Monday, September 17, 2012

Labor Day and Starting School

We can't believe fall has finally arrived!  A surprise tornado destroyed our patio furniture last Saturday, which is very disappointing since it's been too hot to use it most of the summer.  But, so this week we had gorgeous sunny days in the 70's.  We enjoyed Labor Day weekend in Ohio and visited the Animal Safari and Canfield Fair (where Vice President Biden had just visited the week before).  We also got to see lots of relatives at the Machak Family Reunion.  We returned to DC to kick off the fall with Nicholas starting preschool.  Saying goodbye in the morning is still tough, but Nicholas' teacher says he's doing great--speaking French more than anyone in his class and with a great accent!  Not sure where he got that from as Mommy's accent is clearly American.  Speaking of which, Christy hopes to finish up French this month and start in her new office.  This past weekend we hosted a Trinidad Reunion/fish fry and enjoyed seeing many friends from Trinidad who are now back in DC for training.  Saturday David got to watch some Ohio State Football (go Buckeyes!) before the storm hit.  12 hours without electricity meant an impromptu dinner out, candlelight baths, and family bedtime at 8:30.  Mommy and Daddy enjoyed the extra sleep.  Thankfully the electricity came back on around 4 a.m.  Sunday, we went to our CSA farm's open house, with our friend Chelsia and her daughter Cora.  Nicholas learned how to make apple cider, and thanked the farm owner for "making him juice".  

This weekend, PapPap came down and he and David went to a football game.  Other than that a quiet weekend.  Happy Birthday to Nicholas and David!


 Animal Safari in Niles, OH


 yep Niles, not Canada
 the camels were hungry

 yep, I said Niles, OH, right?

 the buffalo were a little scary, but Nicholas' favorite none-the-less



 Machak Family Reunion

 Nicholas and his cousin Siena in their Buckeye gear
 forts are fun!
 bathing beauties
 Canfield Fair.... Nicholas wasn't so sure about the huge Clydesdale horses like his great great Uncle Vince used to raise, but he liked the little ponies that were more his size.




"Ohio Grown"

 our little pumpkin
 First Day of School!
making cider

Nicholas holding hands with his friend Cora


Monday, August 27, 2012

August Adventures

August was a busy month for us.  It's been so nice to have a nanny, we've had more energy  on the weekends.  We traveled two weekends in a row--Christy went to Atlanta to visit Grandad Rhodes and Uncle Tom and Aunt Sam and David, while David and Nicholas to Ohio to see Grandma and PapPap.  The next weekend, we all headed to the heart of Buckeye country for the wedding 
of our Denison friend Melanie and her new husband Michael.  This weekend, we enjoyed brunch, a trip to Bull Run Farm, where our CSA vegetables are grown, and a somewhat curtailed trip to the beach at Sandy Point (rain got in the way).  We can't believe next weekend is Labor Day and the kick-off to fall!  Lot's of new beginnings coming up!

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 The Air and Space Museum

 the Discovery!
 Observation Tower, where you can watch planes take off and land at Dulles
Nicholas and PapPap
 Upton Hill Swimming Pool
 Natural History Museum
 our garden--since this picture was taken the squash has grown so much we had to take down the fence!
 visit to Atlanta
 Claire and her Great-Grandad!

 Nicholas loves his new bedding!
 our favorite German restaurant in Columbus
 Mel and Michael!
 Denison Girls
 Columbus Zoo


 Claire turned 9 months old!

 CSA Farm--picking potatoes
 and raspberries
 watching the chickens!
 butterfly in the zinnias

 at the beach!  (before the rain)
 flying a kite
 Claire loved the sand--she took off!  with our friends Stephanie ("Goo-goo") and Robbie, who will be having a baby of their own this September!