$3.79

That's what I paid for gas today. Yes, in Northern Virginia. Never thought I'd be positively impressed (Notice I did not use the word excited, for I am NOT excited about paying that much for gas. Also note that no exclamation points are being used in this post.) about $3.79 gas. Local folks, I paid this at the Safeway gas station in the Pan Am shopping center in Fairfax. One thing to note, this price was a discounted price, as I am a loyal Safeway customer and received a 10 cent/gallon discount.

July Pictures

It's August! Here are pictures from July.

Dance Moves

Quote of the day

I was helping Madelyn with a drawing project, and she asked me to help her draw Pierson. As I finished, she said, "Wow, Mommy, you're a genius!"

Long time, no post

Our lives have been pretty mundane lately, hence the lack of posting. We just got back, though, from a long weekend visiting my parents and extended family. The kids had a great time and did relatively well traveling; it's just over 400 miles to my parents' house from our house. We did both trips with only one stop, which is pretty impressive with a potty-trained child and a squirmy toddler. It was so nice to see most of my family while we were there, and I usually get a little melancholy after we return from a visit. I hate it that we can't see my family more often. The kids have such a great time, and Madelyn kept saying, "I don't want to go home. I want to stay at/go back to Ma and Granddad's." So, family reading this--come visit!!! It would be a very cheap visit to Washington, DC. We have plenty of room, so you could stay here for free!

But I digress. Here are some pictures from this weekend:

This is Madelyn swinging with the daughter of one of my best friends from high school. This could almost be mistaken for a picture of Amy and me.

Madelyn with her little cousin Connor.

Kathryn giving Madelyn a ride on the tricycle.

Pierce loved all the attention from his great-aunts Alice and Sandra:

Water Mine

JD and I took the kids to a local watering hole yesterday. The Water Mine is a kids' water park in Reston and is one of Fairfax County Parks and Rec. sites. I forgot to take my camera, but I don't think I could have really gotten any good shots anyway since both JD and I were in the water most of the time. Madelyn had a wonderful time and loved riding the bigger slides with JD. She really has turned into quite the water dog. Pierce, as always around the water, was quite timid at first, but he really started having a good time toward the end. He even was willing to go down some of the slides with me.

Some info for the locals:

1. It's a bit pricey, but I think it was worth it.
2. If you have more than one child, it might be difficult to do with only one adult.
3. Get there early if you want an area in the shade to put your stuff/take a break.
4. When you look at the pricing, "chaperone" does not mean any adult with a child. It means a person who is only observing, not getting in the water at all. So, if you are planning on getting in the water at all, count yourself as the "above 48 inches" price.
5. It is really laid out well, as you wade further into the pool, the slides get bigger and water deeper. The sections are pretty obvious, even though they aren't roped off.
6. There is a "kiddie" area that is completely sectioned off for those under 4 and their parents/guardians.
7. The lazy river is not so lazy. Lots of waterfalls and buckets of water just waiting to be dumped on your head.
8. Admission to the water park also gives you all day access to Lake Fairfax activities and the carousel.

So, all in all, I give it two thumbs up! Take the kids; have a blast!

We need the funk

JD decided to teach Madelyn the lyrics "We need the funk, we gotta have that funk." Well, she sang it all evening. Guess what "funk" often sounds like coming out of the mouth of a 3 year old. I fully expect to get some interesting looks if this song continues to be belted out of her mouth. If you would like to hear more of Parliament's "Give up the funk", click here.