::: Markayze Visit :::

While the rest of the fam was off serving in Mexico, my sister Karla and my nephew Matthew came to visit ...

We had a fantabulous time!!! We filled every day with activities from morning to night! First up was the slip-in-slide in the backyard ...
Lots of fun creating and slipping away ... I think these photos are the funniest ones of the weekend ...

Fun times ... Next up was a pounce in the back woods with the pup ...

It was a beautiful day ... I call it "New York weather" I think they brought it with them ...We found some vines for swinging ...

Christiana took a lot of pretty wildflower photos ...

The pup had a blast ...

Next up, the pool ...

shark attacks and handstand contests ...

After we saw Night at the Museum II on Wednesday night, we headed to DC on Thursday ... First stop ... the zoo

It was an amazing trip to the zoo. It was absolutely perfect weather and all ... all ... all ... of the animals were out! This baby girl was taking a stroll with her momma ... The octopus was simply amazing. We hung out at her tank for quite awhile while the zoo keepers replaced her toy, fed her and we watched her habitat...

The cheetahs were out and about ...

And it just happened to be the baby Panda, Tai Shan's birthday. All three pandas were enjoying the birthday cake...

We loved watching the silly seals ...
Things got a bit silly with the cousins...

And I just loved having sister time ...After the zoo ... we took a crazy tour around D.C. Do you know that if you are on the Mall, and you turn at the 9th street tunnel, you end up crossing the bridge into Virginia on 395!? Oh my ... we saw all four sides of the Washington Monument ... not on purpose... But it was a fun tour via the SUV and we were able to stop at the Lincoln Memorial and get fun t-shirts. Thanks for putting up with my crazy city driving!

The week was filled with yummy trips for dinner, campfires and 'smores, cousin time with our cousins and aunt who are in town, crab picking and seafood, and of course a jeep ride to Jimmy Cone! We couldn't have asked for better weather or a more wonderful visit...

Watercolors and paints on the back deck ... and a final swing out back before they headed back to NY...

(What a handsom nephew! :)

Thank you so much for coming and spending the week with us! We loved every minute of it!

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." Anthony Brandt