Lillian's Grandparents

We love all our grandchildren, and we are very fortunate to live about two hours away from Lillian, Ryan and Dara's daughter.   We have been able to see her a lot lately.   We even got to keep her for four whole days without her Mom and Dad.   We had so much fun with her.  

When she visits we like to cook together:

She gives Grandpa big hugs:

She plays nosey nosey with Grandma:

She loves shopping for groceries:

She practices the piano:

She loves to eat:

She goes for rides on Grandpa:

She beats Grandpa at stick fighting:

When we visit Busch Gardens she waits patiently while her Mom and Dad ride scary roller coasters:

We have so much fun being around her.   We look forward to every visit!

The Hirshhorn Museum

One summer afternoon in early July, Skip and I decided to go into D.C. to check out the Smithsonian Folk Festival.   After arriving and stepping out into the 100 heat we decided to step into the nearest air conditioned museum, and that just happened to be the Hirshhorn.  It specializes in modern art - painting, sculpture, and other types of installations.   We really enjoyed looking at the works there.    One of the exhibits there was called Supersensorial - experiments in light color and space, and we had fun taking a few pictures there.    

Above picture was taken in the room below that was painted all white with three partitions - one illuminated from above in green, one in red, and one in blue.

 

This was kind of a neon fence running diagonally across the floor.

Skip and I had so much fun that we wanted to take Ryan and Dara to see the exhibit during our family reunion.   We were able to see other art work we had missed the first time, and had a fun time posing by some of the art.

On the lower level of the museum, we turned a corner and were blown away by the larger than life statue below.   It is untitled, but popularly known as Big Man. 

One of my favorite pieces is this one.   It is a white canvas with a suspended strings hung in front of it.   When you look at it straight on, I think it looks like musical notation.

Here's another colorful favorite:

I like the way this one looks - layered rectangles laid on top of one another.   It would be easy to recreate at home.    

I think the Hirshhorn has officially made our list of top things to do in D.C.  

50th Anniversary Reunion

Our Condie family reunion was very special this year, because we were celebrating my Mom and Dad being together for 50 years!  All of my brothers and sisters were able to attend.  Our location?   National Harbor in Maryland, just across the bridge from Alexandria.    It's a relatively new harbor, hotel, condo, restaurant, shopping area.    Fortunately Ryan, Dara and Lillian were able to represent the Baird family with us.   Unfortunately, no one else could come.   We had some wonderful times with everyone there.   The first evening we arrived, we had dinner together (my Dad's treat) at Harrigan's right there in National Harbor.   It was a great kickoff for the weekend.   Some of us strolled around the harbor after dinner enjoying the sunset.   The harbor is the new home of "The Awakening"  sculpture that is like a giant man buried in the sand coming to life, with his head, hands, and knees breaking through the ground.   

The next morning we had a family fun run.   We mapped out a 2 mile course around the area, and had a great time running, talking, and walking.

Here's the view from our 9th floor suite.

We looked down on the pool from our room as well.   We enjoyed swimming a couple of times.   On Saturday we spent a little time in D.C. , then met up with everyone again for dinner.   After dinner all the girls went to Charming Charlie's to shop for bling.   

This is what happened when Grandpa got to babysit Lillian for awhile:

It's official.   She loves licorice!  She's in Grandpa's circle for sure.

  On Sunday, we had permission to hold a sacrament meeting together.  It was a very special time to be together, and feel the spirit as we took turns sharing some of our favorite hymns by speaking of them and singing them together.

Sunday evening was family picture time.   The photographer was wonderful  (Weslie Woodley), and we're excited to get the finished photos.   This one of the five of us is a preview

Our photo location looks like its outdoors, but it's actually INSIDE the Gaylord hotel and convention center at National Harbor, a block from our Wyndham timeshare.

Lillian was in great spirits and really hammed it up for the photographer!

Here are my fabulous parents with their nine children.  

Another thing we did on Sunday afternoon was family craft time.   With my sisters' help and expertise, we tie dyed t-shirts.   On Monday, we sported them around the harbor while shopping and eating lunch:

Ryan and Lillian had matching tie dyes, although you can't see Lillian's due to the bib.

Skip smiling and sporting the "skipper" hat he bought that day:

On Monday evening we had a special family home evening, where Julie presented an object lesson about family and faith.   Then we presented Mom and Dad with the book I had been helping to put together for them.   It had several pictures of their history together interspersed with letters and tributes from each child.   We took turns reading our contributions, expressing our love and thanks for the example they've given us through their 50 years together.

We had such a wonderful weekend together.  It was sad everyone couldn't stay longer.   We're definitely looking forward to our next one.   I think it may be a cruise next time!