Sweet Spring 2011

4:14 am CDT June 22, 2011
What a bitter sweet season filled with family and friends, but our time in the states has come to an end. We wish you all well as we head to Rabat, and we'll think of you often with each passing thought!

Yaya and Aunt Leila came out to DC, over a chilly spring break, to say goodbye to the boys and help me while Jamil was on his familiarization trip to Morocco! We stared the week with a trip to our favorite Choo Choo Train Park!

They got to see Gabriel in action at Soccer Tots. Here he is chacing Abraham and me with a noodle. What does this have to do with soccer...not real sure, but he looks like he's having a blast!

Thanks, Mimi, for sending these ridiculous St. Patrick's Day outfits...something I would not have thought of myself. ;)

Thanks, Yaya, for taking the boys to Chucky Cheese for the first time! Again, something I would not have thought of myself. ;) Silly Grandmas!

As we walked in the door, I had never seen Gabriel's eyes so wide or felt his hand clinched so tightly to mine. He was definitely walking into another world full of chaos, lights, music and a humongous mouse! Our outing included pizza, tons of new games, and of course 1 good tantrum.

Thanks, Yaya and Leila, for Gabriel's Baby Grand! I'm sure he'll be playing Bach in no time!

Mimi came to say her goodbyes the following week.

Jamil had to show off some of his daddy moves and give Mimi a good scare.

A visit from Mimi would not be complete without a McDonald's picnic at the park. ;)

Heildelberg Bakery is such a special place with amazing pastry chefs! Gabriel had a Big Bad Wolf (He's LOVED the BiG BaD WoLf ever since) cookie on our first visit and a crocodile cookie with Mimi.

After baths in the sink, the boys got into their dinosaur pjs and we read their dinosaur books that Mimi sent for Valentine's Day.

Gabriel wanted to show off (or misbehave depending on how you look at it) at Soccer Tots for Mimi, so he helped Coach E lead the stretches.

Mimi turned 59 while she was visiting, so we took her out to dinner at Taste of Morocco!

We had a pirate themed birthday party at the house. It was a hit for both Mimi and the boys!

Happy Birthday To You, Dear Mimi!

Gabriel was such a bog boy at his first trip to the dentist. Check out this playground in the waiting room! Can you believe it!?!

Mamaw and Casey were next in line to say their goodbyes. We had such a great time with you both.

Mamaw took us on a double decker tour. Gabriel has been eyeing the huge red double deckers, and we promised to take him on one before we left DC. It was perfect timing as the cherry blossoms were falling from the trees all around us!

Our last family member to come visit was Papa.

He made it out for the final days of The Cherry Blossom Festival. It was a chilly spring, so they didn't last as long this year. I've been looking forward to the cherry blossoms ever since we found out we were coming to DC, and it was beautiful while it lasted.

We went to the annual kite festival in front of the Washington Monument, and Gabriel flew a kite for the first time!

One of the boys other favorite weekly activities is story time at the Glen Carlyn Library. For about a month, Gabriel's favorite book was Hop On Pop. He wanted to check it out every week!

Abraham chose a book about the Middle East for me to read to him at home. I wonder which child resembles which parent? ;)

Papa took the boys to their first movie, HOP. Perfect movie to get ready for Easter. It was a gamble taking two little ones to the theater, but we went on a weekday afternoon, so there were very few people there, and the boys did awesome!

All of our guests get dragged...I mean get to enjoy the Choo Choo Train Park at least once!

This was a very special week at Soccer Tots. Coach E threw a little going a way party for Gabriel, since we had to move in the middle of the season. The kids got to play outside and have a little picnic. Thank You Soccer Tot Friends!

Gabriel even got to take home a signed Soccer Tots ball!

We enjoyed our time with you, Papa!

Our dear friends from pilot training decided to make the drive down from NY for Easter weekend. After being across the county for 5 years, it was such a treat to see them!

Jeff and Jamil hopped on the tandem with the boys in the caboose to go where else but the Choo Choo Train Park! Sorry Jeff, the seat is fitted for me...

These are some of the pictures that didn't make the cut for the Easter card at the top of the page...

Our Easter was full of many sweet treats. We enjoyed a walk to church where Gabriel hunted for eggs after the service. The Easter Bunny somehow managed to make it back to the house to hide more eggs before we made it home. With Gabriel pushing the stroller, I can't imagine why. Great job Easter Bunny!

Jamil's language school threw him a going away party. These ladies can cook, and of course the food was fabulous!

Here is our friend, Stew, stretching after a hard days work studying Hebrew.

Fadwa was an excellent teacher and took us in as her family. Thank you, Fadwa!

Stew and Jamil gave a presentation about their scholarship program.

Most of the DC crew made it out to see Stew and his jazz band play at the Duke Ellington Park.

We all had such a great time, I didn't even realize that it was almost 10 as we rode the metro home!

Happy 1st Birthday, Sweet JR!

We all had a great time at your party!

Wow! Our DC Olmsted friends are amazing! You each made our time in DC unforgettable as you opened your temporary homes and supported us as only other scholars could!

One good thing about moving often is that you are forced to clean out the house/garage! As you can see, we nicely scattered our things on the front lawn for a garage sale. Our trash is someone else's treasure, right?

After learning that opossums hang upside down from their tails, Gabriel and Abraham love to hang all of there animals upside down from the top bunk.

Happy Mother;s Day to me!

We will miss you, Arlington Forest!

During the 4 days that the movers were at our home, we stayed at the Fort Myer's Hotel. What a wild few days. This is our only picture...all of our luggage!

...and the flight was even more wild! This too is our only photo sitting with our pile of things at the airport! Now remember, what we take on the plane are the only things we will have fro 2 months! You should have seen us going through security...t 3 different airports! Goodbye America, God shed His grace on thee! Ma Salama! See you in Morocco!

POSTED BY jdmoose

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