Adventures in

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Megan's 12th Birthday - Part 3

After the Museum of Natural History, we ventured into the Museum of American History! My goals were to see the First Ladies dresses, the Star Spangled Banner and more! The kids are posing here in front of Edith Roosevelt's gown.

I just loved this sign to the Hall of Presidents! I made Dan pose under it :)

Megan wanted to go in here - it was fascinating!

Me and Jack

Watching Julia Childs - and captivated! Kylie's not putting her hand over her ears - she is twirling her hair while watching :)

They loved it!

Hall of Transportation - Selfie with a train passenger!

Girlies

Kylie wanted a picture of the girls' ringlets

Me and Kylie

Megan looking pensive with a statue

Us posing in front of a street car!

Waiting on a bench with a statue

Slightly less serious :)

And hanging out with another one!

We had fun walking through and seeing the Star Spangled Banner that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, seeing the Food section on food in America, the First Ladies gowns, letters from a lady who survived the Holocaust and much more!

Then we headed to REI - since it is on the way home for us :) We joked that between 3 birthdays this next week in our family, none of us purchased anything - but Kylie did! She got new flip flops for the summer!

Then, we knew that Smashburger - one of our favorite restaurants from Kuwait - was now in 3 locations in NoVa - Fairfax, Falls Church and Tysons Corner! We went to the one in Falls Church! Dan and the little kids got burgers and fries and LOVED them! Megan decided to go with a Cobb Salad with mixed greens, tomato, red onion, blue cheese, cheddar, smokehouse bacon, grilled chicken, a fried egg and ranch!

It was HUGE!!!

And she LOVED it!!! It was a hit for her Birthday meal! (Dan, Kylie and Jack all ate some of it - because it was pretty large)! All in all, it was a great day!

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Megan's 12th Birthday - Part 2

We hopped in the car after breakfast to head down to Washington DC to visit some museums! Our goal was to go see the Dinosaur Exhibit at the Museum of Natural History before it closes in April for 5 years for a restoration project - and to see the Museum of American History because they've never been there!

Cute kiddos in the fun park we parked near and walked through to the museums

Our Family - LOVE this picture!

The Birthday Girl in front of a magnolia tree - even if you can't see it well :)

Standing in front of Harry - the large African Elephant in the rotunda

The ladies

The gentlemen

Dan and kiddos in front of Diplodacus

Me and my Moopert

Her face for the majority of the time around skeletons - not her favorite thing

Getting hugged by her Daddy after he was teasing her for a bit

Kiddos and the Hope Diamond that Megan desperately wanted to see! A split second before she saw it, I said to Dan, "It's really underwhelming to see it - let's see what she says." And Megan said the same thing :) Fun to see, but you expect something much larger and different!

Looking out over the Smithsonian

With her favorite cat - a Caracal! We have pics of her with the live ones at the Aquarium in Kuwait, too!

Megan wanted her special meal out to be dinner, so we bought them lunch at a street vendor as our choice! The big kids and Dan got a hot dog while Kylie and I got a soft pretzel!

We're not generally fans of him, but a fun Spongebob Post Box!

Jack liked a guy playing "drums" on plastic buckets outside

My crew walking to the next museum

Dan and I before heading into the next museum!

Megan's 12th Birthday - Part 1

Megan's Birthday sign hung up on our column

Presents and cards waiting to be unwrapped!

Streamers hanging from her door

Breakfast table set - Our kids normally get to choose what they eat for their birthdays. They get to eat 1 meal out and have two other somewhat normal, but "special" meals. Megan didn't know what she wanted for breakfast, so I told her I would surprise her! I set the table to be ready when she came down in the morning - but before we could eat, we realized that her friend, also named Megan, did this...

...Our front door! Megan decorated it for Megan (which our Megan had just done earlier this week for the other Megan at her house!)! It looks awesome!

So Sweet!

I surprised Megan with orange cinnamon rolls and fresh blueberry scones (with colored turbinado sugar)! She loved them! We put a candle in it and sang her Happy Birthday!

