Little Days at the Navy Yard

Our solace this hot, hot summer has been the Navy Yards. 

South of Capitol Hill, along the Anacostia River, the water front is being revitalized. 

Like most DC projects, it is taking longer than planned, with promises of restaurants and coffee shops in Spring of 2013. But at the end of the day, we don't mind these places aren't open yet, because the water has been open since 2011. I don't always blog about our trips to Yards because we go so often, I would never have time to blog about anything else!  If you aren't convinced how much we like this place, just check out that I have also blogged about it (in no particular order) here, here, here, and here.

Yards Park boasts a water feature with fountains, lights, and a waterfall that runs into a lower level canal. The canal is the big hit, it is long and wide and less than a foot deep. Behr loves, loves, loves the canal. The rules say no swimming, because it is intended for wading. But Behr still "pretends" to swim. Hudson likes being down by the water too. Behr and Hudson have developed a friendly banter by the water splashing each other. Behr also sometimes realized Hudson is off giggling under the shade and Behr will come pester him. But Hudson doesn't seem to mind. 

We go first thing in the morning, mid-day, before dinner, and sometimes even bring a picnic dinner during one of their outdoor concerts. Not all in the same day of course. We love Yards. I am sold, hook line and sinker. If you visit us in DC, we are bound to take you. Come join us!

I also share my trips to Yards on instagram. Here is one of my favorites.

Vacationing Slow / The Beach, Part 3

 

Vacationing Slow

Just us.

No one else to talk to. No one else to entertain. No distractions.

One of the most unexpected surprises what the amount of time to observe my little family, my boys. We don't pack light when we go to the beach. In fact, we brought a full wagon of gear each day. But this allowed us to camp out from about 10 in the morning to nearly dinner time. All three boys successfully napped on the beach. It was heaven. I was most thankful that life's distractions were largely removed and I could sit back and watch.

More from our vacation:

Part One
Part Two
on instagram:

#schreibersummer2013

Little Days Link Up (no rules, just fun):

Little Days Hudson's Faces

Hudson is still living large in the days or "I have no neck." But little by little he is happier sitting more upright. Often times at the park, I plop him in the front of our stroller so he can take everything in without needing to be held in the sticky heat. We sit and make faces at each other while Behr runs around. It isn't much, but it is sweet time the two of us have. The way Hudson switches from face to face reminds me that he is just learning to flex these muscles. He will make a new face, looking as if it takes tremendous effort to reach this new expression and then just like that, the elastic springs back to his resting phase. It reminds me of testing out my sense of feeling after dental work and trying desperately not to publicly drool. Can you imagine what it would feel like to move your face in a new way for the first time?                                        Disclaimer: compensated affiliate links may be used in this post. 

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Little Days: Pool Side

Happy Independence Day!

We are currently on vacation in a small Massachusetts town where we used to live. We plan to take advantage of the parts of summer we miss living in the city, pools that aren't over crowded, the beach, ice cream stands aplenty and peaceful quiet evenings.

How do you celebrate summer? Do you go on vacation? Where?

We are still navigating our own family traditions, tagging along with our parents on their annual trips in the mean time. But one thing is certain, we like to be outside and eating simply, where bathing suits are our daily uniform. Swimming, sunshine and picnics are our favorite part of summer. This picture was from a visit to my parents' swim club. Behr took a break to soak in the sun and warm up from the cold pool water.

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Share a post of what makes the days with your children special. The goal of this link up is to encourage busy mommas to remember the little moments that outweigh the struggles and make it worth the adventure.

Little Days with Hudson

 

 

It is high time Hudson made an appearance on little days. I have had these pictures for a few weeks, but wasn't sure if they would ever make the blog.

// these pictures are from before I cut my hair
// from a moment when I was cranky and barking at the people I love, before this post
// these pictures are from the height of colic and Hudson wasn't having it

Instead, these pictures will remind me that hair grows, that yelling never actually makes things better, and that this sweet little scrunched up fussy face cried for hours and hours his first few weeks of life but we still love him. Also, I his serious face kills me.

We are slowly creeping out of colic (I am so afraid to say that!) and enjoying smiles. That's most of what we are doing these days, enjoying more smiles.

p.s. My shirt is from stitch fix! 

I am so grateful that I have a few new items to spruce up my wardrobe. 

It makes me actually want to get my picture taken. Sort of.

