Feeling Like Fall

Today we remembered that every once in a while it's good to take a time out and just relax.  And what better than a fine autumn day at one of Loudoun county's vineyards?  It was a positively gorgeous weekend to be outdoors, so we decided to meet up with some friends for wine and cheese tasting and a picnic.  Simone and I headed over to Wegman's bright and early this morning to get some picnic food while dad cut the grass, and then off to the winery.

In our old basement we had a large framed map of Napa from our trip there years ago, and Simone always loved looking at it and asking about it.  Today she got to find out what wine was all about... MINUS the tasting part, of course!!!

 This beautiful little butterfly (a Monarch, Simone quickly pointed out) seemed to be posing for us.  Such stunning colors... how perfectly autumn.

After our picnic, Simone and daddy took a mile hike through the forest path behind this little pavilion.  Mommy had to stay behind to keep the wine safe ;-) lol!

We lingered for several hours, eating, drinking, talking and just taking in the nature.  All in all, just what we needed after a hectic, stressful week.  We definitely need to start doing more of this!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY!!!

This year, for the first time, Simone had very specific ideas for her birthday and party.   She asked to go to Pennsylvania and have a My Little Pony Grand Galloping Gala party at Grammy's house.  My Little Pony is Simone's all time favorite toy/show for the moment, so it really was no wonder we ended up with something like this.  She asked for streamers and balloons and fancy dresses and tiaras.  Basically, it was about the girly-est scene possible. 

The "gala" room.

And, of course, a my little pony cake. Chocolate mousse and whipped cream icing... yum!

On the porch to greet her guests.

Talking to daddy after she blew out the candles.

Opening gifts, plenty of pony presents.

With lots of help from her cousins.

Rainbow twirling ribbons were Simone's party favors.  They made for great fun out in the yard after the  cake and singing.

The afternoon kid party was followed by an evening bbq with lots of family and then a sleepover party for the girls.  And lest you think things got too prissy, all the girls shed their party attire and went hunting for frogs in the forest with flashlights, which Simone notes was her favorite part (along with opening gifts).  They also put on a dance show for all the grown ups, which was choreographed and memorized all in one afternoon.... kind of impressive.

Simone sobbed herself to sleep when it was time to leave the next day, and she simply cannot stop talking about how much fun she had.  Her birthday was officially a major success.  It may be hard to beat this one next year!

First Day of School!!!

Well, today was one of the BIG ones -- one of the days you know is coming but can't really wrap your mind around it until it happens.  Today Simone began kindergarten....amazing.  And even though she is still at her same school, with her same friends,  and largely the same routine, something felt very different.  She woke up just looking older, acting older, being.... a big kid.

After a good night's rest, she woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Ready to get dressed for school.

She picked her outfit the night before, and was so excited to match it to her new backpack.  

Walking toward the classroom.

Settling into her new cubby.

She had some time before the day started, and of course she darted straight to the reading center.  A whole new slew of books to explore.  Fun!

And that's where we said goodbye and left her with all smiles and no tears. (mommy and daddy too!)  

On the drive home she told me all about her day and said that she likes kindergarten better than PreK because they get to go outside right after lunch AND naptime is much shorter!  She also noted that the  play kitchen area in PreK is called dramatic play center but in kindergarten it's called the housekeeping center.  She is looking forward to going back tomorrow and can't wait until homework starts next week -- we'll see how long that lasts lol!

Things That Make You Smile...

So ordinarily, a Saturday's trip to Ikea wouldn't make the blog.  But I can't resist this one.  After a not- particularly-successful afternoon of shopping for mirrors we came out of the store to find this sprawled across the parking lot....

 Then I spotted the flag out of the corner of my eye and was able to frame these...

A little bit of cheer on a tired, muggy day...

And finally a random shot of Simone and Tony at dinner because baby girl's smile is as awesome to us as any old rainbow!