Playdates with Friends

We've made so many new friends in such a short time and since we're without a car, we go out a LOT!  Back home, I feel pretty comfortable going out on my own with three kids.  Here, I'm an easy victim on my own with three kids, so we mostly aim to meet friends at parks or libraries and it has been an absolute blast!  Everyone has been so generous, supportive, and it's been fun to hang out and get to know our new friends. Along the way, we've even made new friends at the park just from seeing the same faces over and over again.  We're lucky to have

This week, we made slime with friends... green for St. Patrick's Day...(it proceeded to stick around our house, I've found it all over the floor, remnants on clothes, and I am ready to be DONE with it already, it's an annual tradition, but last year I just threw it away after they played with it, this year we took it home in a ziplock bag and it reappeared many mornings after)

We hung with friends on a deck...

 We walked a mile to and from our friend's house...

 We went to a park to meet Andy after work...

 We played in our cement backyard before dinner...

And really just soaked in all of Capitol Hill.  Time is flying now, we're almost halfway through our time here!

A Trip to Union Station

There's something oddly familiar and comfortable about shopping malls wherever I go.  I think it's because growing up, I spent so much time there in my teenager years.  In college, when I was away from home for the first time and not really adjusting to the change, I felt relaxed when I visited the nearby mall that had the same stores at home.  Despite the layout being slightly different, there were familiar smells, sounds, and sights that the mall brought to me.  Even now, as a grown-up, whenever we come upon a mall no matter where we are, the stores that I know of, the Corporate conglomerates with multiple franchises or stores wherever you go, bring me peace and joy in a new place.  When we went to Union Station the first weekend, I was surprised to see a few stores (H&M, The Body Shop, Nine West, MAC, L'occitane, to name a few).  I made a mental note because I knew I'd be going back.

Today, on our way to the Postal Museum right next door to Union Station, we did just that.  We made a quick stop and again, the familiar feel of the stores there made me happy.  Maybe I'm just superficial and wanted some retail therapy, but it felt good to be home away from home.

But now, I have one other thing that brings familiarity no matter where I go and that is the Church, and I'm pretty sure the Church is to my kids what malls were and continue to be for me.  No matter where you go in this world, there is bound to be a church building that you can go to worship in as a Latter-day Saint, where the music, Sacrament, lessons, and church organization is the same as home.

I think my kids have found comfort in that while here.  We're in a new place, making new friends, learning about new roads, new parks, new museums, new grocery stores, etc. but every Sunday, we make our way to Church.  Even though the building looks slightly different than ours, and there's definitely more diversity here in DC than back home, the Spirit is the same and the worship is the same.  Jordan told me surprised, that the theme these kids were talking about here in DC was the same as what he was learning back home.  Even some of the songs they sang were the same, he told me.  Bubba quickly immersed himself in the Nursery here, though the toys aren't the same, he got to play, have a snack, a short lesson, and play with bubbles.  For him, it's also the same.  Andy brought his older basketball shoes and a pair of workout clothes when we were packing for DC.  I wasn't sure why, but he told me hopefully, that maybe some of the guys in DC played weekly ball like in SLC.  Sure enough, he found a group of guys who play weekly ball and has been able to go every week.  I likewise met some nice girls from Church who are at home with their kids and we hang out all the time during the week. At the same time even though it's all the same, there are new differences that I enjoy experiencing as part of the DC experience, but as it has been anywhere we've been (CA, WA, UT) and by that I mean the culture might be a little less conservative and a little more liberal, there might be more working moms, more lawyers and political folks, but the ultimate belief of Jesus Christ, the restored gospel and the Atonement, those are all the same... The packaging and discussions around it may be different by circumstance and environment, but the end game is the same. 

Going to a new city might be a scary thing, but with the Church family that you have access to wherever you go, it really is reassuring.  There is always a home away from home that the organization of a wonderful Church provides, and I am grateful for that.  I wonder if my kids will grow up loving the mall as much as I do by association.

Loves His Big Brother

Bubba loves his older brother so so much!!!  Jordan is also a super sweet bigger brother (most of the time) but every Sunday after they've been apart for two hours while Bubba's in Nursery and Jordan's in Primary, they find each other afterwards and embrace each other in a long heartfelt hug as if the two hours has been completely unbearable! Bubba's always been excited to pick up Jordan from school but our trip here has magnified that love as they spend all day together (no school or extracurricular activities... just the two of them and Dagny when she's not sleeping, all day LONG!).  I mean, he seriously does absolutely everything Jordan does whether it's being obedient, silly, active, playing, singing, running, jumping, etc. with the exception of food, otherwise they are joined at the hip. For some weird unknown reason, when it comes to food, Bubba has his own preferences but as for everything else, there is a love and joy for being just like big bro or being with him all day everyday.

