The Week So Far

I met Anne's new baby this week! Corinne. She is so perfect. She fell asleep on me the whole time we visited and it was pretty much heaven.

Swam with friends this week, library, cub scouts did a cool treasure hunt, lots and lots of playing with toys at home (which might be my kids' favorite thing to do). Seen this a bunch all summer - love my little readers:

I told the big kids they could each have an "in charge" day this summer. Audrey's is today! It's been totally fun and we've all played along (except for when she tried to demand I get out of bed at 6:30am - told her if she wanted a happy mommy for In Charge Day she'd let me sleep.) She chose Chuck E. Cheese to play games which ended up great because it was almost empty:

We hit this awesome jackpot twice! Kids were so happy.

Afterward, no surprise, she picked her favorite - Menchies for lunch!

Tyler gets his day next week.

Last day of swim lessons. Kids did great! Especially w/ back stroke and freestyle. Audrey's freestyle:

 Lessons for this one next summer.

So crazy the first day of school is two weeks from today! It's been such an awesome summer.

Beach!

Such a nice beach day with these four.

Met Renee and her family there, Brooke and Emily. Didn't set up far from Tina so got a quick hello, too. So nice to enjoy the afternoon with these awesome families.

Cole and Ivy were too cute chasing and splashing in the waves together.

Cole had so much fun - the first time we've really seen him enjoy the ocean.

Watch Henry Danger!

First off WATCH ADAM'S NEW SHOW!!! Henry Danger premieres Saturday, 8pm on Nickelodeon. I'm sure they'll repeat it all weekend long. Premise is a kid who becomes the sidekick to a superhero. Looks really fun. My kids will be watching! Cole has been practicing his best superhero all week. Apparently his superheroes like to go pantsless:

 Favorite book right now! We picked it up in Virginia at PBK with Aunt Lauren:

 We've spent some summer afternoons doing very important things, like learning how to make fortune tellers. Brought me right back to elementary school.

 Tyler made origami "Han Foldo" - he's really into the Origami Yoda books right now.

Kids finished week one of swim lessons. Hit the dollar movies with Brooke. Last week of the summer reading program at library so we had to go. (Yes, last week - can't believe we have about 2 1/2 weeks of summer left!). Cub scouts met at the fire station this week for a lesson in fire safety. Good group of boys:

My friend and primary president, Michalle, planned an awesome Pioneer Day activity for the kids. Wagon races, pioneer stories and songs by a "camp fire", games. She's pretty amazing, and my kids had a great time.

Backyard fun today:

This guy was brave enough to get in the big pool. Not a fan of the slide, though.

The sky was soooo pretty tonight. Best I could get from our front step since we have a bunch of trees. The beach must've been gorgeous.

Swim!

Two weeks of swim lessons started today. When the lesson was over Tyler said, "That was so fun!" My kids have come so far - super proud of them. Audrey's little head doggie paddling:

I think Tyler thinks his college-kid swim teacher is super cool.

Cutie-pie poolside date:

Also got to see Renee and most of the Encino Girls today! Minus Emily who was missed. That's a good day.

Since We've Been Back

We got home from Virginia pretty late. Walked in the house and saw beautiful fresh sunflowers. Figured Brooke left them for me since she had a key. Then in the kitchen there was bread, milk, cereal, snacks, fresh fruit and veggies, soda! Left by my wonderful friends Brooke and Amber! I mean, who does that?! I have the best friends ever, and it was so appreciated since I was dreading running to the store for milk after our 10+ hour travel day.

Adam and I both hit the ground running with work. Yes, Adam is back at work!! New show Henry Danger premieres next Saturday at 8pm! Ladybug is nice in the summer - short six week session, very laid back.

Kids had Presley's aquatic center birthday party, and Dewy's laser tag party. Swam and played with friends. Hit the library. Mini-golf with Adam.

Finally took Cole to Travel Town. He's been asking non-stop for weeks. (I have a feeling he and I will be frequenting Travel Town this fall.) Emily and Penny met us, which was so nice.

It is my goal to finish Gone Girl before the movie comes out in October. I've only been trying to read it for a year and a half! Reading Lyndsay's book, too. Kids and I are halfway through The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It might be my favorite book I've read out loud to them so far.

Oh and we bought my friend Erin's old bedroom furniture. She was selling it on facebook for cheap and I was unsure but just went for it because Adam and I have been bugged by our bedroom for years (Note to newly married people - treat yourself to a nice bedroom before kids!) So, so happy we bought it because it's changed everything and we feel like real grown-ups! Next we paint and get new bedding. Hopefully by my birthday we'll have a whole new room.

This was a first. Cole really wanted to be just like Audrey. Must be in the air this week, Amber.

Cole wakes up and first thing wants his superhero gear. I think we have Halloween covered this year.

Superheroes and chips really are two of his favorites.

The Rest of Virginia

In a nutshell this is more of Virginia:

Spent Week 2 at G-Mom and Pop-Pop's

Tons of talk time

Late bedtimes

Catching fireflies

Sparklers and side-of-the-road fireworks

Lots of yummy BBQ

More pool time
More croquet and kids tried badminton
G-Mom's swing set, and drawing at her art table

Legos with cousins
Laughing through old family photos

Ran down windy roads in the mornings, gorgeous neighborhoods

Dirty diet cokes and that dang coconut syrup!

Snuck in a couple dates with Adam

Mall shopping with sisters

 Visit with Christi and fam
Could've spent another week, easy.

When your aunt works for Pottery Barn Kids you pick your back pack out a little early:

Tyler got this frog out of "the claw" machine on his first try! Stephanie, Adam, and I pretty much freaked out since that never happens, and in doing so I think we made it one of the highlights of Tyler's life - we were cheering for him so loud and he was beaming for 24 hours straight. Audrey was way jealous and we spent a bunch of money trying to win her one and never could! Dang machine.

Adam and I had an amazing dinner at The Tabacco Company, thanks again to our babysitters. The atmosphere and food were wonderful. I had the best pork tenderloin, I am inspired to recreate the whole meal for the holidays. Molasses-glazed pork tenderloin, homemade apple butter, mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon, roasted brussel sprouts. Seriously so good - it felt like a Christmas meal. I'm gonna do it.

My cute date:

Can't even put into words how much we miss these guys already.

Can this trip kick-off a yearly tradition? Summers in Virginia? We would love that. Grateful it went so smoothly. Couldn't have asked for a better, family-filled two weeks.

Grandpa Faust Time

Spent some wonderful time with Grandpa Faust while we were in Virginia.

He treated us to a yummy lunch at Firebirds:

And a train ride at the mall after lunch - Cole's favorite part.

My dad can't help but take the kids on a Toys R Us run.

My dad and Liz hosted a big family party 4th of July weekend. It was great spending time with family at their house. Cool to see my kids play in the yard where I grew up. I want this exact hammock for our back yard!

A lesson in croquet for the kids. Something I remember playing in this yard when I was younger - need to get a set for us, too!

Growing up my dad always did fireworks in the driveway July 4th, so of course we had to recreate the show since we were all in town.

Awesome to catch up with our cousin Michael who drove down from Pennsylvania.

My dad with his cousin Jay, Aunt Beb, and his sisters Joyce, Erin, and Bobbi.

Grandpa Faust spent another day with us at the pool, then more Sweet Frog - yum.

So happy we got lots of Grandpa time in Virginia.