Ezekiel is three months old today! It made me thankful that I am able to be home with my babies, enjoying all the little moments with them. When Ella was this age, I was back to work for Congress. I loved my job but have not regretted coming home to these tikes. I was probably a bit more sane back then, having some hours to myself…but I am still thankful!
Handsome man!
Oooohh! I could kiss him!
So, we got pulled over yesterday. We were running to the grocery store and Home Depot when we saw the lights on an un-marked SUV. As we scrambled for registration, two plain-clothes officers surrounded our car. They explained that they had seen us come out of our house and had some questions. They were staking out the house across the street for someone wanted on MURDER CHARGES! (Gulp) Come again? They showed us his picture and asked us to call them if we saw him. “Um, sure officer.” That isn’t scary at all! And to think Joel has been gone the last week!
By the time we made it home, our street was COVERED in agents in bullet proof vests. They were all high-fiving and slapping each other on the back. So, okay, they got him. Good job guys! Glad to know we don’t have to go on the lookout.
Just another day on Capitol Hill.
Don’t forget we live about ten blocks from our nation’s Capitol - the most powerful place in America! Certainly not the safest! Good little reminder to kick up the prayers for safety. Ha! Truth be told, I don’t really feel scared around here. I didn’t even set the alarm while Joel was gone. Maybe I should have a little more caution.
Lest we be worried that Ella be scared of these guys…
“Hi Mister Policemen!”
We recently took Ellie to see her first movie! We even let her bring a friend, Violet!
We were feeling excited and ambitious about the plan…but when we sat down with two little girls and a newborn, we started to get nervous! Thankfully, everyone did great!
3-D glasses!
“That was fun!”
Joel is livin’ it Road Rules style this week. He is leading an RV missions trip to Louisiana. I am sure the team is doing very important things, serving people…but all I can get Joel to tell me is all the amazing places they are eating along the way!
I have the two kiddies and am trying to keep them busy all week.
We have been playing at home and being silly.
We discovered a new pool near our house! Ahhh, bliss!
Zeke was chillaxin and relaxin’!
We had lots of fun with friends!
Cheeeeeeese!
We somehow managed a sleepover with friends.
Even Zeke got a playdate!
We had to beat the heat with a different pool day with friends!
Go-Go, the crazy man
Taylor, the mama
Bo, the brawn
and Drew, the trucker
The ladies doing the dirty work!
Geesh, make the little one work, huh?
Grandma Schmidgall came for over for lots of reading time. Auntie Amy came to town to be with us for a bit. She did lots of duty at the park. (That’s DUTY, not dooty. Ha!)
We even went to visit a friend - good ole Chuck E. Cheese! How much longer do we have until the kids realize they need coins to operate the games?
Just a couple more days until Daddy is home! I am running out of ideas!
We are loving summer! I realized recently that it has been a full year since I left my job with Congress. Our days are filled with learning, singing, playdates, and fun. (Okay, I lie. There is also lots of cleaning, diaper changing, grocery shopping, nursing, and discipline. But the other stuff sounds better!)
Joel played in the National Corn-hole tournament. If you are not familiar with corn-hole, I call it “bean bag for big kids.” Our church hosted the fundraiser to raise money to build another orphanage in Uganda later this summer. They played right in front of the Capitol. Joel and his partner, his cousin Dave, took second place! First place went to our big bros, Mark and Robb. Family sweep! (Shhhhhh!)
Most years we spend Memorial Day out at Joel’s brother’s place. Basically, we just eat and hang out. The kids make up shows, play on the trampoline, and sucker us out of money with a massage business. I don’t really have many pics because, well, we just hang out. The fellas play corn-hole for about 16 hours straight. (They complain about their aches and pains afterward for about 16 DAYS!) We are super-family-time-kinda-folk.
Here is one pic I have of Zeke napping on the deck. I wanted to record his size in his little basket.
My friend Paige returned home from the mission field in Thailand and came for her annual visit! This time she brought her “dude” (as my mom would say) so we could grill him…uh, I mean, get to know him. 
We took him to see a few DC sites.
Paige and the dude (Sean)
Two of my favorite people! Paige and good ole’ Abe! We were remembering how we went to watch the sunrise Easter service at this same spot during her first time visiting me…nine years ago!
We had a wonderful dinner with some great friends last week. Jovanni, Hilary, Laura, and I went to Westmont together and made the nutty journey to DC at the same time - scarring bonding us for life, I think. Our families connect through prayer, commitment, support. Fun to see us all with rascals!
And finally, our trip to the Zoo last week with the moms group from church. Funny that we call it the moms’ group since the kids are overtaking us! We attempting a routine shot of the kids - always hilarious. Peek-a-book Bo!
This one cracks me up because Ella flashed this random smile between a fit, Bo had just proudly stolen Zeke’s pacifier, and Owen and Violet are characteristically on the run!
Much more summer fun to come! Joel is doing missions Road Rules style this week. He is leading a team in RVs down to Louisiana for some projects. He didn’t take a camera (I know, how are we married?) so hopefully the team can hook me up with some pics.