The White House

I made reservations at a restaurant called Grafiatto which is owned by a previous Top Chef contestent.  It gets rave reviews and seemed like it would be fun to boot.  Unfortunately the earliest reservation I could get was for 8:45 pm…living like Rock Stars!  So we had the evening to walk around town and grab a glass of wine.  We were pretty close to the new Verizon Center where the Washington Wizards and Capitals play.  It\’s right in the heart of what used to be Chinatown.  There are still some signs of the old Chinatown but it\’s quickly being gobbled up.    We had a great dinner and saw the chef Mike Isabella.  Sunday morning we were able to get in a quick trip to the Spy Museum and lunch at a modern dim sum restaurant.   Then back to MD.

Sunday night we had dinner at mom\’s house with all of Pam\’s family.  Quinn was very happy to see his cousins Alex and Ben.   It\’s cake time….raise your hand if you want cake.

And then on to presents!!  It was a pirate puppet from the Newman Family.  You can only imagine the fun Don was having with the puppet.

And a ball pit from Grams!  What a lucky little boy!

A great way to spend our Columbus Day Weekend!!!

We never knew how 5 pounds 15 ounces could give us so much happiness and joy.   But we found out on October 9, 2007 at 2:19 pm.  The sweetest sound I ever hear was this little baby\’s cry.

Now 5 years later he is still the gift that keeps on giving.  Happy 5th Birthday to our sweet little boy!

On the way home from school Monday Quinn declared an \”emergency\”.  We were passing a park that I knew could accomodate his needs so we made a quick pitstop.    The quick turned into an hour or more of playing on the playground.  Quinn made friends with some big kids who taught him how to climb on top of the monkey bars.  His weekly gymnastics class has really improved his strength and his skills.

Speaking of gymnastics, the twins are no longer in Quinn\’s class because they are in school on Thursdays.  However by coincidence one of Quinn\’s other Sundance buddies is in his gymnastics class.  Quinn and Aidan were in the same Sundance class last year too.  This year they both have the same lunchbox and are frequently having to switch.  The other day Quinn told me that he and Aidan were talking on their phones during lunch…Aidan with his banana and Quinn with his juice box.

Speaking of Sundance, this year Quinn is sharing so much about his day.  Repeating stories, singing songs, and relating what Ms. Kate has told them.  Wednesday on the way home from school Quinn showed me \”angry arms\” and \”thinking hands\”.

On Friday Quinn came home with a \”Reinforcement Pack\” which is basically Pre-K homework.  I know, Pre-K homework.   But, it\’s not mandatory or required and we can do with it as we wish.  Quinn relayed to me that if he turns it in on Friday that he will get a \”great job\” sticker.  And he is all about pleasing Ms. Kate.  It\’s about 4 pages of what I think will be pretty easy activities for Quinn.  The only thing he may not appreciate is tracing his name.  This year they are working on writing upper and lower case letters.

We are continuing our birthday celebrations this weekend.  A little bit of celebration for everyone in our family.  I\’ll leave you with Quinn and Don singing me happy birthday on Sunday.