V.I.P Weeks!

It must be summer, if we are doing V.I.P. (Very Important Person) weeks! We did this in my family growing up and it's been a fun tradition to start with my own kids. The really look forward to it. They each answer the questions on the chart and choose a picture of themselves to put on it. During the week, they get to do fun things...have a friend over, pick a couple meals and a treat, choose an activity to do just with their Dad, pick a night to stay up late and their poster hangs up all week. We love our kids!

Gravelly Point

We have wanted, for years, to go to Gravelly Point. It is located right by Reagan National Airport. The airplanes take off and come right over your head as they rise into the sky. Our friends, the Williams, came with us...in addition to our sweet Maddie, who has been helping me this summer. It was the perfect weather...not to hot, with a breeze. One plane, in particular, was close enough to our heads that it made us nervous! It was a very fun way to spend the morning, including a yummy picnic, tree climbing and some soccer!

Cole playing soccer

The gang of kiddos

Cole in tree

The kids with Maddie

Hair Cuts

The girls loved getting their hair cut... in time for school to start next week. Jayda's absolute favorite part is the washing of her hair. Sadie wanted to get her hair cut to "her cheeks", but we compromised on getting it cut to her chin. Cute girls!

Clemyjontri Park

We had a few things we wanted to do before the end of summer...going to Clemyjontri Park, being one. We were super lucky to have some friends join us, which always makes it more fun!

Racing

S and J

C giving M a piggy back ride

Bouncy toy

Waiting for their turn on the merry go round

J

K

C

S

Happy July 24th, Pioneer Day!!

This post could be incredibly long and full of pictures. So, I had to just pick a couple from each activity. Every since I can remember, we have celebrated Pioneer Day. We would have another family over, we would dress up like pioneers and Mom would have lots of activities set up for us. Since we had Cole, we've done well at either hosting or participating each year. It is SO fun! The kids love it. This year, we sawed logs, hammered nails, shook cream into butter, make "ice cream in a bag", sewed buttons and made "Brigham Young's Buttermilk Donuts". This year, still under the weather, I relied heavily on the two Moms that brought their kids and, thanks to them, it was a HUGE success!

Flowers

My husband is awesome. Bart came home from work yesterday with these gorgeous flowers for me. He knew it had been a hard week and a difficult day. I love when he surprises me like that. I'm SUPER grateful for such an incredible man!

Keeping Busy

Last week, Bart was gone for 6 days...including over a weekend. It was a long week. :) By Saturday, I knew that I needed to plan a couple of outings or we were all going to go crazy. So, we went to Krispy Kreme Donuts. The one in Alexandria was one of the first in the country. You can watch the whole process (from cutting out, rising, cooking and getting iced) through glass windows and the kids love it. Next, we hit the playland at Tyson's Corner. Always a fun stop, until there are too many kids and they start running into each other. We ended the day with early baths and a movie in the basement. I made egg carton lunches (you fill each space in the carton with something to eat), which absolutely thrilled the kids. I was pooped, but the kids were happy and that's what counts!

Lookin' Smooth

Peaches

This year peach picking totally wiped me out. It was SOOOO HOT, even though we went early in the morning. Humid, tons of bugs and we had to walk to the other end of the orchard to find the one tree that had ripe fruit. Good grief!! The kids had fun the first 10 minutes, but after that, everyone wanted to leave.... and we still had to find the fruit, pick it and haul everyone/everything back to the cars. :) Not so pleasant, but the peach pie, peach jam and peach muffins made it (almost) worth it. :)