Everyday Life Randomness

Meeting the Neighbors

We are one of seven houses in a quiet cul-de-sac.  We've met almost everyone on our street and one night had a gathering in the cul-de-sac, where we all brought lawn chairs, sat around, talked, and were entertained by the grown son of one of our neighbors lighting off fireworks .  Our animal neighbors include Spade the cat, who lives next door but wanders freely in the neighborhood.  The girls are way more interested in Spade than any of the humans who live nearby.

Guard Dog

Dutch's health continues to decline.  He spends most days sleeping and laying around.  He likes to lay outside if we are out in the yard, and it's shady so it is nice and cool for him.

Getting Settled

We hired movers to bring over everything we hadn't already moved from my apartment and the storage unit I've been renting since I got here.  So, as of Friday all of our stuff is in one place!  We are also enjoying a nice big kitchen table we bought at a consignment store last week.  We'd been eating around the kitchen counter, so this is a big improvement!

First meal at the kitchen table!

Sights that Warm My Heart

It makes me happy beyond description to see Elise and Anja playing outside.  We are fortunate to live in a quiet neighborhood where they can freely go outside, play and explore.  I love to see their independence and curiosity at work when they are free to do whatever they want.

I came home the other day to see the girls' bikes left in the driveway.
 This put such a smile on my face!
 I am so glad we are in a place where they have room to play!

And, I saw this when I went to get the mail, which also put
a smile on my face. Being greeted by a jaguar wearing
a scarf would make anyone feel happy!

Our big, wooded yard means the girls have a ton of room
to explore and that there are very interesting things to be found.
Elise spends a lot of time in the yard tipping up rocks and
paving stones, looking to see if there is anything
interesting underneath.

Meet Brownie the Snake

The nature girls are at it again.  I left home early yesterday morning to run some errands and when I got home Anja ran up to the car excitedly and said she and Elise had something to show me.  I turned and saw Elise carefully carrying a bucket and knew there was something alive in there.  Anja said "this is Brownie!" and Elise lifted out a baby snake.  After I said "oh, wow!" the next thing I asked was "does Jason know you have this?"  He did.  Then I said "you have a plan to release this snake, right?" (Elise likes to keep all living things as "pets").  Elise, in a dejected voice, said "unfortunately, yes."

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Brownie.
Our neighbor, Tyler, assured the girls Brownie
is not venomous.  I really wish we could find
our Amphibians and Reptiles of Virginia book to
verify that opinion, but it is still packed
away somewhere.

Anja, either pointing something out, or going
to pet Brownie.

I was gone when the girls found Brownie, but Jason got some great video of the event.  It is hilarious, especially the girls' comments.

Yesterday evening as we were getting ready for bed I asked the girls if they'd released Brownie and they said "yes."  Then they exchanged a look and a minute later Elise said "Mom, we have something to tell you and you probably will get mad.  We didn't release Brownie."  Well, what a surprise.  So, Elise went off to release Brownie and Anja stayed with me,   wailing and crying "Brownie!  Brownie, I don't want you to go!  Brownie, I love you!  Oh, Brownie!"  It was an emotional night.

Visiting Old Friends and Making New Friends

My very first friend was a boy named Eduardo.  His parents and mine were close friends, and because of that, he and I were born into that friendship.  When we were in 4th and 3rd grade, Eduardo's parents moved several states away, but we still saw them about once a year.   Eduardo and I were very close friends into adulthood, but lost touch years ago, as we got busy in our own lives and then raising our own families.  Now, though, I have moved to Virginia and he has moved to Pennsylvania and we find ourselves living just a few hours apart, the closest we have lived in 30 years!  Over the 4th of July weekend mom, dad, the girls and I went to visit Eduardo and his family.  It was great to re-new our friendship and to see our children become friends.  

Eduardo and his family with me and the girls.
Look how Elise and Eduardo's daughter are holding hands
 in this picture, so cute!

Anja, getting friendly with Lily, the Jack Russell, and Argus, the
Giant Schnauzer.

Eduardo had all the kids fishing in the pond behind their house.
I don't know where he gets the patience, but I sure appreciate
it, as the kids had a great time!

Anja and Eduardo's daughter.

Elise waited so patiently,
 but never caught a fish.  This was very
frustrating, since she could see them
swimming around her bait.

The whole gang, getting a line in the water.

The two younger generations went for a
hike in a nature preserve, it was beautiful!

They found something interesting, but I'm not sure what it is.

On our hike, Anja found several bones from a deer.  This was the
biggest bone.  We brought it back, but Anja decided we
shouldn't have it in our car as it might attract bugs and worms,
so she gave it to Eduardo's kids before we left to come home.

Eduardo and his family have chickens on their farm, which the girls
(especially Elise) loved to play with.  I joked with Eduardo's wife
that those poor chickens will be so worn out and traumatized
by the experience that they will never lay eggs!

There are a couple of horses on the farm, and it was delightful to be
around them (and Eduardo's wife, too!)

Catching the chickens, after they mysteriously got out of their pen.
Hmmm, I wonder how the door got left open?

At one point we were all out wandering around the pasture, so
I called everyone together to take a picture.  As I was getting ready to
push the shutter, this horse trotted up and photo bombed us!

The kids, enjoying Birch Beer (tastes a lot like Root Beer).  Cheers!

We planned our visit for a time when Eduardo's mom would also be
there.  We hadn't seen her in 15 years, waaaay too long! They've
been friends a long time and there were some great stories to be heard!

Eduardo's mom, Ruby, Ruby's husband, Larry, and my mom and dad.

We are already looking forward to the next time we can get together!

Girl Scouts!

Elise and Anja are in a multi-age Girl Scout troop at their school, where all girls in Girl Scouts in their school are in their troop.  At meetings, the girls break into their divisions (Daisies, Juniors, Cadets) for activities.  Being part of a large troop gives them some opportunities a smaller troop would not, and they get to make friends across grade levels, which is really fun for them.  This troop stays very busy, meeting twice a month for regular meetings, and they have a larger activity about once a month.  The end of the school year brought the year-end picnic and awards ceremony, and in June the girls attended Girl Scout camp.

The girls had a fantastic time at the end-of-the-year picnic!

Anja receiving the badges she earned the second half of the year.

Elise's troop leader made each girl a photo album with pictures
from their year in Girl Scouts.

This was Elise's last year as a Brownie, and
she got to "bridge" to being a Junior!

The whole troop, grades K-5.

Girl Scout Camp
In June, the girls spent a week at Girl Scout Camp, about 20 miles from our house at Lake Anna.  Every day they worked on badges, swam in the lake, and had a great time.  On the last day they presented a program for families, where they sang songs and performed short skits.

As each group finished, they got popsicles.

Elise, ready to do her skit.  She did a great job!

So proud!

Last Day of School 2014

So, the first 14 days of June:  wedding in California, buy a house, wedding in New York, and THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!  Elise finished third grade and Anja finished kindergarten.

A little comparison:

First Day of School 2013-2014

Last Day of School 2013-2014

Recognition
On the last day of school Elise received a certificate for her participation this year in her school's student chorus.

Kindergarten Graduation
These guys were so cute!

Anja is in the purple dress with the flowers on the skirt.

Hold on, Mom, let me fix my hat.

Anja, receiving her certificate from her teacher.

Look what I have!

After the ceremony, Anja's teacher had a reception in the classroom and gave out individual awards.  Anja was given the "Radical Reader" award.

Special days deserve flowers :)

Anja and her teacher

So long, kindergarten.
First grade, here we come!