Pictures with Santa

Daddy Frank starts nights this week, so we decided to take the boys to the mall and see Santa during the day and there was NO LINE! Frank was very excited to see santa... he was again in awe of the big guy from the North Pole. This time he told santa he would like a Christmas tree with presents... apparently any presents would do! Here is the best picture of the two boys looking at the camera

I "bootlegged" this picture because i thought Frank looked so cute... But Charlie was looking at Santa

Camera-SHY

Frank has not been a fan of getting his picture taken lately.... making my attempts for a Christmas card difficult...

Black Friday Fun

For Black Friday we went to Alexandria for the day and just walked around, shopped, had lunch... it was such a beautiful day!

Charlie enjoyed being carried by Aunt Molly

Later that night we played with cars and tracks on the stairs

Had a game of Monopoly before bed

and a nice bath

We were very sad to see our Family go back to Ohio!

Rock Park

There is a trail next to our house Frank refers to as the "rock park" He LOVES to take daddy over there and aunt Molly joined them

Frank likes to throw rocks in the creek bed

But is not really pleased to get his picture taken anymore...

Frank(s)

Checking out the scenerey

Showing aunt Molly the big rock

And the "Bear Cave"

What a fun place to explore

and to tell stories

Frank and Frank

Checking out the cliff edge

Charlie's first Thanksgiving

Charlie enjoyed his first Thanksgiving

He received LOTS of attention from his family

Crawled around

Tried to get into trouble

Played with some old friends

And had a good laugh!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Turkey Trot 2011

This year the Hartge Family came to visit us in DC! and due to a very lucky fall of the rotation calendar Daddy Frank had Thanksgiving day off!! (and our anniversary too...) So we decided to continue the tradition of "Turkey trotting" in DC. It was MUCH more crowded... and quite hilly... but I think all included had fun!

Frank with his "monster" hat pre-race

8 Months Old with the Gund Bear

Charlie is 8 months old! and on the MOVE! He can crawl... pull up on everything... he is a man on the move! He is the silliest little guy you have ever met and quite the charmer! He loves his Peak-a-block because he can play and pull up on it. He is starting to find interest in the train table (uh-oh) and cars/trains his brother plays with. Charlie's Favorite foods are PUFFS! and Baby Mum Mum rice husks. He also likes corn, peas, carrots, apples, sweet potatoes, squash... basically anything I can steam and dice he likes... he likes to feed himself! We can't believe how fast he is growing!

Charlie at 8 months

Seriously... such a happy baby!

He would rather stand than sit...

Smile

No... Charlie is not ornery at all... just look at his smile...

Check out FRANK at 8 months

Growing and Growing

It is great to see how much our little Charlie has grown in these past 8 months!

8 Months Old

7 Months Old

6 Months Old {18lbs 5oz and 28 inches}

5 Months Old {17lbs and 27 inches}

4 Months Old {16lbs 1oz and 25.5 inches}

3 Months Old

2 Months Old{12lbs 10oz and 23 inches}

1 Month Old {10lbs and 13oz}

2 Weeks Old {8lbs 11oz and 20.75 inches}

Check out how much he looks like big brother Frank!

Ruth Visits!

My friend Ruth was in town for a conference, and decided to extend her visit and hang out with us for some extra days! The boys had a great time with her and we were able to tour the city on Friday! Here are some pictures from her visit. We walked all over the mall, to the capitol building, library of congress, took the metro to U street for Ben's Chili Bowl then walked back downtown to the car. Frank was in school, and Charlie loved every second of the trip, he took two naps while on our walk!

Charlie and me in front of the White House

Capitol Hill

Charlie and Ruth in the metro

Ben's Chili Bowl... YUM

No Rest for the Charlie

Charlie does not like to sleep... he still wakes up 2-3 times a night... he usually goes to bed around 9:00 and will scream so loud he keeps his brother up if we try to let him "cry-it-out"... so of course... we don't...

Seriously this little guy has us right where he wants us... but he is so stinkin' cute

This picture is seconds before he pulled the TV plug out of the wall... he is everywhere!

Handsome

What a handsome little charlie we have

Brotherly Love

Nothing sweeter...

Happy Veterans Day!

on 11/11/11 we get to say thanks to all the veterans who help protect our country! Special thanks to my hubby and brother who are both veterans of the Iraq war. Unfortunately Frank never gets veterans day off... hospitals still see patients every day of the year... but we want him to know how much we love him! Frank had these pictures pulled up for yesterday (marine corps birthday) where they were supposed to have a party... but the floor was so busy they didn't even have time to cut the cake... I just couldn't get over how -young- he looked in these pictures (and of course handsome).

daddy Frank in Iraq 2005

Laying wire in Iraq

I wanted to add this picture because it is a "profile shot" and I always comment how Frank4 and Charlie have the EXACT same profile... it is uncanny...

and I can tell where they BOTH get it from! This is Frank2 {who was a dentist for the Navy} I definitely think there is a family resemblance!