Orientation, Brides & Bowling

Last Friday we attended orientation at the girls pre-school.  Sophia was excited to meet her teachers and said she wanted to tell them Hi!  She eased into the classroom and made her way over to the doll house to play.  There were no tears shed when I left the room, although Sophia later told me lots of kids in the class were crying for the Mommy's and Daddy's..  Sophia hung out in her class for about 20 minutes while the parents met with the school director.  When we came to pick her up she seemed so much older than she did earlier that morning.  My baby is a pre-schooler now!

Isabella was also eager to get to school to meet her friends, she already knew her teachers from last year.  Isabella bounced around the room checking out lots of fun stations that were set up.  Her teacher even made a goody bag for all the kids to take home.   The note attached to the bag said 

" This bag of goodies to start the new year will help you remember how special you are...  

 Clay: because you are creative

Stickers: because you will stick with it when we learn something new

Pencil: because you are sharp

Eraser: because we all make mistakes

Smarties: because you are smart

badge: because you follow the rules

Hugs: because you are loved!. "

After orientation the girls picked lunch at a location of their choice...McDonalds!

Mrs. Meche, Sophia & Mrs. Simkins

Mrs. McDearmon, Isabella, Thomas the bear, & Mrs. Zampetti

Lunch out at McDonalds after orientation

"I like hamburgers with cheese!"

 Saturday evening our friend Katie was married.  The retro reception was at a bowling alley and it was so much fun!  It was a late night for the kids but they enjoyed seeing the bride, playing in the arcade, bowling and eating delicious cupcakes!  I enjoyed a little late night bowling myself!

Happy Family September 2012

The girls were excited to see Katie.  Sophia called her a princess!

Daddy teaches the girls to bowl

Daddy - Daughter snuggles

Yummy in my tummy!

Strike for me!  woohoo!

Congratulations Katie and Rick!

Pirates and other fun!

We are Busy Busy Busy!!  Here are a few photos from the last few weeks of Summer.  Enjoy!

Pirate Festival 2012

Playing at Gayton Elementary

Smiling Sophie

A trip to McDonalds after the library

Chillen' at the nursing home in Gram's chair

Eating Ice-cream with Grammie & PapPap

Its been a fun summer that went by fast.  Its hard to believe that school starts next week!  The girls are excited to meet their teachers and ready to start school. 

Half Marathon Momma

Last weekend I ran a little half marathon in Ashland, VA which is 13.1 miles.  It was a rainy, wet run but I enjoyed running the route.  As most of you know, I am training for a marathon.  That is 26.2 miles (yes, that is all in one day).  I am on the marathon training team in Richmond and at this point I am more than half way through my training.  I feel very lucky to be injury free thus far and hope I can cross the finish line on November 10, 2012.  I am enjoying my journey to 26.2!  My biggest inspiration to complete this race is my family, my grandmother in paticular.  Mentally I know I can do it, lets see how my body handles the last 10 weeks of training.

Finishing a training run with Jen & Jen

We make running fun!

Jen and I rockin' out a little 7 mile run

Kristen and I after a rainy half  marathon

Congratulations Kirsten Schaefer on finishing the Patrick Henry Half Marathon on August 25, 2012.

For your records, the weather at start time was rain, 69 degrees F, calm wind.  Your time was 2:11:01.64 giving you an overall pace of 10:00 per mile.

Open to Close at BG

Last week we enjoyed a visit with Mary and Samantha.  One of the fun things we did during their visit was going to Busch Gardens.  Our plan was to leave the park mid afternoon based on tired kiddos however at 3pm the girls were going strong!    In fact, we had so much fun that we stayed at the park till it closed!!  Sophia has grown in height since our last visit and is now tall enough to ride the roller coaster.  Miss Sophia rode her very first roller coaster ride and after said "Its scary!".   Sophia's favorite ride of the day was the Choo-Choo train.  Grandmom spoiled the girls with airbrushed face painting!  Isabella choose a princess and Sophia chose a tiger!  They looked adorable!!    It was a fun filled day, the kind that makes great memories.

Sophia and Sam on the 1st ride of the day

Big girl Bella wanted to ride alone!

Samantha and Isabella on the coaster

Grandmom and Sophia on her 1st roller coaster ride!

Bella & Big Bird

2 cuties on the Rad Baron

 Holding on to each other...kiss from Bella

Sam & Sophie splashing around

Giddy up!

Bella & Sam pop out of the dragon eggs

Log Flummin'

Holding tight to Sophia

Roar!

Grandmom pampers her girls

Mommy & Sophia opt for snuggles over scary rides

A hug for Grandmom from Fifi

Samantha enjoyed the fireworks while playing in the water

A wet, tired tiger ready to go home

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Our friends the Timmermans invited us to a ballgame last weekend.  It was the first baseball game the girls have seen and it was our first time checking out the Flying Squirrels in Richmond.  They ended up losing the game to the Bowie Baysox but we had much fun! In between each inning at the game they had entertainment such as "Whack-an-intern" which is like whack-a-mole but with real people. The hillbilly horseshoes were funny too!  They threw toilet seats over plungers! Ha!  The best of all was ending the night with fireworks! It was a wonderful evening with friends and family and we all had a great time!

Excited for their first baseball game

Blue teeth courtesy of yummy blue cotton candy

"Candy Cotton"

Molly, Isabella, Sarah & Sophia

James & Bella

Daddy & Fifi

Ice Ice Baby

Summer is going by fast! We have enjoyed lots of water play at home, at the pool and at the Children's Museum. One fun project the girls have enjoyed is digging for treasures in a block of ice.    They enjoyed watching the ice crack as they poured water on it.  The best part is melting the ice to discover the animals inside.   

Isabella cracks the ice

Ice Ice Baby

Sophia wants to release the butterflies

Below are the photos from a fun playdate at the downtown Children's Museum.

Isabella enjoying  snack at CMOR

Sharing a drink from the fountain

Dino Bella

Eggy Fifi