A Fall Field Trip

Friday was Simone's school's annual field trip to Cox Farm Fall Festival. This year daddy did the chaperoning, and they had a great time. Daddy did his best at getting some pictures, so I've tried to pick the best ones.

You can really see how tall she has gotten and how long her legs are in these shots. She goes for her annual well visit next week, but our unofficial height measurement is 42".

Happy Birthday Simone!

It is mindblowing to think that Simone actually turned FOUR YEARS OLD. Sigh... incredible. We are grateful that she reached this milestone a happy, healthy, little girl who could not be more loved. To us, however, she is and will always be our baby girl.

To mark the occasion we spent an evening of Simone's design. For her birthday present, Simone wanted a pet. We settled on a fish. So after cupcakes and giftbags at school, we picked her up and headed to the pet store where she picked a small tank and a bright blue beta (which incidentally lived one day. we're now on fish #2).

The second part of her gift was an evening at the circus. Beforehand, we went for a birthday dinner at the Cheesecake factory. Simone had her favorites --chicken soup and broccoli.

And then to the big show...

Simone sat through the entire 2 hour show and only a few times became a little disinterested. But without a doubt, her favorite part was.....the COTTON CANDY.

Sum sum summertime!

We took a nice long weekend to have some summer fun. We didn't fit in everything we had in mind, but our plans were probably a bit too ambitious. Nevertheless, Simone enjoyed our trip so much that she cried not to come home. And when I asked her what would happen to our house and her room and her toys, she told me that "I don't care about them anymore." lol! The price of success, I suppose.

We started the weekend with a visit to the American Girl store in Tysons Corner. In addition to bitty baby fun day, she scored some new doll clothes and a tshirt for herself.

We also took a jaunt up to the Jersey shore -- Point Pleasant beach to be exact. Simone's favorite part was building sandcastles with her daddy.

We spotted this little guy (look very closely) while we were walking along the beach.

A little snack break...

We also had a birthday party for cousin Kamryne. Simone was more than happy to help her eat cake--- or shall I say icing.

And in between, we spent alot of time in the pool. It was a really hot weekend, so staying as wet as possible was ideal.

It took no time at all for Simone to master maneuvering all the pool toys and floating devices. By the end of the weekend she wanted to "help" from anyone.

A Fabulous Fourth of July!

Well, our 4th of July was certainly not for the faint of heart or spirit--we put the energizer bunny to shame. Simone has anxiously awaited the visit of her cousin Madalyn for a long weekend packed full of summertime fun. We ate ice cream, we BBQ'd, spent a day at the Reston Water Mine, a day at the National Harbor, and the 4th on the National Mall from morning until the last firework exploded. Both girls were real troopers through the heat, the crowds, the late nights, and the loud noises. And well, who are we kidding... the mommies and daddies could barely keep up! Here's a peek at the weekend (in random order)...

Fireworks on the Mall

During the Capitol Concert

In the Gaylord Hotel

At the carnival

The Harbor fireworks on the 3rd

The 4th of July parade downtown

And through it all we were all as red, white, and blue as it gets!

A little yabba dabba doo!

During breakfast at Old Ebbitt Grill

Saturday at the Water Mine

And last but not least, Simone and Tulie capped the weekend in their sailor dresses-- my two American girls!