We have lived in our home for almost 8 years.  We bought it when we got married and over the years have done a bit here and there to fix it up.  The homes in my neighborhood are small yet charming.  People take pride in fixing them up inside and out and the tree lined streets are charmed with cute street lamps.  My home was built in the 1940's.  My kitchen is a very small room with aluminum white cabinets and white counter tops.  

For the last 6 years my walls have been this barn red.   But last week an idea popped in my head to paint it Aqua.  I thought all my red accessories would look so cute with it.  So I seized the moment and my wonderful Dad came up and helped me crank it out in one morning!  

I'm so bummed I didn't take before pictures but it was late and dark when I had remembered.  

So I found a few pictures in my archives so you can get the idea.  I love Before and Afters!

This photo below is freaky looking of me because Cole took the picture and clearly didn't hold still.  So forget me, look at the walls.  

So crisp, clean, and new!  I LOVE IT!!!  It is so fun how much paint can change a room!  Now I want to touch up paint all the cupboards a fresh white!

Don't you just love how many photos I uploaded for my tiny little kitchen?  

I just can't wait to accessorize it a bit more!  I need to make a trip to my favorite store, Jolleys! 

Every time I walk pass the mirror above the sink and see me in my new kitchen I get so excited!  The color makes me just feel cute! 

 What do you think?  Is it too trendy?  Or a good change? 

Thanks Dad for your help!  It was great to have a man around to help me fix a few things!

P.S. The paint color is from Lowe's.  Martha Stewart Collection: Vintage Map

Bright and early just the day after our return, Cole had to get up to start his first day of school!  I felt so bad for him since our flight landed at 7:30 p.m the night before.  But we saved $300 to fly in on Monday instead of Sunday.

Nothing like starting 1st grade with a little jet lag.

He was so excited!  He woke up without a fight and eagerly got ready.

He has loved school!  His teacher is SO nice!  It was such an emotional rollercoaster to have to say my goodbyes again in D.C and to return to send Cole off all day long!  

He was such a champ on his first day!  Love you Cole!

Starting here, the next 6 posts will be as one entry.

This picture was taken in front of the American Art Museum on our way to the National History Museum.  I have no pictures in the NHM due to my camera falling out of the stroller!:(

We loved the Air and Space Museum!  We spent 3 hours there!  They had a great interactive area for kids.  It was a lot of fun!!  Cole loved going inside a huge rocket.

Jill was able to join us for a tour at the US Treasury Bureau!  Where we watched how money was made.  It was real cool to see.  The kids loved their giant Quarter and Penny souvenirs.  

The DEA Headquarters (NOT where Kevin is training) was just 2 miles from Jill's home, so we wanted to check it out.  Unfortunately Kevin couldn't join us due to the hours of operation.  

It was quite an interesting experience taking the kids to this museum.  I really haven't talked to them much about drugs...yet.  But when we walked in and I saw a fake dead body on a hospital bed I thought, "well, now might be a good time to explain."  "Cole, this is what happens to you when you use drugs."  How's that for painting the picture?  

When he saw the picture on the wall of all the prescription drugs, his instant reaction was, "Yum! I want some of those!!"  Lets just say this was a very educating moment.

Jill was so fun!  She gave Cole and Sadie a penny and showed them the Lincoln on the back.  She drove them in her convertible "top down" listening to fun music as we followed them  to the Lincoln.  The kids were in heaven!

It was beautiful to see this memorial at night!

Another weekend, she took us to Gravelly Point to watch the planes fly in over our heads to the Reagan National Airport!  It was CRAZY!  MaryJane didn't like it one bit!  We got so much entertainment out of watching her run to us for safety as a plane would fly over us.  Poor baby.

Kevin had the weekends off to stay with us!  It was sooooooo great to all be together!  We enjoyed just hanging out at Jill's cute 2 bedroom condo.  It felt like a resort.  Thanks so much Jill!  We couldn't have done this trip without you!!

