NCA: Fri-Sun

We stayed at the conference hotel again on Thursday night and woke up Friday morning, needing to pack up for our next destination. We loaded the car (we were checking out that day) and walked over to the National Zoo.

This photo is so great because we (mostly Wes) sometimes call Gavin "Hawk." In fact, his name means "white hawk of battle," which is one of the reasons we named him Gavin. We also call him Hawk because he has what we like to call a "hawk-eye." That kid can see things that no one else can from very far away; he has perfectly amazing vision! Anyways, when he saw this statue, he knew exactly what it was an asked to touch it.

Three kids, one stroller: we make it work.

I don't know why, but otters have always been my all-time favorite zoo animal.

After the zoo, we drove up to Columbia, MD to invade the Richelsen's home. Paxton and Nick started playing right away (in case you didn't know, they're best friends).

 

Later that night, the Alhassani clan joined us at the Richelsen's house. I couldn't believe it, but all 6 kids actually got on the couch and let us take a photo! 

Some of the evening was spent playing video games, which the three older kids absolutely love.

We slept at the Richelsen's house that night and the next day (Saturday) was BUSY. I had to go back to the conference to present a paper and participate on a panel (and have lunch with a few of my faves in between, of course). Wes took the three kids with his mom, dad, and brother to Toys R Us, Chuck E. Cheese, and Chick Fil-A. We met back at Steph and Tony's that night and slept there again.

Sunday morning, we drove over to GG and Max's house for breakfast and some playtime.

We drove back to VA that afternoon and relaxed until bedtime. Then it was time to think about the following week's activities which included Thanksgiving and Black Friday celebrations at our house.