Maymont with Miss Jeanette!

Last weekend, a dear friend of our from the Eastern Shore was going to be in Richmond for the Color Run.  We were so excited that she, along with some of her friends, could come to our house to shower before heading back home to the Eastern Shore.  We were even MORE excited when we found out that they would have a little bit of time to spend in Richmond and wanted to check out Maymont!!  We LOVE Maymont and were thrilled to share it with them!

Feeding the goats- totally gross, but they love it!

Looking for the perfect goat to feed

I love it when Alden is so kind and gentle!

The Japanese gardens- the kids desperately wanted to wade like a ton of other people, but I'm a mean Mom and wouldn't let them...

Checking out the stepping stones...

His face just says it all- he loved these and how he could run and jump across them.  I was certain I would be taking home a stinking and wet little boy but I didn't!

Just too cute for words!!

It was a fantastic time- thanks for coming Miss Jeanette!!  Next time, please bring all your boys!!

Weekend Fun!

Weekends are getting to be so much fun!  The kids have ideas of what they want to do- and it is usually pretty fun stuff!

We shared Sweet Frog with our BFF Lainey!!

It's fun to share an extra-long book reading time with everyone!

One evening, our play and ride bike time- turned into that with dress-up!!  These pirates are pretty darn cute!

Love my fairy princess!

Even one of the dads got into it...

And now she's an Hawaiian Girl- since she has a flower behind her ear....

Lunch Dates!

The school that is literally in our neighborhood is fantastic- but so is the school that I can see from my classroom window!!  I am thankful that both kids can attend the school next door to me- I love the school- the teachers are amazing, the diversity that is in the classrooms is wonderful, and the educational environment is top-notch!!  Both kids wake-up happy and excited to go to school- and that says a lot to me!  Another major perk is that I can go and eat lunch with both kids just about whenever I want!

Addie had been dying to show her teacher her American Girl dolls- so I brought them one day to lunch!

I love that my boys is thrilled to see me and to have lunch with me!

Sharing lunch is so special- and I love that I get to know their classmates- such sweet little kiddos!!

Two-Wheelin' It Now!

She can do it!  After a week or so of watching Alden happily bike up and down our cul-de-sac, Addie decided she was going to ride HER bike without training wheels!  She was a little hesitant at first, but she quickly built her confidence and that was all it took!  Yes, she is totally my daughter- she rides in pretty dresses!!

SO proud!!

 Alden is pretty proud of her, too- now they ride their bikes all the time!  In fact, it became painfully obvious that they had now totally out-grown the bikes they had.  A trip to the Thrift Store provided new-to-us-bikes that are the right size- and both for under $10 total!!  I have heard a pretty solid rumor that Santa is going to provide new bikes this Christmas- but we will see....

The Newest Bikers to add to our neighborhood gang!

Soccer!

Alden started i9 soccer today- and he was so excited, even though he was exausted, he couldn't take a rest!  He was excited to play again- he did a clinic with our local Pro team this spring- and he was thrilled that his friend, Ella, was going to be on his team!  The weather was perfect and he had a blast!

Got lucky #7 for his jersey!

Such a ladie's man!

Listening to the directions from Coach Ben- who is from Austrailia, runs a surf clinic in Hawaii, and coaches in the fall in Richmond!!

Alden scoring a goal during practice- he was on cloud 9!!

Here's to a great soccer season!!

BEACH!!

Somehow the summer escaped us....  We promised to take the kids to the beach after Labor Day- so hopefully there wouldn't be as much traffic.  The kids were thrilled and we had an amazing time!  Shockingly, the water was significantly cooler than when we went in July!

Jumping for Joy!

We love the beach THIS much!

Sand splits

Sand masterpieces 

Love how you can see the wave crashing over her head!!  Perfect ending to a boogie board wave ride! 

Riding his wave

It was an amazing Saturday- love that we can take day trips like this with the kiddos!!

First Day of School!

I'm not sure how it happened, but summer ended and school started!  And even more shockingly, we now have a 1st grader and a kindergartner in the house!!  We started off the morning by Al working from home so he could take the kids to Goddard to catch their bus- so he could take pics of them getting on the bus!  Addie was the first one up- she was giddy with excitement!  She had her traditional 1st Day of School Breakfast- fruit, eggs and the most important part- a Dunkin Donut!!  Right before I needed to leave, Alden woke-up- yay!!  Al snapped a pic of the 3 of us and I headed to my school to start off my school year teaching 7th grade math.  After a bit, Al took the kids to Goddard and was able to see them off.  Alden was so focused about getting on the bus, he refused to look at Al- he was totally in the "Get On The Bus Zone"- so cute!  When I picked both kids up from school at the end of the day, they were all smiles and couldn't wait to go back!  Each morning, they both bounce down the stairs, chatting away about what they are going to do that day and eager to get out of the door so they can go to school!  Here is to a fantastic year!!

Pretty 1st grader!

Kindergartner!!

Those headed off to school!

Can you tell who is the most excited??

Waiting for the bus with their BFF, Lainey

Focused on getting ON the bus!  He begs to ride it home EVERY day!

To celebrate a successful 1st day- each kid picked out a 1/2 gallon of ice cream- and we shared with all the neighbors!

Addie spent time with Jack, reading to him the new American Girl Catalog

These 3 rule our 'hood- aren't they adorable?