"Morioles" Day Weekend/1st Swim

This past weekend we celebrated "Morioles" Day, as Hersh began to call it, morphing the words "memorial" and "Orioles" after a visit with our friends Ricky and Sarah, who are huge Orioles fans.  Aunt Mimi came down for a visit, and we took AlteLu for her first swim!  Overall, I would say she tolerated the pool, with a slight bit of enjoyment.  Girlfriend better get used to it, as the pool is a BIG part of our summer plan.  We also had a bbq, saw the Aplebaums for a pancake breakfast, and visited a local winery!  A very festive weekend indeed.

At one point Hersh told me and Mimi, "I need to tell Abba a very complicated idea that I have."  When setting up for the BBQ he insisted on setting up the "Art Studio" as he believes it is  key to a good party (wonder where he got that from?!)  Hersh also ate a ton a watermelon, and proceeded to tell us that the winery lost almost all of their grapes because they had a very long winter:)

AlteLu is so communicative.  She is signing up a storm, and makes her wants/needs/likes/desires very clear.  She is playful and just the cutest.  She scoots around on her tushy,throws her hands up in the air, and  claps and waves like a mad woman.  She learned to drink from straw.  Alte also really enjoyed sitting on Aunt Mimi's knees and just chit-chatting.

Building our new grill!

Hersh and Julia

2 lovely ladies

 First swim:

Is this what he will look like in college?

Love.

Brother and Sister:)

9 months!

Our little lady lover, AlteLu, is 9 months old today.  She is truly the most delicious baby around.  Full of love, joy, smiles, and laughter, we are so grateful for her!  She gives great open-mouth kisses, loves clapping and waving, and has a sophisticated palette.  She is also crawling/scooting, and rotates quite well on her tushy.  Can't believe this little lady is growing so quickly.

Snapshot of my life.

An MSW for Aunt Mimi

This past weekend we made our usual to trek to Philly, this time to honor our beloved Aunt Mimi!  Today, she officially becomes an MSW.  We couldn't be any prouder of her and we love her so much!  She is an amazing woman, sister, friend, and aunt.

In addition to Aunt Mimi, Sabba, Savta, Aunt Addie, Uncle Craig, and sweet Mr. Isaac were there too.  We had lots of fun just being together.  A definite perk of living in the DC area is the proximity to all of our wonderful family members.  In just a few weeks we head to the Outer Banks--can't wait for another annual Lewis Family Vacation!

Savta reading to her grandsons.

All 3 playing.

 Sabba and his granddaughter:)

Savta with her original boy:)

 Mmm...blackberries

I like DE beaches

Today was a day for a road trip.  Jacob had planned for us to get up and go to the water.  He originally pitched going to the Bay, but Hersh and I agreed that the Ocean would be better.  We'd never gone to the beach and back in a day since we've lived here, so today we gave it a go--we "did it up!" as Jacob (and Hersh) kept remarking.  

Jacob planned we would head to Lewes, DE (in honor of our nephew), but Alte fell asleep just as we were approaching, so we kept driving and landed in Rehoboth.  We parked right along the main drag and headed to the sand with a picnic.  We dug holes, filled buckets with water, and enjoyed feeling the sand between our toes.  Hersh was glad to be back on the beach and Alte enjoyed her very first Atlantic Ocean experience!  We then took a stroll while Hersh rode his bike, shared a custard, and headed home.  We planned to stop in Annapolis for dinner, but as we were approaching, Hersh fell asleep!  

It was a great day of family, beach, and a little bit of freedom.  Grateful to know that going to the Ocean can be a day trip from home!

Enticing Hersh to come to the waves!

1st ice cream cone taste

Hydrating!

Custard at the end

So cute

Sometimes I just can't handle the cuteness.  I mean between Hersh and Alte, our nieces and nephews, and all of the cute kids we are friends with, I feel as though I am surrounded by extreme cuteness.  And just when I think it can't get any cuter around here, it does.

Alte has started "talking," saying things like: this, that, Hersh, dog, Ima, Abba, I love you, and Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. She has also started to clap and is almost waving.  Her hair is coming in a bit more too.  That girl is delicious!

And HBB, that kid is the best.  I just can't believe how much of a person he is.  I am really in awe of him.  He is so kind and funny.  I love hanging out with him.

This past weekend our good friends from Seattle, Mark and Maya, came for a visit with their two littles, Siena and Ezra.  What a treat to be with friends that we love from a special part of our life.

Bean beard

Masked fools

Vegetarian babies love tofu