Our first visitor

Look who came for a visit?  Yep, Mom Mom!  Of course nothing ever changes...just because Mom Mom is here doesn't mean the kids stop tormenting each other.  Sebastian's latest thing is giving something to Ava and then reclaiming it back a minute later.  Ava's latest thing is tattle telling on her brother and screaming when she doesn't get what she wants.  

In the photos below Sebastian "lends" Ava his razor scooter.  He even lowers the handle bar to her height and then he rides off on the scooter (you can see Ava running after him).  Then he thinks he's a circus clown riding on Ava's little tricycle.  Now I know where my kids got it from (my older brother and I are eight years apart).  :-P

Sebastian and Mom Mom playing Marjhong on the laptop.

Sebastian showing Mom Mom his new talent.

Ava patiently waiting for Mom Mom to finish her nap (and watching t.v.)

I even got Mom Mom to have lunch with me at my favorite Pho shop  :-D

Another family reunion

Last weekend we drove back to PA to check on the house and had another BBQ at my brother's house.

This is a characature of my nephew and his girlfriend.

Sebastian got to play with Elizabeth for a few hours.  I hope they stay in touch.  I miss that girl ;-)

Play ball

Since this is baseball and softball season, Ava decided to learn the game.  

Daddy showing Ava some pointers while Sebastian plays catcher and umpire.

Then Ava realized that T-ball was MUCH easier.

Ava tries out all the balls in the yard.  

The peanut gallery?

Compassion

This man has been on the same intersection every morning when I take Ava to daycare (see 2nd & 3rd picture). I call this intersection the "homeless alley" because there are about three homeless people walking the sidewalks on any given day.  I don't know how long he's been out there but like clockwork, he's always there at the same time every day.  I do have to laugh because this man has the biggest sign.  He also gets to stand on the main intersection divider which is the prime spot where all the traffic is.  All the other homeless people get the sidewalks.  I think he's been walking the same intersection for quite a while because he's cleared a path where grass use to grow.  I guess in a sense, he's the "king of the hill."

Everything tastes better outdoors

Finally, after living in a high rise apartment for three weeks, there's a BBQ area in the new apartment complex.  There's picnic tables and a grill right outside of our front door.

Michael bought a monkey for Ava when he traveled to North Carolina.  I guess Ava wanted to bring the monkey to dinner.

I have no idea what song or dance she was doing but she kept on doing it even though I had the camera out.  She usually stops!  

Yay, Daddy is home!

Home away from home (again)

We moved into the three bedroom apartment on the 18th.  Michael missed the apartment in Bethesda because it reminded him of city living.  I on the other hand like living on the second floor in the second apartment and being able to look out at trees and picnic benches.  

YO....where's my beer woman?!

Oh Marley, you silly cat!

Yep, still sleeping in the same positions.  Doesn't matter where we are.

Smiles

We spent a LOT of time at playgrounds in April.  Out of hundreds of pictures I take, I get a few candid shots that make me smile.  The expressions on their faces just warm my heart.  I'm glad I'll have these for our family albums one of these days.  :-D 

Shorts are hazardous

Daddy and Ava were sitting on the front porch admiring the fresh landscaping and newly planted flower pots.

It was another warm morning and this was Ava's first pair of shorts she put on.  She decided to go out on  the sidewalk to skip and she took a tumble.  I didn't actually see her fall but when she came running up to the porch, this was what I saw.  I didn't know it was so serious.

Yep, two bloody scraped knees called for two batman band aids and lots of TLC from Daddy (ignore the iphone).

I still think she had the most adorable, pathetic face.

As you can see, she survived her trauma and braved her tricycle.

Sebastian bringing Mommy a handful of flowers.

Ava got the same idea.  I didn't have the heart to tell the kids that the pretty yellow flowers were weeds (dandelions).  ;-)

Mommy and Ava posing with our pretty flowers.