We Will Always Have Paris

To Unicorns!

We celebrated Baby G's first day of first grade with her favorite dinner (meatloaf & mashed potatoes), sparkling grape juice and a kinder cone.  We pulled out the fancy linens and our best china and set the table for a true celebration.  Hubby gave a toast, wishing Baby G. the best in her coming school year. 

 
After raising our glasses, Baby G. announced that she wanted to give a toast as well.  She stammered a bit and I prompted her to talk about what she wants this school year.

She announced that all she really wants is a unicorn.

Hubby didn't skip a beat, raising his glass "To Unicorns!"

After dinner, we let her open her Kinder Cone:

 
I had filled it with shiny pencils, Phineas & Ferb band-aids, backpack essentials (kleenex, hand sanitizer, etc.), craft supplies, a super-cool electric pencil sharpener and a DVD (Beauty and the Beast).  I'll be back in a couple days with the "how to" on the kinder cone.

"To Unicorns!"

Park-A-Palooza 2011

Our annual "Farewell to Summer" park hop was absolutely wonderful.  We did have to bail on one of the parks (darn that August rain!), but we added in a children's museum.  Here are the highlights:

   
The Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, MD
Yes, that's a baby alligator my girls are petting.  Mama had to hold her breath over that one.

 
Doctor G. examining her patient's x-rays at the Discovery Museum in Winchester, VA

 
 Watching a Frederick Keys minor league ball game in Frederick, MD.

Baby A. at the Franklin Park Pool in Purcellville, VA.

The lake at Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont, MD 

Whew!  What a way to say goodbye to the lazy days of summer!

Park-A-Palooza

Last year, I gathered up my daughters' friends for a week-long park hop we called "Park-A-Palooza".  We hit five parks in three states in five days.  It was an amazing way to say "farewell" to summer and our non-school friends.  We playdated like rock stars -- we were drunk on juice boxes and goldfish crackers.

Berkeley Springs State Park, WV

Cunningham Falls State Park, MD 

 Franklin Park Pool in Purcellville, VA


It was a blast and we're doing it again this week.  In addition to regular parks, we are planning to hit up a wildlife park and a ball park!
I may be slow to respond to e-mails, but I'll catch up next week!