In between multiple bouts of pink eye, stomach viruses, and colds, life lately has been a fun beginning of summer with Elodie.  She's pretty easy to keep entertained since she's literally never experienced summer before.  Everything is new and exciting, which makes it new and exciting for us, too.

Eric has a new study site in the works, so we've spent a lot of time working on logistics for it like buying a boat and getting gear ordered.  We also had the "chore" of going down to the Northern Neck to check out the area and the crew housing for when they're in the field.    Can you really call something this nice a field site?

^ ^Eric watching the osprey nest while Elodie naps^^

^^ Out on a friend's boat scouting for dolphins^^

Our friends Kevin and Lo came for a Memorial Day visit.  It was probably one of the most patriotic Memorial Day weekends I've ever had - we went to both the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum and Arlington Cemetery.  Neither of us had ever been to the cemetery even though we drive past it almost every day.  I was most surprised at how big it is, there are so so many graves.

Otherwise, we've been out and about enjoying the weather with friends, and trying to get Elodie used to playing in water.  She's not so sure about it, especially when it's too cold!

 ^^first ride on an electric horse^^

 ^^making out at the splash pad, she's delicious^^

 ^^"Oh, we're all getting in the pool? Ok I'll get in, too"^^

Cara's neighborhood had a block party and thanks to Anthony we have a family picture!

last weekend chris and allie were married right on the potomac in southern maryland.  the ceremony had the most heartfelt and romantic vows i have ever heard.

everything was perfect - the weather, the people, the venue, it was such a great time.  oh and the food, oh man, it was the best.  every time we go to a wedding, eric and i feel like we're getting married again, it was so romantic and fun.  congrats to chris and allie; thanks for letting us share this awesome day with you :)

it's furlough day 14... we've officially been shutdown for a fortnight!

i think everyone is getting a little tired of talking about the shutdown... the conversation has kind of moved to what people are doing to entertain themselves without the money we're not getting paid.  and our dc friends are getting a little concerned about what's going to happen with the trash and other things that are usually paid for by the state government when the emergency money runs out.

here's a pretty hilarious buzzfeed of people disobeying posted signs to keep out of monuments.

and now, happy columbus day!
i meant to post pups and pilsners a week or so ago, but then the shutdown happened and i forgot.  so here we go.

pups and pilsners is a small beer festival that you bring your dogs to.  we met up with a few of our friends and their dogs to sample craft beers and hang out for the afternoon.

the best part of this thing was watching everyone with their pooches.  so many cute personalities, breeds, colors, ages, sizes... everywhere you looked was cuteness!

let's get the human pics out of the way.  cheers friends!

 first prize for cuteness goes to this baby bulldog.  o.m.g. he was perfect.

 second goes to yoda dog.  the cutest, you are.

 third prize goes to this man.  he is not only carrying his wife's bright orange kate spade bag, the bag has a chihuahua in it.  the man's got confidence.

 obviously people holding their dogs are cute.

 ^^mark and sweet baby yalla are on the left.^^

 ^^i was already being creepy taking pics of everyone else's dogs... why not their kids, too?^^

 ^^tiny killer standing on chad's foot and a huge great dane.^^

^^of course both of the two most beautiful dogs to ever exist on earth were there.  just look at that drool.  love her.^^

it's the start of day 7 of this government shutdown and lots has happened since my post on friday.  most importantly, baby norah arrived on friday!

we went up to the hospital saturday morning for a visit and she is so so cute.  i haven't held a newborn in over 10 years, and it's such a cool experience.  i was like, wait, we had dinner with you thursday night!

eric and i took turns holding her for about an hour and a half and then had to make ourselves leave.  we spent the rest of the afternoon talking about babies and how we should have one soon.

here is eric holding norah.  look at her foot in his hand!  i think i need one immediately.

both baby and momma are healthy, rebecca looks amazing, and both parents are so happy she is here.  i hope we look that good 24 hours after having a baby!

otherwise, the furlough continues in this town where there always seems to be something newsworthy happening.  thursday a lady crashed her car into white house barricades then lead a police chase up pennsylvania ending with her getting killed and an officer wounded (he's since been released).  friday a man set himself on fire on the mall and died that night.  and then sunday, on our metro system that is always having issues, there was a fire on the red line that killed one worker and injured two others.  that's a lot for 4 days.  i don't know that any of these things have to do with the shutdown, but they certainly fit in with the current morale of the city.  everybody has just had it.

meanwhile, we've been trying to get in on as much of the free stuff as is out there.  this weekend we ate a few discounted meals and i got this nice furlough swag from whole foods.

it seems that the furlough perks are coming to and end though.  z-burger was losing too much money and had to stop giving out free burgers, and as soon as the house passed the retroactive pay bill, the discounts started to disappear.  it was fun while it lasted!  and i'm very happy to hear we will still be paid...  i can throw my trader joe's application in the trash!