Labor Day

Labor Day weekend was a much needed break for this crew! I think it's the first time they've had two weeks of school before a break (usually only one). The kids had Friday and Monday off and were very ready for it. 

Chris headed off Thursday to his annual Fantasy Football draft weekend. His team won their "Ryder Cup" tournament by one stroke, they ate food, drafted players, and hung out.

Meanwhile at home the kids and I had a quiet Friday (I had to work). Friday evening Eleanor headed out to a friend's birthday sleepover. Early the next morning, Jane and I took off to Richmond for a soccer tournament. Luckily our neighbors hung out with Ben and Rosie for the morning.

The soccer tournament went well - they tied their first game 1-1 (sadly we had an own goal), and won their second game 7-0 (Jane had a goal). They were seeded second in their bracket but sadly lost the semi-finals game so came in third overall - though Jane had an incredible PK!

Saturday night we headed to Busch Gardens where Ben rode Apollo's Chariot for the first time. He has gone from no roller coasters to all of them this summer!

Last 9am outdoor church of the summer:

Sunday afternoon we headed to the pool. I made the kids take the annual by the side of the pool picture:

That evening we had our neighborhood picnic:

The next morning we headed to Virginia Beach for the day to shut summer down officially:

Off to Planet Pizza for dinner where Rosie took her picture again with her "friend Brad."

Photo shoot on the beach:

Then off to Kohr Bros:

Playing on the beach at dusk before heading home:

Happy Labor Day!

VBS - Rome

This year our church's VBS theme was Rome! The kids had such a great time. 

There were activities:

Lots of music (Eleanor was a motions leader again this year):

A snow machine!

Decorations:

And dinners!

Happy VBS week from our crew!

First day of school 2026-2027

Somehow we're back here already - back to school time! 

Eleanor is off to 8th grade - her last year of middle school! She made the volleyball team again and will be playing this fall.

Jane is off to 6th grade - her first year of middle school! She is managing the field hockey team - her first time playing the sport. So far she likes it! It was a transition from elementary to middle school but she is handling it well!

Off go the middle schoolers with all their gear! Regular backpack, sport backpack and equipment, instruments...

Then a couple hours later it was Rosie and Ben's turns!

They are off to 3rd grade this year - with a male teacher for the first time! Actually, none of the kids have had a male teacher in elementary school. Ironically, Eleanor has had 6/8 of her teachers male in middle school the last two years.

Off they go to the bus stop with all the other neighborhood kids:

We hope the 2026-2027 year of school is wonderful for this crew!