Happy Early Halloween

Bubby and "Anne of Green Gables" get ready for Trunk or Treat at Emerald Hill. bubby sprained her knee and couldn't participate, but she came and helped me get the girls dressed and ready since Patrick had a night meeting and AP had soccer...

Our little clown, "Lolipop" Eileen Heelen. Didn't quite fit into her car seat when we went to story time on Tues. night! Too much candy, I guess!

I ordered Margaret's Anne costume online from a lady who sews American Girl dresses and other period costumes. It is perfect!

Fun with some girl friends at Trunk or Treat...although Abby was a bit freaked out by some of the cars decorations and scary costumes.

We're looking forward to more fun Halloween activites this weekend!

The cows come home...

We had a visit several mornings in a row last week from some neighborhood bulls. A bit disconcerting to be loading the car in the morning and through the fog see a 1000+ something staring back at you through the fog. Patrick and I were almost late to work several days b/c of cows in the driveway! And how do you explain to a toddler that she can't do the trampoline because the bulls are visiting? After speaking to some neighbors, we now we know the farmer to call when the cows come back. He'll bring a pail of feed and they'll follow him home! But what about the enormous cow pies everywhere? ... what a pain.

Columbus Day Weekend

The Girls go to the Taste of Culpeper Festival

The Boys Take a Trip to Jamestown

The Boys went to Jamestown w/ Patrick's school on Friday for a field trip. Had a nice time together. Then headed to Maryland for a long weekend visiting w/ Pops and Nana. They were headed to the Renaissance Festival today- quite the time travelers!

The girls read to the dogs at the library Sat. morning and ran errands. Then Bubby came on Sat. night for a girls night. We went to the "Taste of Culpeper" festival on Davis Street today for the first time and it was wonderful. The weather was fantastic and there were children's activities, fancy food vendors and beer and wine tastings. It also featured a Battle of the Bands and our friend Harry and De's twin son's band, "Same Ol' Sound." Since Adam helped hook up the zip line a few weeks ago, Margaret was a bit starry-eyed for him and asked to get his autograph and picture with him! Bubby and I breathed a sigh of relief that the song "Feel like Making Love..." didn't catch Margaret's attention in the least... she was psyched about the moon bounce, pony rides and craft booth!

Fall Birthday!

Welcome Fall!

Happy Belated 12th Birthday Patrick!

We finally celebrated AP's birthday on Oct. 4th. He'd like to think the 1 and 2 on his cake stood for 21, but we know otherwise! The girls and I made him a cake and I finished sewing his cowboy-style dragon print shirt. (See below!) Now I just need to add the buttons and search for some gold conchos- or whatever they call those dangly things!

AP tries on his new shirts and Abby gives him an "Oo-Laa-Laa!"

Unfortunately for him and I, it is too small. I will have to make him another one in a larger size. I guess I need to take the time to actually measure the kids the next time I make something for them... they're getting so big.

Me and AP and boy do I looked whipped!

Can't believe I have a middle schooler...

Patrick took the girls to the Fall Farm Tour on Saturday and AP helped Bubby at a craft show so I could volunteer at the consignment sale and run errands (washed my cell phone- oops, and the new Anthem cards don't work- argh) By Sunday, I was able to get out all of the Fall/Winter clothes for the kids, and we put the air conditioners away and finally I got AP's shirt finished.

This is about a fancy as it gets around here lately!

Noodles and tuna fish and a homemade cake= a nice birthday celebration. It was a bit rushed since he had a game in Leesburg in the afternoon, so he will open cards from the family tonight.

Abby enjoyed the cake- but mostly the frosting! Now she really looks like her dad! AP's birthday celebration happened to be on the 5th anniversary of our court date in Russia. Can't believe it's been five years since we got the kids. Someday we might have the energy to reflect on it all!

A Belated tea party for my birthday

My mom baby sat for the girls and AP played at our neighbor's so Patrick and I could have a birthday lunch at our favorite restaurants in town. It has become a birthday tradition to go to two and eat back to back lunches! We went to Foti's first and I had mushroom soup and a curried chicken salad pita. Then we went to Chiusano Italian Table and I had angel hair pasta w/ diablo sauce. Yummmm.... It is also a tradition to go for dessert tea and play dress up. The kids joined us and it was a great afternoon. Wish we could spend more Saturdays over eating and relaxing...

Front seat of the Taxi Jam kiddie roller coaster w/ Abby and Margaret! Don't tell the doc... I held Abby tight the whole way and it really was a smooth ride. She raised her hands up in the air and declared "I wanna do dat again."

Not a good idea to try the Ferris Wheel with a Boo Hoo Baby who didn't take her nap...

Geico Day at Kings Dominion w./ Bubby. Aka- Adoption Day. 5 years ago on Oct. 4th we became parents of two wild and crazy kiddos!! It's been a rollercoaster of a ride but we can't imagine life w/out them!! Thanks to everyone for their support over the years.

And here's to 5 more years of smooth sailing! I never imagined just how exhausting motherhood would be...

Zipline!

Santa brought a zipline and we are just now getting around to hooking it up. As with most things in life, it ain't as easy as you think it will be. The trees had to be close enough together and the line has to travel over a gentle downhill slope. The trickiest part was that the tree could not bo too wide= what a pain getting it installed!! But worth it as you can see from the pictures. Check it off the list of things I can say I've done...