Fun at the Oktoberfest!

The last few weeks we were cooped up inside with two sick kiddies...so we were relieved to finally have a weekend where we could safely interact with friends!

We met up with The Samsons for a fun night at the Reston Oktoberfest on Saturday, and we all had a blast! The kids took turns scaring us while throwing pennies into the fountains (I can't believe they all made it out of there dry!) walking in a long line, holding hands, over to the carnival, riding all of the rides...which for Addy, was HUGE...we went to the same carnival (at Dulles Town Center) over the summer, and Addy was petrified of all of the rides...thankfully, with the help of Ava and Chase, Addy wanted to be a big-girl too! We had a pizza break half-way through and headed back over to wrap up the night with some more carnival rides...we had so much fun, thanks Meredith and Donny for thinking to go to the carnival!

Silly kids getting ready to ride the first ride of the night

Addy on the whale
Chase on the whale, worried about where Ava was...she was "all the way" over on the opposite side of the ride and he couldn't see her...crush, anyone? :o)


Riding on the swings


All walking together being buddies...Sophie was SO excited to walk with the "big kids"

The last ride of the night the kids picked to do the jet-ski ride over again, and Sophie (Meredith and Donny's younger daughter) was dying to get in on the action...until she realized the ride was going to move!

Our Special Day...

Good Morning Love,

Happy Anniversary! Today is our 5 year anniversary. 5 years ago September 25, 2004 we became one and every day I thank the Lord for bringing you into my life… You are the love of my life and everything I have always wanted in my wife.

The past 5 years have been full of ups and downs, change, struggle, happiness, joy and many blessings... Which the 2 greatest blessings our handsome son Chase Michael given to us on December 17, 2005 and our beautiful daughter Addison Grace given to us on February 2, 2007 truly our 2 greatest gifts. They’re our whole world and I am so happy I get to share in the joy with you seeing our babies grow into beautiful children. We have come a long way in 5 years and though the path hasn’t always been straight and smooth and even having gone off the path for a short while, I truly believe there is a reason God pulled us back on to the path he has set for us and I am so excited about what lies ahead for us in the years to come. Thank you for being my rock, standing by me and enduring the tough times.

I look forward to growing old with you and enjoying the good times and the bad… There is nothing we can’t get through TOGETHER.

I love you with all my heart and am truly proud & blessed to call you my wife! I cherish everyday I have with you. I love you!

Happy Anniversary...

First Day of Preschool

Chase gave us a hard time over the last few months...saying he didn't want to go to preschool (we were like, whatever kid, you NEED to go!)...his attitude changed last week after we went in and met his teacher! Ok, so Chase didn't actually make it into the classroom last week, he was a bit shy, but the teachers aide sat out in the hallway with him and chatted while we met with his teacher...details, details ;o)

We've been talking it up since then, and Chase was super-excited last night...he dresses himself in the AM, so I was VERY CAREFUL to put everything else away...or else he'd come down looking like this

So, last night, his little outfit was picked out by him...with a very scientific method of eenie-meenie-miney-mo...to pick out his shirt and underwear. We got his book bag ready, and he went to bed super-excited. This morning when he woke up he came running into the bathroom to tell me what today was...I asked if he wanted to go ahead and get dressed and he looked at me and was like "mooom, if I get dressed now, I'll get my shirt dirty at breakfast" in the most exasperated voice. Silly me!

Bruce made breakfast...here's Chase and Addy going to town...Chase is wearing his book bag at the table...we were certain he was going to fall out of the chair...he made it through

After we got the kids dressed, we headed out front for a first day of school photo shoot...we just got a "new" used camera (a Canon Rebel SLR...I love it) off craigslist last week, and I'm still getting used to how it works. The great thing is it takes rapid-fire shots...but the kids (Addy mainly) don't really cooperate with the whole "look at your mother when I'm taking your picture thing"

After dropping the big-guy off (it went really well, up until the cluster-you know what at the door going into the classroom with everyone else coming in, kids crying, etc) Addy and I went to the park, the library and even made a trip to Target...Addy wasn't amused, she was lost without her brotha...and was a bi-polar mess all morning :o) When we picked Chase up, Addy lost it...she cried that she wanted to go in his room (couldn't...same Chaos as the AM drop off was going on at pick-up) and as Chase was going through the details (circle time, snack, playground) Addy cried about each thing, saying she wanted to do it...sigh, the girl is going to win an academy award some day.

