April Update

Recently it has felt as if Washington bypassed spring and went straight into summer. One day it even reached 70!  It has been gorgeous, which really works out because I hosted Paula, a friend from Interlochen. 

We did the usual- Seattle's Pike Place Market, Space Needle, and the Olympic National Park.  We rounded her trip off with a quick road trip to Portland to visit a used and new mega bookstore and Voo Doo Doughnuts. That ended up being the highlight of Paula's trip!  We could have spent 7 straight days in the bookstore alone, but we were only there for about an hour. We waited in line for doughnuts for an hour and a half. It was absolutely, positively worth it!  My mouth waters at the thought of a "Portland Cream!"

In addition to playing tourist, we've been taking advantage of the beautiful weather by patronizing local parks after school. Even though we have a swing set at home, Jacob likes to swing at the park. 

Joseph is enjoying the end of school and really looking forward to summer. Jacob is busy picking up new phrases and idioms. "That's cool!" and "I want a fist bump!" are among his most common. 

Caribbean Cruise

We have been hearing about the joy of cruising from Joe's parents for years and we finally relented and purchased a cruise to the Caribbean. This is, after all, our 10 year anniversary!

It was such a special time for us. Although we missed our boys dearly, there's something about getting away from work and the daily tasks of routine life that is so revitalizing. We went swimming in the warm pool, relaxing in the hot tub, eating in the various venues, watched a lot of great entertainment, met many interesting and fun people, and rekindled an excitement that we haven't witnessed since the time when we were just a couple of kids in love. 

It wasn't but three days into the cruise that we were already planning our next one- this time with the kiddos. There are many onboard activities for children and after viewing the facilities and meeting the staff, I feel comfortable leaving the boys in their capable hands. 

We suspect our next cruise will likely be with family- the four of us and Nana and Poppy. We hope to see Alaska because we've heard that it is incredible.  I'm fine going anywhere- just point me to the direction of the breakfast buffet line. 

Symposium in Washington DC

After spending 8 days away from my boys, I had to turn around and leave them for another 5 days to attend the Child Care Aware of America Symposium in Washington DC.  Although at first it was terribly difficult leaving the boys, when I arrived, I felt a resurgence of excitement. I love DC. I love conferences. I love spending time getting to know the people with whom I work. This was a perfect time to do some of the things that I love.

This is Erik and I. I flew in a day early so I could adapt to the time change more easily. This afforded me the opportunity to see Erik, my BFF from band camp.  I haven't seen him since we took our road trip to New York City in 1999.  We went to a hip eatery and had "adult" milkshakes with French fries. At first I was afraid that it would be awkward since we hadn't seen day other in a while. It really wasn't!  It was as if we picked up right where we left off. That is an ideal friendship, if you as me!

After we hung out, I went back to my room and waited for my partner in crime- Kathy.  She is the genius that hooked us up with the great digs we had in DC. We were in a posh area of DC (according to Erik) and conveniently located next to all the attractions. Kathy is also my mentor. I look up to her like I would an older sister. She's wise, dedicated, fun, caring, honest... I could go on and on. She's amazing. 

This is an inside joke- you had to have been there. Trust me, it was funny!

Here we all are the night before we hit the Hill.  These women are...  Incredible. That's all there is to it. Seriously!  Strong, intelligent, grounded, and full of purpose.  It's nice to get to know each other outside of our roles at work. 

I'm grateful for the opportunities that I've had with my current job. I've learned and grown so much personally and professionally. I've met incredible individuals along the way that continue to inspired me.  I'd be hard pressed to find another job that could challenge and engage me the way this one does.   We're a perfect fit!