Piano with Jessica

Jack started piano lessons at Northlake Academy of Music today. We come directly from school and beat the after school rush. Jack is learning music theory and moved along to the 4th lesson today. I love how flexible private lessons are!  Theo played with the train table, dollhouse, tree house and kitchen set while Jack took his lesson. That's a win win for me!!

special delivery

Theo had several packages that were delayed by hurricane Isaac. We were surprised a full week after expected delivery by 3 packages at the doorstep! Mimi and Papa sent little Lego people and he loves them!!  Grandvonnie sent a Spiderman PlayStation game, and my friend in Chicago sent the Flash costume and Lego set.  Needless to say, the boys are in seventh heaven :-)

Bonus pictures: Theo drew the two of us at school yesterday. He'll really make the sweetest husband to some lucky lady one day. And here is the giant cookie cake I sent in for Theo's birthday. I'm sure it took up a whole table.

Pictures from school

Theo's teacher took these pictures today with a small camera that I sent in since they were celebrating his birthday today.  I loaded the poor carline helpers up with a giant cookie cake, 26 party favors, and 30 juice boxes :)  I just love this little insight into his day.  His teacher sure wins points for being super sweet and taking these pictures!!

Harry Potter Legos

Dave took the boys to Target yesterday to cash in Theo's birthday gift cards. He chose all sorts of Lego sets, which is not surprising. Here the boys are assembling part of Hogwarts. Now Jack wants to get the other section of it. I told him to ask Santa!!!

Theo is 5

Hurricanes can't keep us down, especially when sweet T has a birthday. We had some friends stay over last night since their power hadn't been restored yet. Dave and I blew up balloons and had them all around for Theo to see when he woke up.

We wanted to take the birthday boy to Donut King to fill his bag up with donuts, however they weren't back up and running yet. A different donut place was open though and saved the day. We sang to Theo and tried to make his day special. Later we opened his cards and ate cookie cake. We love you, Theo!!!  Happy 5th birthday.

Hurricane Isaac

We evacuated to Baton Rouge on Monday to escape hurricane Isaac. Gigi and Dada are more inland and never lost power during the storm. We rode out Isaac by watching nonstop Weather Channel coverage, playing puzzles, making toy models, and eating. A lot of eating!!  The boys helped Gigi and Dada clean up before we headed back home (well, a little). Thank you for sheltering us, Gigi and Dada!

Smithsonian and WW II Monument

Our little group (minus bridesmaid Shannon) took the Metro into DC the morning of the wedding. It was fast and furious, but we managed to see a ton of sights on our list.

We saw the monument, though could not go to the top since it was severely damaged in the earthquake last year. Next we popped in to the Smithsonian museum and saw the First Lady dresses, Julia Child's kitchen, the ruby red slippers, and Kermit!!

Lastly, we walked over to the WW II monument. My grandmother and I always talked of visiting the monument together so going without her was bittersweet. I did take a ton of pictures to share with her. I just recently finished reading Unbroken for book club and truly soaked in the significance of the monument.