Christmas

 The nutcracker at Warner Theater with the girls, the Wolf Trap annual sing-a-long and gingerbread houses at home AND at school

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

 Mom and Xman paying tribute at the tomb of the unknown soldier

Halloween

Neighborhood parade and pizza party with a magician

1st Caps Game

First Day of Elementary School

Two left for school, the third was super sad so she got a frosty from Wendys.

Momday Fundays

Time off between jobs meant "momday fundays." 

Beach!

Never got a chance to add these, but want to remember. It was a good trip.

Last First Day of Pre-K

And then it was her turn. And big sis put a note wishing her luck in her lunch bag. 2nd year baby girl has started preschool with stitches in her forehead.

Summer

She did it!

She swam the entire length of the pool this summer three times in a 'mini meet.' And she's the only 4-year-old completely unafraid of the diving board. Swim team here we come! 

10 years!

 Xman turned 10
this summer. We celebrated with his closest school buddies at a rock climbing gym where the highlight was a group "floss off" (flossing is a dance, kind of). Also this summer, our Xman was unanimously picked by his swim coaches for "most improved" among 9-10 year olds, and one of three "most improved" for the entire team of 210 swimmers. He started the season by struggling to learn a flip turn, and wound up qualifying for  divisionals in both back stroke and an IM. I'd call that a successful season. We are so proud of what he's become.

Swim team!

Goofy costumes, long Saturdays with friends, and games involving shaving cream. Oh and swimming.

Throwback

I just found this old photo from summer of 2013. They would have been 5 and 2.5. Seems like a zillion years ago and yesterday all at once.

Camping Girl

Her first sleepaway camp. It was 95 degrees but she survived and came home happy (although little sister missed her a ton.)

 Below is from her camping trip with mom this April at White Rock in WV where her troop stayed in covered wagons.

Spring

More from spring of 2018: A weekend trip to Monticello and UVA (I could have spent days there but the kids got a little bored), a dance recital and a violin concert at school. 

Sugar and Spice

Catching up with pictures from spring and the preschool's annual Mother's Day Tea. 

Mother's Day Tea 2018