Real Life at the Essigs

Christmas vacation was filled with a lot of family time. Lincoln decided to bring the camera along and snap random pictures during Sunday dinner. So this is real life at the Essigs--and we love it.

I LOVE that in this picture Lincoln managed to get all three with their eyes closed. Classic.

Falling asleep whenever and wherever--it seriously takes talent to sleep through all the noise!

The Essig siblings obviously really love each other...

This is the family time that we miss when we are in DC...

Love you guys!

Christmas Dinner

We went back and forth about 4 times from the Essig's house to the Abegg's house on Christmas day. Here are some pics just from Christmas dinner with the Abeggs. (More will come from the Essig's Christmas adventures.)

First, a shot of the growing belly. I was 18 weeks here. Still not much to see, so Lincoln joined me for this one. 

Dinner at G-mas.

Da Boys

My adorable niece with her uncle Parker. 

(This is not the first time a little girl has dressed him up.... I used to do it all the time when I was little. From dresses to tutus... Parker would always get into character. He was the little sister I never had until he was old enough to tell me no...poor kid)

She got a princess dress and jewelry for Christmas... I love that girly stuff

Lincoln just chillin with his new green glasses I gave him. (yes they have his prescription in them. One of 4 I got for 10 bucks each at Zenni Optical.c0m)

Gotta love the holidays. 

Sometimes we do things

To get into the holiday season Lincoln and I went with a bunch of friends to the National Zoo for Zoolights. 

There was a dancing panda in a giant snow globe.

  

How much more exciting can our life get???

Thanksgiving in Durham

The closest family we have out here is my cousin Kimberly. She lives in Durham NC with her husband and three kids. She is one of the best cooks I know, seriously this woman is amazing. This is our third year going down to NC for Thanksgiving and we look forward to it every time. It is nice to be with family for the holidays, to eat good food, to take lots of naps, and to have a very relaxing weekend. They treat us like Kings, and let us stay in their beautiful house---how much better can it get?   

How cute are these kids?

Mmmm. Seriously, that food is was so good. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. Thanks again for a fantastic Thanksgiving Kimberly!

Veteran's Day (Yes, I am playing catch up)

Since most people have to work on holidays like Veteran's Day (including Lincoln), my friend Stephanie decided to organize all of us who didn't have to work (yes I love working for the government) and hike Old Rag in the Shenandoah mountains.  It was a good 5 hour hike. Had I known beforehand how dangerous the hike actually is (you are scrambling boulders half the time), at three months pregnant I probably would have thought twice about hiking it. (It is amazing how much you worry about the little fetus inside of you, and not wanting to do anything to hurt it--like falling.) But in the end I am glad I did it, everything was fine, and luckily I didn't get too nauseous.

We had a great time. I loved catching up on everyone's dating life. And the scenery was simply lovely. 

If you are in the area, (and don't have little kids) you should definitely add hiking Old Rag on the list of things to do.