Hello, again! From California... California, Maryland that is

So I had a two month hiatus. In those two months we...

-moved to a different state
-started new schools
-said bye to old friends and made new ones
-reunited with friends from years past
-started a new job in a new discipline
-went on a road trip to PA and NY
-went on a road trip to celebrate a special 2 year old boy
-experienced a first in camping with girl scouts
-went on field trips
-had visitors from out of town
-celebrated Easter
-splashed in mud puddles


So we have quite a bit to tell you about. We made our big move to Maryland. The girls had adjustment period but we are now on the other side of it and I will say we faired well.

 When the house was packed in VA, the girls enjoyed hide and seek and coloring the boxes.

 Then once in Maryland, box houses were the big hit.

I will be back soon to fill you in on our lastest adventures. 

let's band together

Yep, we are on day 34!

Those arm bands were put on her March 1st! She wants to keep them on "incase she goes back to the Great Wolf Lodge, the she can get in for free"

I think she is attached to them because they are a great conversation starter. SEVERAL people have talked to her about the Great Wolf Lodge and then she gets to share her stories. 

But just when I think the yellow one is on its last leg...

We go to a base easter egg hunt and they require this...

Do you see it? Yet another yellow wristband on her right hand. YAH! : /

The Big Purple Chair

The local Children's Museum has a giant purple chair that is the perfect photo op. So of course we take our picture every time we visit.

This is December 14, 2008. The day before Reese was born. It was our last hoorah for Brady before her life changed forever (for the better obviously). 

Elli made her debut shortly after we moved back to Virginia Beach. This is February 2013.

Then we visited about a year later. These pics are from March 16, 2014.

 Glad to have a flock to fill up the chair now. 

Life is Good!

Here are more fun pictures from our recent visit.

Cold windy Brady

 Elli wanting momma.

 Reese rocking the Pixie.

 Orthner shadow

 Reese in her domain...performing

 Brady learning how to run light and sound board.

 Things that go.

 Karl using his muscles on the pulley chair.

 Cha-ching

 Stray dog in the museum.

 Another lost mutt,

 Cutest fire fighter EVER!

 Three little Orthners in a bubble!

 Book worm

Another item on our bucket list completed!

2013 Bucket List COMPLETED

This post is a few months behind, but I can proudly say we kicked the bucket...list in the behind! We had it completed in late October.

I orginially made this list right after our move to get us excited about the new possibilities in this new town. Remember this list was created over a year ago.

Here it is:

-go on a rocketship (Reese)

We visited the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, VA in September. We explored all sorts of air vehicles including rocketship. We also got to see a rocket take off from our front porch one night! We kept the girls up so they could witness this extraodrinary event.

-go swimming (Reese)

-Perform an Ariel show with my doll (Reese)

This is not the Ariel show pictured... but we get 'shows' on a daily basis. No really, EVERY day. Sound of Music is the most recent theme of most shows.

-go for a hike (Brady)

No hills in our hikes, but we do enjoy the mile walk through our neighborhood (base). 

-go to the zoo (Brady)

-go to where Felicity lived (Brady)

The older two girls were treated to a couple trips to Colonial Williamsburg last year. They enjoyed learning about the differences in life and culture, including tea and curtsy lessons.

-go to the Botanical Gardens (Christy)

Among our multiple trips to the Botanical Gardens to play in the World of Wonder kids' garden. We also explored the Christmas light display during the Polar Express event. The girls also got their first taste of hot cocoa.

-go to the Great Wolf Lodge (Christy)

-go to DC and watch the Giants play (Karl)....

This one wasn't completed in its original form...instead Karl go to see the Giants play in San Diego, even better right!?!?!

-go see Kaddie's (now better known as Pop Pop) fish (Christy)

-go to the Children's musuem (Reese)

-go to the Aquarium (Brady)

-eat Cheesecake Factory cheesecake (Karl)

You know he ate this too fast for me to grab a picture of it!

We did so much last year, much of which is not even listed on here. Glad that we were able to kick the bucket...list!

Stay tuned for the post previewing this year's to do list.

Change of Heart

As I previously posted, Reese did like the idea of my pregnancy during the first trimester. Constantly tell me it was a pretend baby in my belly. She has really had a change of heart lately. She plays with friends babies. Talks about her future sibling etc.

Tonight she feel asleep like this:

Yes, that is a baby doll in her night gown. I love the sweet hand draped over her belly in the first picture, just like a pregnant lady. She tells people that she is naming her sibling 'Snowflake' and it will be a girl because Snowflake is not a boy name!

7 more days until my ultrasound!

Operating Room

Our girls have a new little game they like to play. It all started when I left a laundry basket out and Reese flipped it over next to a stool to create a patient table like she had seen at my OB appt. She would lay on it with her belly hanging out. Well, with a 3 and 4 year old mind working together this quickly progressed with an OR with c-sections being performed. (FYI: the girls have seen photos of me on the table during Reese's c-section.)

1. Pregnant patient lays on the OR table.

 2. Patient gets comfortable with an owl pillow.

 3. Doctor covers patient with a blanket (think the sheet that blocks the head)

 4. Doctor 'cuts' the baby out.

 5. Doctor quickly gives the patient medicine (yes meds are given orally with a Mr. Potato head nose)

 6. Patient holds her baby that is washed and clothed!

They do this over and over switching roles. I had to laugh at myself when the doctor asked me at Reese's three year check up if she does 'pretend play.' Also, they asked if she interacts with her peers. Check and check!!!