My heart swells with intense gratitude and love for these two goofballs and I just can't get enough of how easy they make mom life of three. More often than not, it feels like Dagny is an only child with entertainment from the boys here and there. They really do just play with each other, eat with each other, and take care of each other (for the most part)... Fights do ensue but they're mostly petty and started by Jordan or because Bubba is just a strong little brother.  They get along more often than they don't and it really does lighten the burden of three kids all day for me.

Shockingly, today's highlights included screen time with lunch while mom took a work call (this is one of their favorite things to do... "Mom, do you have another call today?" They'll ask again and again when they want another show) and other notables are park time with an empty playground, story time with all the nannies on the Hill, and a stroll for some pie to celebrate Pi day with friends!

One thing with three kids is that going out is a lot more expensive. Everyone gets a treat and it adds up quickly, but it's worth it when we get a break with friends and they get a treat with mom. I am loving daily glimpses of what I imagine heaven to be like.

Dagny loves her brothers too, she has so much entertainment watching them and trying to mimic their play.  She loves Spiderman and can carefully stack her markers to use them as a sword while watching her brothers do the same.  She is quick to smile whenever the selfie mode of photo taking comes out, and a few times I've even heard her softly say, "cheese!" or it could be the chits that she wants when she sees chips, haha.  WHO KNOWS?!  

My Second 12 of 12

I can't believe a month has gone by already!  Time really does rob you when you're least expecting it.  Most of the time, I'm wondering if time will go by faster as I'm fatigued, yearning for a break, longing for some silence, wanting so very desperately to just lay still while my kids' mere existence proves otherwise.  And then just like that... I'm thinking a week ago, we were doing this.  A month ago, we were doing this.  A year ago we were doing this.  Five years ago, we were doing this... and seriously, we were in DC about 5 years ago right before Jordan turned 1, celebrating Andy's parents' 30th anniversary with the whole gang (the whole gang back then).  WHAT A TRIP to be back five years later.

In a short month, we've also gone from Salt Lake City to Capitol Hill.  We've gone from van life to stroller life.  We've gone from school to homeschooling.  And this momma is one tired momma.  My legs and body are so sore from the lifestyle change and I am still adjusting.  We have a lot of space in our rental but the kitchen is tiny and I do most of my kitchen prep on a small island with a butcher block top that I have come to absolutely adore.  I might have to get one for our house in SLC when we're back.

Here's my March 12 of 12.  Enjoy!

1. Mommy and Dagny selfie at the park, we went first thing in the AM after breakfast and enjoyed the kids' favorite park, just two blocks from us (the rule is we only go with Daddy because it's a little too big for me to take them on my own and keep watch on all of them) where

2. Jordan scooted along the trail adjacent to the park playground and 

3. Dagny crossed the tiny bridge that connects the loop to the playground and 

4. Bubba climbed on his own to the top of a massive playground equipment and yelled, "I made it Mom!"  

5. Bubba demolishing a Sprinkles sprinkle cupcake - we met some friends here and were invited to their baby's first birthday party in the suburbs where 

6. Jordan and Bubba played in the ball pit at the birthday party, having a ball!  Even Andy joined during the pinata

7. Hopping onto a segway attempting to hit the fox, but really just trying hard not to fall.  Good times at the

8. huge mansion of our friends' parents in Virginia.  We were planning to metro over and then get picked up, thank goodness someone offered us a ride which made it a lot easier and less stressful.  

9. Home from the party, just relaxing with a TV show while Mom and Dad get some much needed rest.  Our bodies are sore all over.  

10. Chalk, scooters, and our cement backyard while Dad picked up some

11. Pizza from &pizza, just a few blocks from our house.  Take out in our

12. backyard, lights and all, it made for a great completion to a fun filled day.  The kids couldn't stop talking about how much fun the party was.  We came back with goodie bags and huge paper bags full of candy from the pinata, and even some woodland creatures (the theme of the party) masks!  

And now, off to bed as Daylight Savings Time also kicked our butts.  I am secretly glad for it though, cuz now our boys will hopefully sleep until 7:30 AM (normal wake-up) instead of 6:30 AM (new DC wake-up since we've been here).  With the sun coming up later, their eastward facing lack of blackout curtain room may keep them engulfed in a sweet bliss a bit longer.  Here's hoping! 

Premium Prices and Sore Legs

Being without a car means I walk a lot every single day.  Even if we stay in all morning (today), by the time an errand arises, we have to venture out into town with a stroller, a carrier, three kids, and good shoes.  It means that my legs are constantly sore, I'm logging in about 6 miles a day of walking, and walk for about an hour a day actively while pushing or carrying children.

