Lunch

I decided to let Zoe eat her lunch at her picnic table....here she is enjoying her cookies after she finished her main course......

Finger licking good I guess.

We went to the.......

On Saturday we headed to DC to visit the National Zoo. We took the Metro again (even easier the second time around) And Zoe insisted on her own seat for most of the journey.

We grabbed lunch when we got there and due to the staggering high 80/ low 90 degree temps (what happened to Spring???) we got some ice cream....


(Zoe is actually wearing a shirt that says I scream for ice cream...ain't that the truth!)

Finally we got to see some animals. We saw Lions and Tigers and Bears oh my. The Lions were sleeping and we could barely see them but one of the Tigers was a little active even in the heat

("Mom do you see the elephants???")

After the hippo we decided to call it a day. We headed home via the Metro after a quick stop at Starbucks to help Chris and I stay awake for the trip back. We will definitely go back (afterall we missed the Giant Pandas and the Zoo is free) but we will pick a cooler less humid day for sure.

Cloth Diapering

Ok so a few months ago I got the brilliant idea that I would start using cloth diapers on Zoe. I bought 2 to try them out and they were great. Chris thought so as well so we decided after a few weeks that I would buy some more. The first 2 were purchased at a store in North Carolina and with no option to buy from a store near me in Annapolis I turned to the Internet. Do you have any idea how many freaking websites are out there for cloth diapers????? It is ridiculous and of course for every website I check out I find out about more products leading me to even more websites to do more research.

We are up to about 7 diapers now with more being ordered as I type. I have 4 different brands thus far and the ones I am ordering are going to be a completely different system all together. I am glad I am doing this for so many reasons (mostly environmentally and financially) I just wish they were more readily available at say a store within 50 miles of me!

Well wish me luck on my ongoing hunt to find the perfect cloth diaper and cloth diaper website!

Starbucks

Yummy Starbucks.......

Just kidding that was my drink this was Zoe's.......good old water. But she did enjoy a very tasty banana chocolate chip coffee cake along with the water.

On the Go!

Today Zoe and I walked downtown to attend Zoe's first "On the Go" class (think My Gym or Little Gym). As we were walking through the Academy what did we find....soap bubbles!!! Apparently someone pulled a senior prank or just a prank in general and filled a fountain on campus with soap causing lots and lots of bubbles...

(The fountain is in the middle of those 2 buildings...the soap was all over this grassy area)

We continued on to class and Zoe was thrilled from the start. She got to walk upstairs to the gym where she found toys galore and other kids to play with...here are some highlights of the 45 minute session:

(building a block tower and then knocking it down)

(Walking through the "tunnel" all on her own)

(Climbing up the slide again and again like a big girl....even was ok with other kids taking turns)

(Playing drums and beating the heck out of the floor with the rest of the band...ie the other kids)


(And perhaps the best part....BUBBLES!!!!!)



Afterwards we went and picked up lunch and walked over to Chris' office to enjoy it with him. Zoe of course fell asleep on the way home so I enjoyed a quiet walk and an amazing view...can't wait to do it all again next week!

Happy Hour, Playgrounds, and Croquet oh my

So I bet my title got you wondering right? Well that was our weekend in a nut shell. On Friday afternoon we drove over to Gate 1 (the main gate of the Academy and the closest to downtown) we parked our car and then proceeded to walk downtown and over the bridge to Eastport. The MRE moms and dads were having a happy hour. It was a great walk as the weather was beautiful and happy hour was fantastic. Kids were of course welcome and the family that hosted has a beautiful home on the water. Chris got to finally meet some of the moms that I spend so much time with and I got to meet many of my friend's husbands. Around 7:30 we called it quits and started our walk back home. Downtown was packed!!! Tourist season has definitely begun but all the energy is fun to be around.

On Saturday morning we headed to a park nearby to check out a craft fair I had heard about. We were not so impressed with the sale but Zoe had a blast on the playground. After messing around there for awhile we headed out to get some lunch and run errands. We did stop on the Seawall inside the academy and watch the sailboats as they were out in full force for the first time since last fall.

(View from the playground)

(Zoe on the Swing)

Sunday was a great day as well. It was the annual Croquet match between the Naval Academy and St John's College. We obviously had no idea what went into this event as we showed up in casual clothes and no alcohol. Many people dressed up for the Gatsby-esque affair complete with 20's style hats and dresses. Food and Drinks were in abundance and the jazz music could be heard all over. We meet up with some MRE friends as well as our navy buddies over on the St John's front lawn. Zoe loved showing off her walking skills and eating the cupcakes. The Croquet match, while it was the purpose of the event definitely was more of a side show to all the socializing and drinking.

(Zoe and Daddy when we first arrived)

(The croquet match. The Midshipman in the Letterman sweaters were playing and the midshipman in uniforms were their caddies - often holding up umbrellas for full effect)

(Zoe and Daddy still having fun)

(The McCurry girls together at last)

(The whole fam)

Afterwards we headed to Costco for some much needed supplies (we hadn't been in over a month!!! - that is a long time for us). Hot dogs and pizza for dinner and then home at last. Zoe is now sound asleep after a weekend full of fun and Chris and I prep for another work week.......but on the calender for next weekend....the Zoo!! Hopefully the weather stays nice.

The District

Well we finally made our first visit to DC. Soon after arriving to see the Cherry Blossom Festival we decided that our time in the city would be better spent as a reconnaissance mission. The Festival was packed as was the city. Many factors contributed to this we think: Weekend, Spring Break, and the first Beautiful Weather in awhile. So we made our way from the Smithsonian Metro Station through the Mall and walked through the main part of the Cherry Blossom Festival allowing Zoe to take a few steps as well.




We then headed up Pennsylvania Ave toward the White House where as to be expected there was a huge crowd. We took a picture from afar and a few for other tourists and then moved on.

We made our way next to the Washington Monument where Zoe played and pushed her stroller. We got a few good pics of us as well.

We then headed down the hill and finally saw a grouping of Cherry Blossoms that we wanted to check out....as did everyone else. Chris and I were shocked that people were pulling branches down and taking blossoms home.

(Zoe and I with our wind swept hair)


(Zoe trying to wear my sunglasses)

(Chris trying to show Zoe the kites that everyone seemed to be flying)

After a few shots of the Cherry Blossoms (the whole reason we had come in the first place) we decided to head home. We made our way to the metro station that we had arrived at and quickly decided to keep walking. There was a line just to get into the station. We walked about 4 or 5 blocks to the next one and happily walked right in and waited for our train. We got a seat but as you can see below Zoe didn't care she was already fast asleep and stayed so the entire 30 minute ride back to our car. Chris and I are excited to go again but during the debrief it was decided that a weekday is a must!!!

(Zoe asleep in her stroller in the Metro Station waiting for our train to go back home)