Ivy's finalization day!

On the 1st of July, we had much to celebrate. My mom and dad celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary, and my precious niece had her adoption finalized in Madison. We had much toasting and cheer.

Plus, it gave us an extra opportunity to wear adorable matching clothes once again!

School's OUT for Summ-ah!

Summer vacation is in full swing. I was hoping to do the first day and last day pictures together, but our external hard drive is not letting me into my old photographs (argh) so you are all just going to have to know that these two angels have grown immensely over this school year. Will I really have a 1st grader AND a pre-schooler in school every day in the fall? I doesn't seem possible. My babies have grown so much.

Adalia's last day of 3 year old preschool

Adalia and her teacher, Mrs. Haro. The best 3 year old preschool teacher ever.

Finnian's last day of school.

Finnian and his teacher, Mrs. Every. The best K/1 multiage teacher ever!

Assateague Beach

We arrived at Assateague Beach around 6:30pm and immediately ran to the Atlantic Ocean.

Runnin' on the beach.


Beaches have much discovery!



Beach sand gets everywhere...



After one rainy day at the beach, we were rewarded with a sunny one.

We used every second of it!



Assateague Island is known for the wild ponies. They are wild AND brave. They had no problem coming up to our motorhome to investigate possible snacks.

Beach hugs.

On the last night we danced on tables while Grandpa B played the guitar...

...Grandma B sang, and Grandma Connie played her autoharp.

The jam session (and a beer at the campfire) was the perfect way to end our time on Assateague Island.

Fun with cousins

Finnian and cousin Demetrios

Seeing Lincoln. Finnian and Anastasia (and arm of Demetrios).


The ride back to the midwest.



"Are we there yet?"
(Finnian, Domionos, Adalia, Anastasia)



Maryland cousins, Sophie and Willa with Finnian.

(Is it obvious yet that the motorhome was a hot spot?)

Part of our crew outside one of the beautiful pools of the WWII memorial (Soutsos cousins).

Standing in the bread line at the FDR memorial. (The FDR memorial is defenitely one of my favorites.) Maryland cousis, Sophie and Willa with Finnian.

A Mother's Day performance by "Takoma-Cross"

Puddle stomping
(Adalia, Theodora, Evangeline)

Cousins in tub-bins
(Adalia and Anastasia)

There and Back!

Vacations always move along much quicker than anticipated. We are home and shall show some glimpses of highlights:

(I tried every which way to get these 3 posts in the correct order. Blogger won't allow it. This was supposed to be the first post of the three. It won't work for me. Hope you enjoyed the reverse order.

On our 2nd day in Front Royal with the cousins, the baby chicks arrived!!!! 50 baby chicks in a box not much bigger than two shoe boxes! A TOTAL HIT!

Drinking lessons began immediately.

PEEP!


PEEP! PEEP!!

D.C. or BUST

The Falvey family of LaCrosse, Grandma Connie, and Grandpa and Grandma B are vacationing for the next 10 days out to sunny D.C. to visit family, monuments and historical sites. We are traveling by motorhome. We shall journal here for your enjoyment!

Our CHARIOT arrives.

Grandma's "stuff" (plus Grandpa's guitar). Um... can I bring a pair of underpants?

Exiting the driveway, 8pm Tuesday evening.

D.C. or BUST (continued)

Bunk viewing

The (um...) Navigator

The 'Cappy-Tan'

Motorhomes don't allow for much view. This is all I saw for about 18 hours.

Incidently, traveling by motorhome is quite the experience. We *thought* it would be smart to drive at night while kids slept. BAD IDEA. Motorhomes are not to be slept in while enroute. It was like trying to sleep next to 823 stacked cookie sheets- while on a rollercoaster. Or, it is also comparable to really bad turbulance. 18 hours of really bad turbulance. At about 2:30am Wednesday morning, I begged the driver to stop and allow rest. He acquiesced.

When we woke up in the morning, Grandpa B asked if anyone wanted coffee and walked out the door straight into Mc Donalds. The kids were amazed we slept at and awoke right outside the door of McDonalds. Yes, readers, there is much excitement to document on this trip!

Happy arrived in Front Royal, VA at approximately 8pm Wednesday evening. After lots of cousin hugs, we crawled (literally) to bed and awoke to a rainy day. Rainy days are good days for chess. Finnian was the champion of this match with his cousin Demetrios.