Paddle on the Lake

Our neighborhood has been trying some new activities recently! One they started this month was called "Paddle on the Lake." Our neighborhood has a lake in the center of it and it's mostly used by people with lakefront property. There is a lake park where others can go in, so to increase lake usage they hosted this event. People on the lake could sign up to host a "spot" - almost like a progressive dinner. Everyone else could put in (at their house, the lake park, or someone else's house) and paddle around. Each stop had a snack and/or drink. Eleanor and a friend went out on a paddleboard. They thought they would make a stop or two but ended up staying out on the lake for 2.5 hours! And it was COLD! 

I helped out at a friends' dock for awhile and then we headed out in their John boat. 

It was such a fun event!

Eleanor goes to the Millpond and Howl-o-scream

A couple weeks ago, Eleanor had a magical weekend planned. It started out with a trip to Howl-o-scream with friends. I ended up chaperoning the group (BG has a chaperone policy during Howl-o-scream) and Rosie stayed with us. She kept saying, "this is exhilarating!" She loved all the scares. Ben and Jane headed home with Chris (they are not interested).

We did a few rides (the swings, Pantheon, Loch Ness, Apollo's, Big Bad Wolf):

And hit the haunted houses. This was Rosie's first one - ClownTown. The teenagers did all 5 the park has, Rosie did three.

Rosie wanted her picture with a clown...

And then all the other girls did, too!

The crew (Daisy, Lyndon, Scarlett, Olivia, Kollins, Josie, Eve, and Eleanor):

Such a sweet group of girls - they had the best time.

The next day, Eleanor went with her small group (The Coreee) to the Millpond. This is Auntie Mollie's family's home - Auntie Mollie's niece Charlie is in Eleanor's small group and she and Eleanor were in preschool together (before we knew Mollie!) So it was very special that Eleanor got to go to a place very special to Mollie and her family!

They took the ferry over (Hannah, Eleanor, Eve, Leila, Harper, Charlie):

The girls played badminton:

Ate delicious food:

And even swam, paddleboarded, and kayaked despite the weather being in the 60s that day.

They also scared Auntie Mollie's parents to death with a very unfunny prank that thankfully everyone laughed about later.

What extremely fun and special memories they made!

W&M Tailgate

In September we went to a William & Mary football game for a tailgate with Chris' work. 

The kids got to spend some time on the sidelines. Rosie hung out with the cheerleaders as she was wearing Ashleigh or Jessie's old cheer uniform:

We ate some good food:

Ben and Rosie ran into their teacher and spent lots of time checking in with him. 

Unfortunately the Tribe lost the game, but it was still a great time!

Dude Perfect

Back in June we went to see Dude Perfect! Ben (and the girls) have been enjoyed watching Dude Perfect videos this year, so we found tickets and went. It seemed like half of Williamsburg was there. We met friends for pizza before the show:

And then it was time!

They took on the Harlem Globetrotters in Squad Games.

They played archery tag:

Giant golf:

A game where they tried to throw things at targets and knock each other into dunk tanks:

And then ended with a shoot off:

It was close but Dude Perfect won!

Then they shared their testimonies and ended the evening:

 It was such a fun show!