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Little Days Pump It Up

Have you ever been to a bounce house? Or a kid's birthday party where they rent a moon bounce? We recently went to a birthday party that was all that and SO MUCH MORE. The party was held a Pump It Up, an indoor inflatable private party franchise. Does it get any better? Thirty kids 6 and under running around in controlled chaos, monitored primarily by high school students. As parents we hardly lifted a finger. It was a bit loud, but there were very few meltdowns. Best of all, the parents actually had real conversations because while we were in the same room as our children, they were fully entertained in a locked room. I never thought this sort of party would be my sort of thing, but now I am sold.

Do you see that face?

Pure joy.

Bring on the bounce house birthday parties.

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Share a post of what makes the days with your children special. The goal of this link up is to encourage busy mommas to remember the little moments that outweigh the struggles and make it worth the adventure. 

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Little Days with Cousins

You've heard me talk about my cousins before at least a few times. I come from a big family that all have big families. It makes family get together chaotic and crazy and recently, a lot more fun. There are more than a dozen of us each a few years apart, but in the past 6 years, Aunts and Uncles have added 4 cousins born and I had two children of my own. For the first time in years, there are a handful of kids about the same age at family gatherings. Shortly after Hudson was born, we met up with everyone to give him a proper introduction to his great big Greek-Irish-Catholic-German-and a little bit of everything else family on his Mom's side. And of course, we always aim for a group picture...

Do you live near family or get to visit with them? Do you have lots of cousins?  Or are you an only child? I am fascinated by families! Tell me what it was like growing up in your family or what it is like for your kids now!

Join us for the Little Days link up - link to a recent post about your kids. The rules are flexible so you can share what you wish, but please share the love and visit some of the other folks who link up!

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Little Days with Friends on the Water

When we were visiting friends over Memorial Day weekend, I swapped Hudson for the three big kids and piles them all in my new Phil&Ted's stroller. Our friends live in a neighborhood with water access and it was fun to take the kids down to see. Our adventure tested the limited of stroller versatility as well as my own ability to wrangle three near danger. When the kids clamored up to this bench, I was sure to make them pause for a picture. Being familiar with their moms snapping pictures, these three rascals all started rocking back and forth. The result of many of the pictures were a blur, but two turned out well enough to share.

I am grateful for friend with kids who live on the water. I am also grateful for these friends for a a lot more reasons, too many to mention.

 Disclaimer: compensated affiliate links may be used in this post.

Join the Little Days link up!

Share a post of what makes the days with your children special. 

The goal of this link up is to encourage busy mommas to remember the little moments that outweigh the struggles and make it worth the adventure. 

Little Days: Morning Trains

...crash!

I mean, that smile. It makes me melty.

Do you see that little light on the front of the train? Yup, that one. 

Well that means we go through a lot of batteries in our house these days.

Saturday, May 11th was National Train Day. Mark, Behr and Uncle Ben went exploring Union Station and returned with plenty of swag. The biggest perk was a renewed fascination from Behr to set up his own train tracks at home. We spent most of the next morning making and remaking tracks, cleaning up collision sites, and perfecting our "chugga chugga..." Coffee, bagels, and trains are a wonderful way to spend an early morning, don't you think?

Did you go to any National Train Day celebrations?

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Little Days is a weekly series geared towards capturing our children and their stories. The hope is for this series to become a way to continue to encourage one another to enjoy the small moments and create a record of the little days - the easily missed moments of childhood. Join us by linking up your own recent post and helping to spread the word. #littledays

Little Days: Behr's First Carnival

While visiting family in Pennsylvania, we made a last minute decision to check out the local fare. Twenty-five dollars later, Mark and my dad, Popouli, were carrying neon tickets of fun. At first, Behr was skeptical, but quickly realized he was having fun and the center of everyone's attention. How many 2 year olds get followed around by a five person entourage at the local fair? You could say Behr is a popular guy. Hudson on the other hand, slept through the entire experience.

I never realized how bizarre the fair is and how expensive! My sister and I thanked my parents again, profusely for taking us to so many of the area fairs while we were growing up. We can only imagine the chaos of two parents corralling the four of us, not to mention the cost. I also didn't realize that the carnival games are extra money, not paid for by tickets. This nearly put us over the age when a rubber ducky game was denied. Thank goodness for diversions.

And thank goodness for grandparents who helped make this experience special for Behr (and free for us)!