On the waterfront

I had the girls all to myself this morning, so we took a trip down into Georgetown for some adventures. (Amalia didn't want her picture taken in the above photo.)

On the bus. 

This new water feature was unveiled last year in Georgetown. Today was our first time to enjoy it. 

And, boy, did we.  

But I couldn't keep Amalia away from the wildlife for long. She spotted some ducks on the Potomac. (That's the Kennedy Center in the background.)

We didn't have bread or anything, but that didn't stop Amalia from trying to lure them over with her special duck calls. 

Then back up to the water fountain to cool off again before heading over to the movie theater. 

We saw Pixar's Brave, which I think the girls both liked. I'm sure I'll know more later when they rehash specific scenes that stick in their brains. 

Heard mentality

Recently heard around the Pierce house:

Lily: Mommy, you remember last year when we were in California and I had to go to the doctor?
Me: Yeah.
Lily: Well, he had really big nostrils. Not regular nostrils.
Me:
Lily: I think he was a witch. Because witches have big nostrils, plus they also like to wear white and gloves so that no one can see their claws.
Me:

***
Andy: My hair is getting long. It's in my eyes.
Amalia: Well mine is alot-er in my eyes.

***
Me (talking about violin): So it's hard, but then you practice and it gets easier and more fun.
Lily: Right. Like with shoes.
Me:
Lily: You know how when you first get shoes and they're really fun but then after a few days they're not exciting anymore and you want new ones?
Me: You have a shoe problem.
Lily: I know.

***
Me: What do you think we should get Daddy for Father's Day?
Amalia: I think we should get him a rainbow!

Sehr gut

I don't even know how to explain this picture other than the girls were being extremely silly. It's probably begging for a caption. 

Lily and Amalia decided to create sidewalk art in honor of Father's Day. 

Here Lily is pointing out why hers is better. In the background, you can see Andy's Father's Day present--a replacement orange bug car mobile for the yard. (Our previous one was stolen, presumably by some drunk college kids.)

Posing with their masterpieces. 

I'm not sure which one of the girls took this picture of Andy brushing Dana. 

Or this one of Petunia Pig on our front steps. 

Andy's choice for lunch was Old Europe, a local, very authentic German restaurant that he loves. Me not so much. But we all enjoyed our meals: Lily got potato pancakes with homemade applesauce; Amalia had salmon with boiled potatoes and vegetables; I had chicken in a mushroom/sour cherry sauce with spaetzle; and Andy ordered some sort of goulash and a free beer. We even got both of the girls to say danke schoen to our waitress at the end of the meal. 

All in a day

Yesterday was quite eventful. First, and perhaps most importantly, it was Lily's last day of school. She's now officially a rising second-grader. 

With buddy Gabe. 

A hug from little sister. Interesting to note how close they are in height given there are three years between them. 

Ms. Stevenson!

Later in the evening was a violin recital--this one with all of Ms. Christine's students. Lily and William did an encore performance of their canon. 

Beethoven's Ode to Joy, accompanied by Ms. Christine. 

Also that evening, elsewhere in DC, Andy was at a fundraiser to benefit an MS foundation. Guster was the entertainment. When Andy took this picture, I was still on a plane from Atlanta where I had been meeting with my CDC clients that day. 

I flew back just in time and came straight to the stadium from the airport to catch the concert. 

The boys on the jumbotron. Quite a day. 

Cheering section

Yesterday was an award ceremony for the first and second graders. From left to right are the Lily's principal, nurse, and teacher. 

Amalia watching from the cheap seats, eating popcorn left over from Six Flags. 

Lily getting her "Wonderful Writing Award." 

 Cheering for friends. 

Only 3 more days until summer!

Sunny side up

Yesterday was Parents' Day in Amalia's Ladybugs daycare class. I couldn't get the video of "You Are My Sunshine" to load directly in this post, so here's a link to it: http://youtu.be/b0GmuUCPZdc 

Post-show refuel. 

Cutie patootie. 

D.C.'s got talent

Continuing in the end-of-year string of recitals, today was the all-school talent show at Stoddert. 

Lily's first grade class reciting Shel Silverstein's poem, "Boa Constrictor." 

William and Lily about to perform their duet (a canon). Keep in mind, they'd only practiced together twice. This mother was impressed. 

You can hear Amalia singing along to part of it. As you can imagine, she's heard the song many, many times. 

Amalia before the show.

Amalia about 1-1/2 hours into the show. 

The black swan

Today was Lily's ballet show in her After Care class at school. 

Look, Geppetto, I'm a real boy!