Today, we went towards Eastern Market to get some medicine at the nearby pharmacy.  As we stroller back towards a park, we went by some high end baby boutique shops boasting of sales (the sales were not actually good enough to do much more than browse) and then as we meandered about, we found ourselves up in Eastern Market.  I made the decision that it was probably a good time to pick up some produce.  That of course extended into thoughts of do I pay $3 for a bottle of curry powder or chance it and see when our next trip to the grocery store might be?  Do I buy the $2 lemonade and $2 danish so we have something sweet to nibble on besides the chips we brought with us?  And the answer to that and more similar questions was, sure why not.  Living in the City can be expensive quickly, mostly because we end up paying more to shop locally or in small emergency needs shops (where a gallon of milk is a whopping $6!) but even the grocery stores we can walk to are still in the City and therefore still not that much cheaper.  City living is definitely different than anything I've ever experienced!

A week in, we've got a bit of a routine going on which helps the time pass a lot quicker.  The kids are adjusting quite well, meanwhile Andy and I are still extremely fatigued and going to sleep complaining of our old sore bodies not accustomed to the more rigorous active lifestyle of walking everywhere.

The kids normally enjoy the morning starting at 6:30 AM, something we hope will drastically be pushed back once Spring Forward time change arrives.  After Andy leaves us for work, we eat breakfast, get dressed, load the dishwasher, tidy up the dining table and either make our way out for a morning meet-up with friends or get ready for homeschooling fun.  

We got consumed with making our Disneyworld t-shirts yesterday, so we didn't make it out until 2 PM.  The boys enjoyed scooter time in our cement backyard and Dagny was able to nap before we made our way out.  Jordan has told me a number of times that he misses all his toys.  Though him and Bubba have been quite good with the limited number of toys we brought along, he was attached to this rocket we saw at the high-end baby boutique almost immediately.  It was unfortunately too expensive and too big, but we took a photo so we could show Andy and Bubba (who naps everytime we head out for an afternoon stroll).

but mom, I really want this toy to play with...

Dagny can say a number of things, one of which is, "I want chips," because she is obsessed with chip bags.  Give her a bag, and she will sit and munch quietly for about 20 minutes before she stands up in the stroller and tries to escape. She is a fierce, fearless, and feisty one, still small in size but very capable as a 16 month old walker.  We've been at parks when a lot of older 5-8 year olds have been around, and she remains unfazed, eager to get onto the big kids' slide.  The older kids will normally make a huge deal out of the fact that a "baby" is over here, but she gets on her tummy, slides down, and then goes back for more.  

The prices for pretty much everything are steep here, there aren't any restrooms at any of the parks (as we have unfortunately learned), and our bodies are still adjusting, but it is one great adventure that we are all loving.

We Love Nike

It's not rare to see my kids in Nike from head to toe, sometimes it's a bit mortifying to think our family has picked a brand and just run with it but what can I say... My boys love basketball shorts, my husband loves Nike shoes, and today I was also on board as I walked six miles around town, a few in my Sperrys and the majority in my new discounted $20 Nike sneakers! Thank goodness for the relief that came in the form of soft cushions surrounding the blisters on my feet gathered from the weekend's adventures.  

I'm trying to fit into the scene on the Hill, so continually snapping photos of my shoes or the kids and me amidst the colorful doors or beautiful bricks is no bueno. Alas, my photos sucked today so the selfie stick might make an appearance on our jaunts about town tomorrow.  It's not like I'm in Utah anymore, land of Mommy bloggers and photo enthusiasts, where stopping to take a selfie or a shoe photo is pretty normal.  Here in DC, everyone is on their way somewhere with intention, most of the time in a suit or slacks, and it's a completely different culture than I'm used to and the insecure part of me wants to fit in.  Dang it for not bringing some of my slacks to wear to Church! 

Today was filled with a trip to the library and the park, all before noon. We spent a large chunk of the early afternoon at home with Dags napping and the boys eating chicken nuggets in front of the tube while I took an hour long work call. I've never seen them eat so well, but I don't want them to only eat well with a tv on so we probably won't do that again unless I'm desperate (enter probably tomorrow).   

We then did some learning, something the grandparents and great uncles and aunts have been dutifully concerned about since Jordan is missing so much school. He's in pre-k but Andy is half and I'm full Chinese, so the struggle is real. I kid you not, I've been asked continually by everyone what I plan to do with Jordan during this time since he's missing so much school.  It's all sincere concern, but it also reminded me to get off my butt and do some serious homeschooling with my kids.   My kids have never had any issue with free play and utilizing their imagination, but Jordan misses home a bit - mostly his toys and his school routine with best buds, so anything I can do to minimize that with somewhat of a routine will hopefully help.  Also, can someone tell me what a rhombus is?  I think we incorrectly labeled a parallelogram as one.