The Birthday Girl with her Birthday Scone

Daddy and his 12 year old

Time for presents!

Megan, Kylie and Jack

Looking at her new Message New Testament

And all of her loot! A new lamp for her room (which Grammy had offered to buy months ago, but we never found the right one - and I saw this and thought it was perfect), a new duffle bag for sleepovers, pjs and a fun picture frame you paint yourself!

After we all showered, we headed in the car to Washington, DC to visit some Museums!

Hi, My Name is Megan, vol. 6

...And today I turn 12, so I'm the Birthday Girl!!!

Job: I'm a 6th grader in Middle School. It is fun and tiring and overwhelming sometimes, but I love it anyways. I especially love having different classes.

Favorite Things to Do: Play volleyball, sing, act, swim, read and play or joke with all of my friends and family. Art - drawing (not painting as much). Taking selfies on my mom's phone or camera or my camera.
Small Group. Living near my grandparents and cousins.

Favorite Things to Wear: Sport shorts, black leggings, fabric headbands, fake diamond studs, comfy t-shirts and cute sweaters, moccasins, TOMS and UGGs.

Least Favorite Things to Do: Math Homework. Studying for tests. Helping around the house - unloading the dishwasher. Cleaning my room.

Favorite Books/Series: The Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen Series. The Romeo and Juliet and Romeo Code Series. The Hunger Games Series. Left Behind Series. Because of Mr. Terupt. It's True, Sort of. Kisses from Katie. Soul Surfer. Before Green Gables.

Favorite Foods: BBQ chicken sandwiches, Red Hot and Blue Potato Salad, Papa John's Pepperoni Pizza, Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme, Potbelly's Chicken Salad Sandwiches. Chili. Chicken, Veggies and Rice. Lasagna. Broccoli Oriental. Meatball Soup. Chick fil A milkshakes. Samoa Girl Scout Cookies. Chocolate Pudding. Chocolate Pecan Pie. Pumpkin Pie. Giradelli chocolates.

Favorite Sayings: I know, right? Can we have dessert? I don't want to go to bed. How cold is it outside? Can I wear shorts?

Favorite TV Shows/Movies: Good Luck Charlie, Dog with a Blog, Diners Drive ins and Dives, House Hunters, Love it or List it. My Renovations. 17 Kids and Counting. Treehouse Masters.

Good Friends: Hannah, Kathryn, Keira, Raegan, Bethany, Megan, Alyssa, Aminah, Abby, Kaley, Hannah, Emaan, Kenyah, Jillian.

What I want to be when I grow up: A Pilot.

Things I did as an 11 year old: Swam in the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Received the Presidential Gold Award for 5th graders for getting straight A's and scoring in the top 10% of all 5th Grade MAPS test takers, went to Messila Water Village, took swimming lessons, moved to America, picked out the color for my bedroom and stripes in my closet, realized I did not actually like winter (although I've been under the impression that I've loved it for the last 5 years - while we lived in hot weather), started middle school, played volleyball, started working in the toddlers room at church, attended the Acapella Workshop, enjoyed many many snow days.

Why my Mom loves Me: Because you are amazing and I am so thankful you are my daughter! You are so super smart, love to read books and are so dedicated to learning - you do a great job in school! You love your Dad and getting to ride to and from Small Group with him and getting a chocolate milk from 7-11 afterwards with him. You have a great smile and a great laugh. You help out with little kids at church and are a blessing to other parents by being in there. You've made friends in this new/old home of ours - and I am so thankful for your friendships with them - whether they are friends from school, friends from church or cousins! You started playing a new sport and have done great at it! You cheered on Jack and Kylie at almost every single one of their basketball games. You have a great sense of style. You tried out for - and got a part in your middle school musical! I love you Megan Colleen! I love that you are learning more about God and how much He loves you and has an awesome plan for your life! We are so proud of the lady you are becoming!

Happy 12th Birthday Megan Colleen!!!