Yep.....sand isn't very tastey!

Tess grabbed a handful of sand...apparently it didn't taste as good as she thought it would! My cute little red head loves the water and being outside! (We went to a state park with some friends that happens to be right by Camp David.)

This summer we have spent as much time as possible enjoying the wonderful Maryland weather. I have found that there is a ton of free, fun things to do here. During the summer they have free kid movies, Jake calls it the BIG MOVIES, two times a week. They also have a community event for mothers and kids a couple times a month. Vendors provide free activities and information about stores and events. Jacob and Tess especially love the crafts, free balloons, and face painting. We have spent most of our time at our pool, the park, doing crafts at home, and having fun play-dates.

Jacob has an amazing memory! We have been teaching him the Articles of Faith as part of our Family Home Evening. Our Bishop has a jar of candy and awards kids for coming to his office to report a good deed or scripture. Consequently, after church on Sundays there is a long line of kids waiting in front of the Bishop's office. Jacob has recited the first and second Articles of Faith to him without any help from us! Candy is always a good motivator!

We went to our community pool party last night and Jake had a great time keeping up with the big kids. The D.J. played the Hokie Pokie for just the kids and Jake didn't hesitate to join the circle (that is "what it's all about" after all!). They played Cotton Eye Joe, and Jake was the only white boy out there, kicking his legs and making his mama so proud! I love my dance'n boy! Tonight he helped me make some muffins after dinner. Well, in his prayers tonight he thanked Heavenly Father for his "BIG Muffin" and prayed he would get another one in the morning.

Tess has her dad wrapped around her finger! She adores her daddy just as much! Especially when she wants to get away with something (Dan lets her). She is friends with everyone and enjoys the attention her red hair brings. When people comment on her red hair her reply is " I Cute!" She is our doll-baby!

The Barn Park

The world's first bare-back chicken rider!

They love rocks, just like their Daddy!

Tess in her cute shades at our pool

Crafts

Miz Thang!

"UH-UH, I KNOW YOU DI'IN !!"

Wuz UP!

A Change of Place, A Change of Pace !!

Jake and Tess and the DC Temple

Well...we did it !!! We agonized, we debated...and then we decided to take the plunge and move our family from a relatively small southern town to a suburb of Washington, DC. Good bye conservative republican majority, hello Maryland !!! I (Dan) took a job with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Rockville, Maryland on May 27th, 2008. Things have been really good so far and we feel really blessed to have come to a good place for a good reason at a really good time in our lives. The kids and Becky have really enjoyed the area. There are so many free things to do and Bec has met some great friends so far in our ward and in our neighborhood. When we first got here I did what I could to meet people where I could (during my commute) but quickly found out that talking to people on the bus or train is against some sort of commuter's code. I haven't actually seen the code yet but I have learned a few things during my last two months commuting. 1) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER slow down. Even if you don't know where you're going. Go off into the unknown and do it quickly because people don't want to be slowed down. I use to be a firm believer in just letting things work themselves out but I have found that unless I study things out in advance I end up at the wrong subway stop, late for work, in another state, etc...2) Don't talk to other's on the train/bus. Just because your face is 2 inches from someone else's face dosen't mean they want to talk to you. Turns out that the commute is a singular experience in a public setting. I have gotten used to that. So much so that, when someone spoke to me on the bus it startled me and took me several attempts to reply in an intelligent way. 3) When driving- speed or prepare to be passed. We haven't been run off the road yet...but that's only because each road here has 5 lanes. 4) Most importantly, though some people seem a little less friendly on the surface, people are really quite kind.

Tess showing off some of her birthday presents!

Jake and Tess are doing well. Tess just turned 2. We have tried hard to get out and do fun things on the weekends, but we've just touched the tip of the iceberg. One great thing about the move. Jake and Tess have become best buddies. It's cute to watch them play together and it's easy to tell that Tess has learned alot from here older brother. She really is quite smart for her age and is a very good communicator. Jake is also- his matter of factness really cracks us up sometimes. Becky said that today, after his nap, Jake came downstairs and said with a straight face and in a serious tone, "Mom, I really need a cookie". He got it. It is hard to say no.

The hardest thing about the move has been leaving behind our "family" in SC. THis includes my actual family as well as all of our friends from church, work, and the playgroups. We didn't really realize how entrenched we were in Aiken until we left. We miss them all.


Video of Tess's 2nd Birthday