Summer's Last Hurrah

This weekend we met my parents in Virginia Beach for their annual Neptune Festival. My parents have gone with friends the last few years and this is the first time we've been able to join them for it. They brought their trailer and let us stay in one of the KOA lodges. It was so cute and just right for us! It had two bedrooms, bathroom, and a kitchen/common area.

We walked around the finalists' creations for the

North American Sand Sculpting Championship - pretty incredible!

Here's a link for more pictures.

This one was Noah's favorite.

Kohr Brothers

A perfect beach day!

We made some lovely memories with Mom and Dad and their friends,

Gil and Karen and Claude and Debbie.

After breakfast this morning with everyone, we came back to the KOA for a little "pillow jumping"

We ALL tried it out - it was awesome.

FUN weekend + long car ride = sleepy boys

When we came home, we realized that Fall had arrived. It was breezy and there was a chill in the air that we haven't had yet. We love Fall. We are so grateful for such a great weekend to bid those Summer Days farewell!

Busy Week

How I wish I could take more time to write about the daily struggles and sweetnesses of being a mommy of two very busy boys... nonetheless, I feel I'm barely documenting the highlights of our daily lives. Let me say again, these are highlights - we have many, and feel extremely fortunate and blessed to be able to take advantage of so many wonderful opportunities. I was reminded again today of our lives in Peru. I missed being able to take Noah to a library - now, we go at least every other week. I just don't want to take all these opportunities for granted and don't want out kids to think these things are available to everyone in the world. So, here are some snapshots of this past week...

Just can't get enough of these precious moments.

Now, I gotta give these guys some props! They are honest, take great care of our car, and Mr. Joe has made some fans for life after letting Noah pull the lever to raise the car up for it's oil change. AND, for the day, he let them borrow two of his model cars that he keeps in the shop!

Datenight! Got to catch Peter Bradley Adams at The Southern and had the chance to finally try out "The Flat" a creperie I've been really wanted to visit.

Noah and his ark at the Humpback Rock Farm Festival

Michael picked up a dulcimer and gave it a whirl!

Don't worry, we found it just lying in the grass.

Noah's Lego "Briding-room"

Today, Noah got to be among the first to have a swim lesson taught in this brand new pool and fitness facility!

Lately...

More fun at Carter Mountain, pickin' peaches...

We had a mystery plant in our garden, likely from the compost. It turned into a cantalope!

Got to see Grandma and Grandpa over Labor Day weekend...

Saw the Sound of Music at Wolf Trap...

Spent time with Michael's Aunt Joan...

Said our goodbyes to an awesome pool season...

Noah started Pre-Kindergarden...

At 19 months, Ethan is using his utensils regularly now...

Brought in the final harvest of basil and made a couple more batches of pesto sauce to last us the winter...
Enjoyed our baby carrot harvest - and we mean real baby carrots. (c:,

Finally, we have witnessed Ethan emerging from his babyhood. Sniff, Sniff. Although, I don't think he's quite ready for a big boy bed.

And we're back...

Just in case anybody is still following this neglected little blog, please forgive the lack of posts. Since the last post:

- Michael returned after 5 weeks from his Masters program at the Hartt School in Connecticut

- Celebrated 7 years of marriage - woo hoo!

- We packed in lots of fun, celebrating Daddy returning to us!

- We went to Sag Harbor for a week with Michael's family

- Got a date with Noah to see Mary Poppins at the Kennedy Center

- We've picked lots of peaches

- I started a new job in Childbirth Education at Martha Jefferson Hospital

- Michael started school this past Wednesday

- We continue to enjoy some of the bounty from our own little garden

Humpback Rocks