I think I've figured out Jordan a bit, he likes something fresh and new so I don't push him much with practicing his letters on paper as I used to, we just both get angry and frustrated. Instead, I let him do a few traced letters and the I let him type on the computer. He practiced typing his name a bit and then I typed a story for him to read. We also reviewed some shapes, numbers, and he practiced giving a speech again (something we started on Friday last week which was quite fun for both of us!) and some drawing by mimicking the steps I took. It was a good time for all, not our normal "learning time" trend. The boys then went off to play Power Rangers while Dagny ate lunch and I cleaned up... Yeah, she seriously needs a buddy soon, it can get pretty lonely as the third child.

Mid-afternoon came along and we made our way in the beautiful 60 degree weather towards the Capitol to hang with friends on the east lawn. It was a beautiful walk, one made easier with the help of our new DC friends who always tell us the best ways to walk (google maps is not very direct nor does it know which streets are better to walk on). 

Bubba slept through all of Jordans running across the Capitol Building lawn, and then Jordan said he needed to poop so we all went over to the Library of a Congress.  I couldn't help but snap a photo while we waited for him, it's such a beautiful restroom!  Marble, dark wood, and even a genuine baby changer on the side.  There's a large kid room filled with books, Melissa and Doug puzzles and toys, and the kids enjoyed the last ten minutes before they closed at 4:30 PM, which is coincidentally also when Andy gets off work, so we made our way to the grocery store as did Andy.  Along the way, we saw a dude walking on the other side of the street and it was Andy!  

Making our way home was quite a struggle for me.  The stroller was heavy with Jordan and Dagny as well as all our weekly load of food, and the upward hills here and there did not help.  At least the homes were cute!  The proximity of each home lends itself nicely to the juxtaposition of colorful homes and doors made for an enjoyable walk.  Yes, I did snap a photo and then put my camera away embarrassed that I had done so immediately thereafter.  

Being Fiscally Responsible

As much as I love a detailed excel spreadsheet with numerous if value statements to help me track and analyze our budget and actual spending, I will be the first to admit, it is definitely a downer when it comes to my adult life.  In fact, it's often a cruel reminder that as a grown up, I an confined to practical needs (not material wants), sacrificing for the sake of my family, and saving and preparing for the future.  

As part of our DC adventure, we made the decision to dip quite a bit into our savings, most of which I had single handedly built from a brief stint in public accounting back in my early 20s.  I did this by carefully growing my savings despite salary increases and keeping my spending consistent with my first year as a staff auditor, oh- and staying single helped too!  Despite a few daring expenditures here and there, I was pretty conservative and saved saved saved.  My goal was to buy a house in 5 years and I wanted enough cash on hand to put a down payment for my future.  I guess you could say, I look back at that now and think - man, why didn't I have a few more irresponsible excessive throwing cash away type of escapades then?  Why did I have to be so fiscally responsible?!

Because the truth is, life now doesn't exactly allow for any fiscally irresponsible decisions.  

We've trying so hard to live frugally while in DC.  And I have learned quickly, and ignorantly so, that living in the City is quite expensive.  The food is more expensive and more inaccessible than anywhere I've ever lived (I've never lived in a City without a car). In exchange for walking further, we can pay a small premium by ordering groceries online or shopping at the nearby food mart, but my cheap fiscally responsible self cannot fathom why better planning cannot circumvent that dilemma.  It reminds me of the days when I visited my brother and opened up my big generous wallet to pay for whatever pre-cut fruit he wanted.  Oh how I wish someone would come and do that for me now! 

Sadly, we aren't eating that great while we're here.  Part of the conundrum is the tiny limited kitchen supplies and ingredients we have on hand, the other part is that eating out includes a 10% tourist tax and our boys are starting to develop quite an appetite.  Just this weekend, we easily spend $45 on lunch at Shake Shack for the five of us, and no crumb was left behind.  We drank every single drop of our milkshakes, ate every single thing on our plate, and truly got our money's worth.  Sort of.  $45 for a family of 5 still seems hefty!  

But, it is really easy to get by on very little if you're willing to sacrifice nutrition for convenience.  Ramen, quesadillas, cereal, waffles, and pasta have been staples in our time here, and even though we're trying some food delivery services with all ingredients and preparation instructions provided, it's not a long term solution but more of a one-time discounted attempt to eat a little better and not for a couple more weeks.  For someone who likes to munch of fresh vegetables with hummus, I am finding it a difficult sacrifice but one necessary for our family, because even with our budgeted food spending, we have still managed to spend $300 at Costco, $100 at WalMart and about $50 at other places thus far.  It is the second week we are here, our frozen amenities are about 50% depleted, we're all out of bread and rolls, and it's looking like cereal might be on the menu for dinner next week.   

Like I said, being fiscally responsible is not always pleasant.  However, I will also be making mango smoothies, we have lots of yogurt and Cuties left, and still half a bag of frozen broccoli to remedy our dip into the dark side of eating.  Here's to week two of DC!