Memorial Day at the Benner Farm

Beautiful breakfast view

Walking the property

Endless entertainment

Capping the day off right

Spring in the backyard

Addie Turns 4

Four seems so grown up but still so young. We are a blessed family.

There may be strawberry cake, presents, and balloons, but it's no party without John, Ashley, and baby Katherine!

Addie laid out all of her bills so she could count them. A birthday lesson in money management.

Birthday Sprinkler, or Why We Bought This House

We were fortunate to have some great weather for Addie's 4th birthday. She and Aaron made great use of our new yard by hooking up her "wigglin' waterpillar."

Aaron told her that a sprinkler like hers required some

serious dancing. He wasn't too ashamed to join in...

Sunny Saturday in May

We started the day with a hefty breakfast at the Falls Church

Farmer's Market, complete with stuffed crepes, pastries,

fresh strawberries, and dairy cream.

The breakfast setup.

Addie with her favorite food on Earth.

Nora loved the milk! Obviously not skim...

We followed breakfast with a drive out to Middleburg,

home of horse farms and a beautiful main street area.

The bakery/deli where we ate lunch had a great patio.

Since we were the only ones there for a while, the girls had the run of the place.

After ice cream and some window shopping we trekked back home.

Nora is 16 months old! She's a (messy, sturdy, charming) little cut-up.

And we LOVE her!

Addie's 4th Birthday Tea Party

Dear friends baby Brooke and Audrey joined us at the tea table under the Dogwood for a backyard birthday celebration.

There were party hats, paper lanterns, and mini "tea-sized" eats.

Ashley made the cupcakes, complete with little marzipan bees. And she shared some of her beautiful peonies!

Brooke made the most of her mini cupcake.

Ashley made some serious bubbles (a gift from Audrey and Brooke) for the girls to chase.

Easter 2010 - Sarah's Parents Visit

This is the second Easter that Sarah's parents have been able to visit.

They rode the train from NC this time.

We all went to church together...

then the Easter baskets came out.

Candy-filled eggs were hidden and found in the back yard...

with quite a bit of help from Band-dad.

And while Nora slept, Addie decorated some eggs.

She stayed remarkably clean.

Sarah's parents found some time to relax in the midst of it all.

What a fun visit!

One of those days...

Fall at the Orchard in Boone

We visited the Valentines for a few days and were invited to join them on an excursion to an apple orchard near town. Addie loved being a part of Michaela and Jenna's 'school trip'. Though the weather wasn't great, the girls loved being together and had fun "hooty-hoo"ing through the corn maze, picking pumpkins, and learning all about apple harvesting. The mommies had fun learning about it, too!
Everyone got a bag full of apples - half of which we fed to the horses who live near the Valentines' house.

We also squeezed in some visiting with Grandma and Granddad, and their piano.

Cherry Blossom and Kite Festival

The blossoms (and crowds) were out in full force.

We love the kite festival - for a few hours the mall is covered with all kinds of kites which creates a neat atmosphere.




There are tents set up with crafts and activities for kids.
Addie made a Japanese style paper lantern.


Blue sucker teeth.

Addie's favorite thing about the festivals? The port-a-potties.
She couldn't believe all the little green "houses" that were set up!

Addie's work

This is the first time Addie attempted to write her name. She did it, albeit in reverse, without spelling help or anything. It was in a Valentine's card to her cousin.
1/26/2010

The name-writing set off a series of attempted words. Here, Addie wrote and drew likenesses of her two favorite people.
2/18/2010

Just a few weeks later, she's writing her name like a pro. This a self-portrait, complete with teeth and haribows. The artist is pictured with her dad who has whiskers, and her little sister who is asleep in bed.
3/22/2010

Loving siblings.