For years, all I've ever heard from Jill was of the yummiest french toast at Eastern Market. 

And my 3rd attempt to experience this yumminess was a winner!  Finally!

I did get a little worried though when we had arrived to find their temporary (to rebuild) location empty.  Luckily it was only because they had returned to the newly original location. 

Love all the things to buy at Eastern Market!

After waiting in line for 1 hour, yes it is that popular, success!  It was delicious!! Covered in yummy syrup and pecans for only $4.25!  Jill was right, WORTH THE WAIT!

And while I'm on the subject of food, not on the same day of coarse,  Jill took us to experience Georgetown Cupcake!  The BEST cupcakes out there!!  Thankfully, the rain depleted the line out the door and down the street.  We were lucky, no wait there!

Oh how we loved using Jill's pool almost everyday!  We pretty much had it to ourselves because most people were working when we swam.

Aunt Jill taught Sadie how to "layout", except the granola bar, which should be a Diet Coke.

Jill had great windows!  This was my example to her of using window light.  MaryJane loved to sit there in Jill's room and look out to the pool.

Jill's good friend Kristin lives out in Leesburg 45 min out of D.C.  She was so nice to let us stay with her for a night.  She lives near the cutest town called Lucketts with lots of cute vintage antique shops.  They were ADORABLE!!

Sadie was thrilled to find all these cute tiaras.  And she chose the non-colored one.  I thought they all were so cute.  

And the Ribbon Outlet! Oh, the ribbon outlet!!!

I found out about this outlet on a cute blog.  She lives near this ribbon outlet and is always talking of it's great prices!  It is the Offray Ribbon outlet.  If you've ever bought a spool of ribbon from the craft store, then most likely, it is Offray.  Anyway, this is where they manufacture most of it.  And where they sell ribbon by the yards for dirt cheap!!  I can't even explain the spools I bought which were the size of a salad plate for only $1.25!!!!!!  And the bags (shown in the pic) were filled with color coordinated grosgrain polka dotted ribbon for $1.00!!!!  My head was just spinning and at the same I wanted to cry, for I knew that I would never see this glorious place again because I drove 1 hour from Leesburg to get there!  Worth the drive!!!!!!  I'm set for life in the ribbon department!

And the last Leesburg find was Fractured Prune donut shoppe.  Heaven.  They make the donuts fresh on the spot and roll them in the toppings of your choice.  Yum!  French Toast was delicious!  I have a thing for that flavor if you didn't know by now.  Thank goodness I do not live near one of these stores!!  That could be a very bad thing!

On a Sunday, Kevin took us out to Quantico (30 miles south of Jill in D.C) for a tour of the DEA and FBI Training facilities. 

It was surrounded by miles of thick green trees and security check points.

We first stopped at the FBI Academy which was 2 miles from the DEA Academy. 

Kevin's showed us where they did some of their Physical training which was at the FBI.  The kids LOVED running around in that giant room!

We got to eat in the FBI cafeteria, amongst other FBI agents. 

This picture on the left is of the fake city they have for training called Hogan's Alley, with shops, a hotel and even a warehouse.  I felt like I was at Universal Studios.  And this home was part of the fake neighborhood they trained in too.  The street even had cute little street lamps.  

Here is the beautiful DEA building.  It is a bit newer than the FBI.  It was nice to see where Kevin has been all this time.  It was so great to see and experience this.  It made me feel like I am a part of all this.  I LOVED the tour.  SO COOL!

I love this picture.  Taken in my room at Jill's.  I didn't know how much MaryJane would forget about Kevin since she is so young.  But she showed no signs.  She loved to find his DEA badge and wear it like him.   She also learned how to pose for the camera this trip.  Cute.

I feel so lucky to have experienced this with my family!  It was wonderful to see my husband during this long separation.  Thank you Kevin for letting us share a bit of this with you!  I feel so very blessed!  We miss you terribly!  

And thank you Jill for letting us stay with you!  You are the best Sister and Aunt anyone could ask for!  We miss you too!