4th of July Fun

The kids were at camp Mimsey for the week of the 4th. While Mommy and Daddy enjoyed a much needed vacation, they went swimming, played mini-golf, rode bikes, went for walks, went to the library, watched movies and much more. We arrived in town in time to celebrate the 4th with a great firework show on the James River. Elliot loved the fire works and the festivities leading up to them (moon bounce, ballon animals, and a mechanical bull!). Elliot may have a future on the rodeo circuit. Beatrice liked the balloon animals. She REALLY didn't like the fireworks and insisted on having her eyes and ears covered for the entire show. 

Hershey Park

For the long Memorial Day weekend we decided to surprise the kids with a last minute trip to Hershey, PA. We didn't tell them where we were going or what we were doing. After dinner on Friday we packed our bags, put the kids in their PJs, and hit the road. We checked in to a very nice, new, Spring Hill Suites near Harrisburg. They were super excited just to have their own room in a hotel. We got up at the crack of dawn on Saturday and made our way to Hershey World, an attraction on the same grounds as the amusement park. There, we made our own chocolate bars and rode on a tour/ride all about Hershey. At the end of the ride they each got a piece of chocolate. They were in heaven. 

After visiting Hershey World we made our way to the park. We spent the rest of the day there riding the rides and walking all over the park. Beatrice was a real trooper. We didn't bring the stroller and she didn't not complain once about being tired. Elliot rode two roller coasters and told me that riding them made him feel like he "was going to have a heart attack." I don't know where he heard that term, but we thought it was pretty funny. Beatrice went on a lot of rides too (Elliot and Brian rode a lot of rides together and since I had the camera most of the pictures are of Bea) At first she was scared and wanted to sit with Elliot and hold his hand on every ride. By the end of the day she wanted to ride by herself "like a big girl." The only down side of our day at the park was the weather, which was quite windy and chilly for the end of May. Thankfully we dressed appropriately. 

On Sunday after another exciting night at the hotel we headed to downtown Harrisburg to have breakfast, play miniature golf, and go to an arts festival along the water front. It was still cool outside, but much sunnier which was nice. After golfing, seeing LOTS of art and having lunch we headed home. The kids are still talking about our big adventure. We'll have to surprise them more often. 

Ready to make our candy bars. Bea was not a fan of the hair net.

On the tour

Bea really liked this bee ride

Mini Golf  on City Island

crossing the walking bridge from mini golf on City Island to the waterfront for the arts festival.

Bea being silly at lunch on Sunday

On the way back to MD

Class of 2026

Elliot's preschool education came to a close in May and his little school had a graduation ceremony of sorts to mark the occasion. Elliot and the other 60 "graduates" will officially embark on their educational careers this September when they start Kindergarten. The graduation ceremony consisted of a church service followed by a concert by the children. I think Elliot must have been up late the night before playing in his room because he yawned his way through the performance. It was cute nonetheless.

post graduation snack with his friend Matthew

Elliot and his teacher Mrs. Hatcher

Beatrice Turns 3!

Beatrice's birthday feels like it has lasted for the entire month of April. She has a little party with her neighborhood buddies and their nannies/au pairs, she had cup cakes at school, and she finally had her birthday party a week after her actually birthday. We delayed her party so that it could take place during Grammy and Papa's visit from Colorado. Beatrice asked for a pink and purple pony party. I gave her a rainbows and unicorns party. 

After this showed up in the yard at 7 AM we could have had a mud and worms party and she would have been thrilled. 

Yes, we rented a moon bounce or "boom bounce" as Beatrice likes to call them. She and Elliot bounced their little hearts out all morning. 

Party favors - made with the new crafting machine Mommy got for Christmas. 

We had 18 kids and their parents at the party. Thankfully, the weather was beautiful and Mommy had lots of help - Thank you Grammy and Juliana!

The littlest guests were happy in the ball pit. 

pin the tail on the unicorn