Spot the Benji

Hiding in Jackson Park.

Daddy's Girl

May you be sealed....

....in the book of life. Enjoy the last shofar blasts.

Marie-Grace and Me

Matching dresses:

Elliot's Build-A-Bear Party

Benji's friend Elliot is turning 5 and invited a few friends to build-a-bear with him. He chose this camo bear:

Watching his bear get stuffed:

Rubbing the hearts to his face to give the bear love:

Cleaning his bear:

Elliot blows out the candles on his cool construction cake:

Abby's To Do List

Fresh off our trip to Monticello, Abby has developed a slew of new interests. Here is her to-do list, hastily scribbled on the back of an envelope, of what she hopes to learn how to do this year:

Whittling, spinning, weaving, dyeing (sic)

Heritage Harvest Festival

We spent last Saturday at the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello, a celebration of the season, local food, and the lost arts of farmers. Lots of fun activities:

Hoops in front of Monticello

Puppets in the Appalachian music tent

Making bird seed mixes

Tree climbing

Making floral hair wreaths

All clean!

Happy New Year!

All dressed up for temple:

At the Park

Benji is attempting to push Abby off because she won't play his game

Old Photo

My dad sent this along.  Not sure of the date (judging by Tom's cast, maybe 2001?), but boy do we all look young.

Back to School Night

Abby's hopes and dreams for this year:

My hope is that I will learn to write in cursive

Her mini-me.  I especially like what she is grateful for:

I am grateful that I have a brother

Baby Butterut Squash

This plant volunteered in our garden, and there is an actual squash.  Isn't it cute?

A little light reading

A Guide to Birds in Virginia

Sunday School blues

This was Abby's journal entry for Saturday night.  As always, she was anxious about anything new, including 3rd grade Sunday school.  I love how she expressed it, though:

Down on the Farm

We made the trip back out to Bel Air to pick some veggies and flowers since it was a quiet weekend.  The wild cherry tomatoes were amazing:

Abby and friend Isabel

Benji is puzzled by a tomatillo

The kids took part in a scavenger hunt which sent them all over the farm doing tasks, including feeding the bunnies and cutting a flower bouquet:

Back at the barn, we got a glimpse of the garlic drying:

Kevin graciously held our flowers while I finished up:

CW4M - Race Day!

Abby agreed to run the Charlottesville Women's 4 Mile race with me this year. This is the biggest all women's race in the area and is a very popular community event.  Julia came down from Herndon to participate as well.  We had to be up at the crack of dawn to get to the course, but the girls were bright eyed and ready:

At the course:

Steph snapped a shot during the race (at a rare point that we were actually running - we walked most of it):

Kidalympics

Our friends the Laufers hosted an Olympics themed party to celebrate the return to school. The kids were hesitant at first, but eventually dove into to the events.

Benji and friend Alex Z. sprinting

Over the hurdles

Crossing the finish

A nervous Abby looks on

Abby jumps!

Dance Party

Note Benji's dress.  Again.

Knot-A-Quilt

Abby was gifted this project 2 Hanukkahs ago.  We've been working on it casually since then, but she decided she wanted to get down to business this month and finish it before the end of summer.  Mission completed.

Backyard S'mores

Finally trying out our new patio, with some help from the Pierces.