First couple weeks...

This is definitely going to sound like a journal entry, especially since I do not have any pictures of d.c. on this computer. I just thought I should record how it has been going thus far.
First off, Emma was a champ on the airplane. She played on the first 2.5 hour flight. in between planes she made her messy diaper, and then slept the other 2.5 plane ride, literally from before to take off to when we landed. It was wonderful!
The place we are staying at is definitely doable. I was impressed with Aaron's one-day house-finding skills. The first night here Aaron and Emma were having a 'horsey ride' and came across a chunk of glass on the carpet. Turns out, there were pieces of glass all around the apartment. Obviously the house cleaner before hadn't done the greatest job. Most of it was clean, it just needed a bit of a touch up. (I will admit though, that when it comes to clean, I'm a bit OCD.) So it wasn't really that big of deal, I'm just glad Aaron came across the glass before Emma did.
After I had been here a few days, I figured Aaron had dragged me out here to be his maid and taxi driver. It was rainy all week, all day and night, so Emma and I were pulling our hair out trying to think of things to do. Trying to figure out where I was going, stocking the empty shelves with food, doing all of his laundry, cooking...blah blah! Come Saturday I was definitely ready to go back home, I know I'm a wimp. And, it didn't help that Emma was asking to go papa nana's house, or Caden's house at least once an hour!
Luckily we had an invite to go to a friend's farm in Virginia that weekend, so we all got a little break. The farm we went to was absolutely gorgeous. It was like being in a movie. We spent a day at the farm, and then the next morning took off to the beach. Right before the beach, we stopped at McDonald's and if Emma could say what her favorite part of the trip was, I'd say the McDonald's play place would be in the top three. The beach we went to was definitely an adventure, but it served its purpose. Emma got to run around and wear herself out for the car ride home.
The next week was tons better. The sun decided to show itself, so Emma and I were able to get out and do. The parks here are huge. In Utah there's tons of mini parks all throughout the neighborhoods, but here I think everyone has such a massive yard, that they figure they don't need little ones. So when there is a park, everything is there. The one closest to us, Cabin John, is adorable. There is a huge area to play with all sorts of playground equipment for every age, picnic tables and walking trails, and Emma's favorite, a train that the children can ride. This is definitely our saving grace.
The sights here are beautiful, not to mention the landscape. It is so green, (since it rains all the time!) Aaron and I spent all day Saturday around the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, WWII, Korean War, etc. They have a walkway here called the National Mall that has all the views of d.c that you find on post cards. The greatest thing is, most of the museums are free (you just pay for 'em in your taxes!) So far we've been to the Natural History Museum and the National Zoological Park...fancy name for the zoo.
It's kind of a trek to get to these places if you don't want to pay for parking (who would, it's ridiculous) If you have a stroller, don't count on anyone letting you on the metro first. Everyone runs in front of you so they don't get stuck behind you, it's ridiculous. (gotta love the big city attitude) Also, the metro centers are not exactly wheel friendly places. For example, Emma and I went to meet Aaron for lunch downtown the other day, and when I got to the metro, the escalator to go down was broken, and I couldn't find the elevator anywhere, so I had no choice but to carry Emma in one arm and the stroller in the other down the escalator. And of course, not a single person offered to help, except for a lady behind me that offered to walk in front of me to make sure I didn't drop anything...uh, thanks! My face was one hot tamale by the time I finished, I just had to laugh.
This weekend, being Father's Day, we're going to venture down to Virginia Beach and spend a day at the beach. I can't wait to get out of this rainy city (it's been raining again, of course and will be until Saturday!) and veg on the beach. Emma is so excited. She keeps holding up the toys that we are going to take with us and pretend to take off to the beach.

Her little imagination has started to take off. Her latest thing is to get a grocery sack, open the door and say, bye mom, store for milk, soso(soda) appie(apple) juice and sometimes fruit snacks. She'll take off for a while outside in the hallway, then come back in and pretend to hand me the groceries and help put them away. Too funny. I love it when she thinks it's time to change her baby's diaper, she takes great care in choosing the diaper that has the sesame street character her baby wants. I just have to catch her before she throws the "dirty" one in the trash b/c it's still perfectly clean...can't waste those precious things.

All in all, this adventure of ours is turning out to be really fun. Not to mention, Aaron loves his internship at the Treasury, and I think it's convinced us both that we do not want to live in a big city. (phew:) More adventures are sure to come. The pictures, however, will have to wait until I get back to Utah.