(Thinking to herself..."this isn't much fun without my Chasey")

We are sooo proud of our little guy, and thrilled that we were able to get him in at a pre-school we felt good about...it was touch and go there for a while over the summer, when we didn't know if he was going to get in or not b/c of the wait-list...and then we moved into a house 5 minutes away...it doesn't get much better than that!

He knows how to pick 'em

I have to give Chase credit, where credit is due...and I hope he keeps his top-shelf taste for the ladies when he's a bit older ;o)

Chase is in love with our super-cute, blonde, pharmaceutical sales rep neighbor (I say that only b/c every pharmaceutical sales rep I know is super-cute...so it kind of helps you get a picture of her in your mind), Beth. She's always out watering her plants when we head over to the pool, or on our way back. Chase could sit and talk to her for hours...and she is nice enough to sit there and talk right back, while she's outside gardening. Chase and Addy draw her Sidewalk Chalk pictures on her driveway all of the time, has invited her to his 4th birthday party (in New York...and he's hiring a party-bus, in case you didn't know...he has big plans), we've shared glasses of wine while Chase chats away with her, etc.

Most recently, Chase was riding his bike home from the pool, saw Beth, spun out of control and wrecked in her driveway (I missed this...I think I would have peed my pants) and jumped right up, brushed his hands off, yelled "I'm alright!" said Hi, and asked her if she'd like to take him out to dinner sometime (I know!) I think he even suggested Del Rio in Leesburg. Anyhoo, a while later that night while still talking to Beth, he ran inside and got her a cupcake we had baked earlier in the day for his Aunt Erica's b-day. He was SOOO careful carrying that cupcake down the steps to her, it was so sweet.

So, we go outside this AM to head over to the park, and Beth happens to be leaving for work at the same time. She stops her car, and runs back into her garage and grabs 2 huge gift-bags for the kids...full of Sidewalk Chalk (the 3-D kind on the commercials...she's always talking about it) flashlights, cotton candy, etc. It was so nice of her! The kids were in heaven, and I'm sure we'll be making some BEEEutiful drawings in her driveway (and 2 or 3 of the other neighbors driveways...one is probably having her baby today (MEGAN AND MEREDITH...I saw Glenn this AM...I think Tallerie is going to have her baby today!!!), so I'm sure the kids will want to make something special for them too)

I was so touched that our single, 30-something neighbor was kind enough to do something like that for the kids, for no reason! Made my day...

Not Ready!

We are sooo not ready for the summer to be over...we have all enjoyed the many, many trips over to the pool on the weekends and in the evenings, the kids getting to play with their friends after work, and the shirt-less bike rides by Chase over to the pool-house. The cutest thing is that there are a few other boys in the neighborhood in the 3-4 range, and they have all started riding their bikes over to the pool...we got there the other night, and there were all 3 bikes, all lined up in a row, too cute! It made me a bit sad to think that we'll be moving to another neighborhood next week, and how the kids finally have their buddies that they look forward to seeing! I am sure the kids will be fine with our move, and knowing Chase, he'll have bike-rides and popsicle breaks lined up the day we get there!


Here are some pictures from the pool yesterday...I never take the camera with us, and I have missed so many funny moments over there! We are so proud that Chase has taught himself to "swim" over the summer...my little big boy!

Waay past due

We had some professional photos taken while we were in the OBX in July...Lyndi (http://www.lyndiharris.com/) did an amazing job and we were thrilled at how the photos came out! Here are a few of my favorites (I just found a collage-making website online...www.picnik.com)

Keeping it real

Dear Chase and Addy-

I would love to blog about the wonderful 2 weeks we had at the beach late last month, or about Addy at Ballet class, or Chase swimming like a fish...because all of that is so great...but you know what?

I want to thank the two of you for being terrors tonight at dinner...yes, really! It was sooo great! All of the standing on the chairs, yelling "I'm stuck!" from inside of your high-chair, the staring from the other guests, the throwing of crayons, the yelling for phones, cameras, etc...all of that was fantastic. Thanks so much. The next time your daddy and I will take the two of you out for dinner will be when you are 16 and we can send you back into the kitchen to wash dishes if you act up.

Love (with very clenched jaws...and hiccups from 2 margaritas at dinner)
your Mom and Dad