Our new kitchen!

We have our new kitchen, finally! After a long weekend of hard work for Dan we have our new backsplash and the kitchen is complete. We love it!

More kitchen progress!

The counter tops have been installed and we've gotten new curtains and some new decorative type things. One more weekend of hard work and it'll be complete! Thank goodness for Dan and his handiness! He had to do a bit of plumbing when he installed the sink (more than he realized he would have to) and he did it!

I absolutely love my new sink! It is soo big. Even though we couldn't get the single basin like we considered the larger side of the sink is sooo much bigger an deeper than my old sink. It is awesome!

Finally!

Sean has been avoiding the diving board all summer. We aren't sure why, though sometimes he can be  obstinate just for the sake of being difficult. Finally, he decided to give in and just jump! After that he went off like 10 more times because he realized how fun it was!

Play "day"

Carter has enjoyed having some play dates this summer with some of her friends. She calls them "play days" instead of dates, ha ha

This time we ventured to the new splash park not too far from here. They all had a great time!

9 Year Anniversary-Family Style

 All four of us went to dinner at Maggianos for a family style anniversary. We were so impressed with the kids-they behaved so well and we really enjoyed our dinner together! We had our rehearsal dinner at Maggianos and we always love to return for special occasions. We all were stuffed to the max and had enough leftovers and take home food to have for dinner the next night!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Massanutten's Indoor Water Park

I won free passes to the water park at Massanutten and a couple free nights up there also. So, we decided to make a trip of it. It worked out that it was around the time of our anniversary. We also don't get to vacation much just as a family of four so it was perfect. We didn't know what to expect as we've never been to an indoor water park but it didn't disappoint. The kids had a blast! We got there right as it opened and were able to do a lot of the bigger water slides several times with no wait time. If the weather had been hotter and a bit more humid we would have been able to take advantage of the outside part of the water park but we preferred the warmth of the inside! We all had a great time and both kids passed out in the car on the way home.

 

                            

Old times!

We've visited Harrisonburg/Massanutten several times this summer. It is so fun to return to where we enjoyed 4 (6 for Dan) wonderful years. We show the kids around and tell them stories about our time at JMU. After a couple hours at the pool at the resort-we went to a local restaurant that we used to frequent in college. Dinner was definitely different than it used to be! Afterwards we went to Klines Dairy Bar which has the most amazing ice cream! Boy we were we all full! After that it was back to the room to gear up for our fun day at the water park.

The Kitchen Reno continues

 August has been filled with lots of projects in the kitchen. First, we got a new stove (yay!) then we painted the walls a new color: gray. Dan also changed all of the electrical outlets to be white instead of off white/brown (they were all mixed matched). Then, he painted all the trim and the ceiling! We've been busy! Next up, new counter tops coming on Friday followed by backsplash a week later. It has taken a long time to get this kitchen project going and now in a couple of weeks it'll be done! YES!! We are almost there.

Can you believe I've had to look at that wall for weeks while I wait for backsplash!! LOL

Busch Gardens

We had to squeeze in one more trip before the end of summer!

One more day in DC

Since we were in DC we figured we do some other sight seeing before driving back to Richmond. Everyone else left except us, so Annie was our personal tour guide around DC. We went to the Natural History Museum and the National Mall. But first we stopped by a local bakery that serves home made poptarts! YUM! They love riding the metro!

After a busy morning we headed back to Richmond. The kids were sad to leave Annie and DC!

Happy 40th Anniversary Nana and Poppi!

After a busy day at the Zoo we all had some down time in the hotel rooms before it was time to celebrate at dinner. It was a wonderful evening! The kids behaved at a somewhat fancy restaurant (a miracle!) we all had great dinner choices and everyone had a great laughed when I screamed out loud when I saw what Dan ordered for dinner! Dan gave quite the speech to his parents and they opened their gift as well. It was a wonderful evening celebrating two wonderful people!

This is why I screamed!

National Zoo

To help celebrate Nana and Poppi's 40th wedding anniversary we all visited the National Zoo for the day. We really enjoyed our day together!

Annie's and Drew's Baby Shower

The whole family headed to DC for the weekend to help celebrate two important events. First up, Anne/Drew's baby shower at their house. The kids enjoyed playing with a few other kids and of course helped Annie open all of her presents. They finished up the evening by devouring the chocolate cake!

They love playing with uncle Dave!

Nana and Poppi are happy to welcome a 3rd grand child!

It is just a chair!

I know it is just a chair but I had a moment of sadness when I rocked Carter to bed for the last time. The reason we are getting rid of the glider is because when Carter's new bed is made (her crib is also a double bed) there is just not enough room for it in her room. So, since we were done with it, we decided it'll be better used at Anne's house with her new baby due in a couple of weeks. Giving it to our future nephew is a no-brainer, however, I was sad to see it go!

That chair was put in that room in 2008 when I was pregnant. I would often go and sit in there before Sean was born and wonder what was in store for us. Of course we used it for 3 years with Sean in that room and when Carter was born, it became hers. There are a lot of memories of late night feedings and lots of bedtime stories that were read in that chair. I know there are new great things to come but saying goodbye to that chair was like admitting one thing I didn't want to: Carter is a little girl now. No longer a baby or toddler. A little girl and she is growing up so fast!

Sigh.