  So I took them across to the Supreme Court, where I loaned them to protesters, and picked them up after the tour.  Bonus: it was a protest to end capital punishment, so MB was able to sign a petition at the same time.  And, when we went back for the sunscreen, everyone from my family signed it, too.

At the Library of Congress, Mama found Flat Stanley.

Waiting on fireworks was hot, but the iced lemonade made things better.

The fireworks were as fabulous as we anticipated.  We watched them from the middle of Constitution Avenue, rather than get in the middle of the Mall.

Thursday morning we went to see our National Archives.  Constitution and Declaration of Independence were what we expected, but MB most liked the exhibit showcasing letters to the president (Fidel Castro wrote to FDR requesting a $10 bill when he was a kid), and Daddy liked listening to recorded phone calls, especially the call where LBJ bullied Richard Russell to join the Warren Commission.

The Library of Congress is still my favorite tour in town, but the Hirschhorn Gallery is my second favorite.  The sensory exhibit (pictured above and below with the cool lights) was incredible.

The Spirit of St. Louis.  Air & Space was a hit with the family.