Working hard this summer!

Happy 93rd Birthday Grandpa

Grandpa Robinson turned 93 years old this past Saturday, the 31 of May. How would it be?!

Ice cream is always her favorite part...a little bit of Grandma G in her I'd say!

This was the only group shot that turned out clear, of course. My Uncle James and his son David came into town from California for the celebration. It was so fun to get together and celebrate the birthday of your grandpa, especially when he turns 93! Long genes run in the Robinson family. His mom lived to be 102 and his dad was nearly 98. Being only 26, those numbers seem hard to imagine. Happy birthday Grandpa.

First day in d.c.

I figured I need to keep up on my scrapbooking of d.c. or I will forget it all. This was after Aaron's first morning at the Treasury. Emma and I are taking off tomorrow morning to meet up with him for the next 5-6 weeks. We can't wait.

Does it seem like life kind of floats along and then all of a sudden ten things happen at once? That seems to be the story of my life. Aaron and I have lived a pretty low-key, predictable life the past couple of years and I must say I've enjoyed it. Since he's graduated in April, it seems like the box we live in has started to experience a bit of a shaking, a good one that is. I guess, all in all, what can I say, I married a Gabbart, and I wouldn't change it for the world, truly.

Washington d.c. here we come (for 6 weeks that is)

Happy Anniversary!

Aaron and I were treated to a trip to Reno. While we there we took off to San Francisco for a coulpe of days, without Emma. As much as I missed that little red head, Aaron and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The night we got there, Vance took us all to a Reno Ace's ball game. The next morning Aaron and I made the easy drive to San Fran. Everything just seem to fall into place. We got a great deal on our hotel room at the Hyatt, and we got in at the Raffle to see WICKED! Our tickets were awesome. Aaron found out he got a 6-week internship in Washington d.c. at the Treasury the day we left, so we spent a lot of time shopping for suits and shoes that first day as well. The next morning we met up with Ben and Jen Lowry and their two kids, Bella and Noah. It was so fun to catch up with old friends. We met them at the Farmer's Market down at Pier 0 and walked all of the way to Pier 39. Their two little kids were so good the entire time...I couldn't believe it. (Even with Noah's biggest blow out of the century. ) I had never seen Ghiradelli Square (or anything in San Francisco) so they were so nice to take me all of the way over there (we're talking miles of walking) I felt so bad when we got there and it wasn't much to see, but hey, we were in good company! That afternoon we headed back to Reno so we could be back in time for Vance's big debut. He is serving as choir director in the ward there and had spent a year preparing a number for sacrament, O Lord, Our Lord. It went wonderful and Aaron and I loved singing in the choir with him as the director. The trip was packed, but it was so much fun.

Little Ms. Chef

Emma is one big help in the kitchen. She loves to pull her stool over to wherever I am cooking and stick her hands into whatever I am working on. She has mastered cracking the eggs and dumping things (we're still working on aim!) She also loves to mix things in the bowl, especially with the electrical mixer. Probably not an idea approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, but hey, we're having a good time. (I love how you can see her greasy little hand print on the door behind her, I should probably go see if I've cleaned that off!)

These are Caden's shoes that he has since outgrown and she insists on wearing them most of the time...whatever makes 'em happy!

It's a GIRL!

I don't know how I am so lucky, but Aaron and I are going to be having another little girl. We had our ultra sound today and everything went amazingly well. She is measuring a whoppin' 7 ounces (so the ten pounds I've gained...hmm, it must be the placenta and amniotic fluid!) It was so fun to go and see her moving around, sucking on her thumb, and trying to keep her gender a secret. My favorite part is when they turn on the sound of her heartbeat. It beats a million times a minute. It is the most reassuring thing in the world. She is measuring to be born around the 2 of November, but I'm always hoping she'll come early, like her big sis! I am just thrilled!

They must be sisters, Emma was sucking on her thumb as well when we had the ultra sound with her.

Guess who turned 2?

Come on guys...get on with the party!

Sorry these pictures are not that clear, I took snapshots from the video.

Happy birthday my sweetest pea!

Happy Birthday Song

On Emma's birthday, Aaron and I had a small little family party for her. After dinner, Emma and I made some Elmo cupcakes, then sang happy birthday and blew out the candles a gazillion times, she loved it. After presents we headed to Arctic Circle so she could play on the slides.