September 2025

 In September, we're back into the routine! And enjoying the many fall festivities in the area! 

There's a fall festival nearby that my kids used to LOVE. I promised myself that I would force them to come with me no matter what, every year. So, I bribed them to join me with friends. "If we bring friends...will you come along?" And they aqcuiesced. hahaha.

Nova's BFF!

Nova and I go on walks periodically, and she loves to stop to pose!

Jodi was in DC for work, so she stayed with us for a night and day! We headed to Gettysburg and had a great time, remembering our Civil War Camp days!

We rarely go out to eat together, so this was special - we went to a Greek restaurant for absolutely no good reason. 

Our buddy Tom came over to cut this fallen tree into logs so it was no longer laying on our fence.

First top tooth - GONE!

While at Gettysburg, I bought hard tack that the kids put into coffee to soften, and then took a bite. It was pretty terrible.

My beautiful girl!

Back to School!

 I applied for both kids to switch from Burnt Mills to Page Elementary back in the spring. Nova got in right away, but Lynx was still on the waitlist.

Since Nova was new to the school, she got to attend the "New Kids Orientation Day" (or something like that). It's a new initiative. New kids go to school for the entire day, the day before school starts. She loved it, but was the only fifth grader there! So she spent the day with fourth graders.

Lynx eventually gets in on September 25. So, for a few weeks, I had to drop offs and two pick ups. But, because Nova was a patrol at Page, she was allowed to get to school early and be picked up late, giving me plenty of time to manage it.

Nova's first day at Page!

Lynx wished her well! He had a playdate with his bestest buddy while she was at school.

NOW, the first day for both of them! 

Class of 2033 and 2036!! 

August, 2025

 August was a blast! I tried to fill the days with fun, non-swim-related activities. You'll see the summer fun below! 

Lynx had his bestest buddy over to Stonegate. They had a blast!

Nova switched to Page Elementary School! She surprised her friend, Aria, at this open house. We tried to keep it a secret from Damian (seated) but he heard ahead of time. 

Anisha, Steph and I get together for dinner about every month. I rarely chronicle it here, but this photo is such a great one, I wanted to share!

When the kids really want something, they give me these faces! Who could say no??

There's a ropes course just down the road from our home, but the kids had never been! By a stroke of luck, these friends were also going that same day, so we all climbed the ropes course together.

Nova, pretending to be a haunted child.

Lynx at Panera with some of his soccer buddies.

Their first rock climbing experience!

Nova spent a very long time putting this artwork together, and then moving it to her bedroom door!

Voila! Finished product!