Mother's Day

Mother's Day!  We made a whole weekend out of it.  On Saturday while Jason was at UMW commencement, the girls and I wandered around the farmer's market, where we bought crab cakes and locally grown asparagus and strawberries (I LOVE living in a warmer climate!).  We also got cinnamon rolls :) 

The beautiful bounty of the
farmer's market.

Anja thought the fennel looked like
hair so she tried it on.

 At the farmer's market I entered a raffle to win a cake and later that day got a call saying I won!  Woo hoo, dessert for Mother's Day!

The cake I won in a raffle!

Sunday started early with the girls waking me up to deliver handmade presents. (I got to enjoy a nap later while Jason entertained the girls.  A NAP!  What a treat!)

Later, we went to Mom and Dad's and just hung out. 

Me and the world's best mom.

 Jason cooked us an excellent lunch (of crab cakes and asparagus -- YUM!).  It was a totally delightful weekend!

Fantastic Saturday: Farmers' Market & Art Attack

Some of my favorite days are those where there are no solid plans other than heading out with no agenda.  Today was one of those days, and it was delightful.

We headed out in the morning to the farmers' market, one of our favorite Saturday morning activities.  The morning was sunny and a bit cool, perfect fallish weather!  Every Saturday the farmers' market has a little something different, so we never know what we will find.  Today, the juggling man was there (he often is), and there was a marimba group performing that was very fun to watch and listen to.  Of course, we love exploring all the food stands as well.  The colors and smells are a great sensory experience.  As we left, Anja said "this was the best farmers' market ever!"

Practicing juggling.

Pretty veggies!

This marimba group was very fun to listen to.

Apples at the farmers' market, must be fall!

After the farmers' market we went a few more blocks into the downtown area and saw there were artists set up all over the sidewalks, so we got out to explore.  Turns out, it is an annual event called Art Attack where artists set up outside in downtown Fredericksburg and create art out in the open for everyone to see. 
There were people painting, drawing, sculpting, and doing graphic art.  Some were creating based on their surroundings, some were working from images in their heads or photos.

  It was interesting and inspiring to watch them work, and many were chatty and talked about their work. 

What a Weekend!

Done with my Masters = more free time =  BRING ON THE FUN!!

Last weekend, after finishing my masters, I was determined to take the girls out and enjoy life a little! 

Saturday

Saturday morning we headed to the farmer's market, where there were a few special things going on, like face painting...


The girls showing their scary poses after getting dragons painted on their faces.

and a visiting tractor...

After that we headed to Alum Springs Park, one of our favorite parks in Fredericksburg.  The girls wanted to hike in the creek and we decided it would be a great opportunity to take Dutch out for some fun.

Dutch loved being in the water.

The young naturalists, trying to capture critters in the water
 (and anywhere else they find them).

Of course, Dutch found the muckiest places in the creek to walk and swim through.  He had a blast and so did we, but afterward he NEEDED a bath.  Fortunately the PetSmart by us could get him and he came out looking and smelling much better.


Looking and smelling much better after a bath!

 

Sunday

Sunday we headed to the Fredericksburg Fair and had a TON of fun!



Elise and I on the Ferris Wheel.  From the Ferris Wheel
we could see the whole fair, including the mud run, which drew
the largest crowd of anything at the fair.  It was kind of fun
to watch from up in the air.

Bumper cars!  I haven't done these for YEARS!
It was Anja's first time...

and Elise's first time, too.

Elise is pretty brave about rides.  Too bad her mom is a wimp!
Elise went on these high-flying swings by herself, and had a smile
a mile wide the whole time

She looks so small!  Way to small to be on that ride,
as far as I'm concerned.

Jason and Anja waiting for Elise while she went on the
high-flying swings.

Brave Elise humored us woosies by going on
the merry-go-round with us.

The merry-go-round, one of the few rides I will go on.

We had a great time!

The animals are still the favorite of all of us.

The petting zoo had some unique animals who
were very friendly.  The owners were selling cups of grain
to feed the animals but smarty Elise ripped up handfuls
of grass from next to the pens to feed them, for FREE!