Moving

We finally did it, we moved. 

Its been 7 months since Mike left to work at Langley Air force Base and we are finally back together as a family.  We drove back to Blacksburg on Friday, ended up having to drive an extra 2 hrs to pick-up our truck but made it late that night.  The next morning Mike and I loaded about half the truck before relief help arrived. Friends and church members quickly helped load the rest of the truck and get the house cleaned and ready to sell.  The truck was loaded and packed so early we were able to say our last few good-byes to friends and drive back to Yorktown Saturday night.  Raquel and Natalya had a fun time riding in the moving truck with dad while I took the boys and dogs in our red truck.  It was smooth traveling and I think the only ones who didn't like moving were the dogs.

Mike's friend Brian helped us unload the truck into the garage at our new rental house.  It took Mike and I a couple more days to move and clean his apartment and unpack our house.  Its starting to feel like home and we are really enjoying living near the beach and swimming pools. Our house in Blacksburg isn't sold yet but we hope it will be soon.

Dinos Live

We came to Yorktown to visit Mike for a few weeks before we moved officially. The girls enjoyed a week of horse camp and the boys and I played.  One of the days we went to the Virginia Living Museum where they have a new exhibit called Dinos Live. The boys thought it was pretty neat seeing the dinosaurs move, dig for fossils and uncover bones. 

Digging for bones

Riding a Dino

Mountain Lake

A fun girls trip to Mountain Lake!

Last fall I won a Treetop Tour Adventure and lunch at Mountain Lake Hotel through NRV Macaroni Kid.  We waited to use it until Spring hoping Natalya would grow a few inches and be able to go.  The girls, Gracie and I had a great time eating lunch, hiking and doing the treetop tour.

The kids thought it was neat they got to eat in a fancy restaurant with cloth napkins. They were very polite and well mannered little girls.  Natalya and Raquel also discovered they love cheesecake!

After lunch the kids had fun challenging themselves on the treetop rope course and zip line.  We ended the afternoon with a hike out to the lake at Mountain Lake.

Wheels & Wagons

The kids and I made our annual trip to wheels and wagons. It was a little sad knowing it was our last time since we are moving from Blacksburg.  Raquel had Gracie over for a sleepover and they spent the night decorating their bikes for the bike parade.  Gracie brought lots of ribbons, tape and barbies to dress-up their bikes.

The kids had fun checking out all the trucks and machines, riding in a fire truck, a bus and watching a helicopter land.  They had so much fun playing we ended up missing the bike parade.  

Ready to go

Marcus and Erik riding the bus

Gracie & Marcus in the fire truck

Taking a ride in a fire truck

Hanging out with Gracie and Jackson on the bus

Checking out the big trucks

Preschool Graduation

Natalya and Marcus graduated from Preschool.  

Raquel, Erik and I were able go watch the graduation ceremony where the kids sang songs, we watched a cute video of pictures and the kids got their preschool diplomas.  Natalya was the star singer, if not the loudest. Marcus wasn't too happy during the program I think because his hat didn't want to stay on.  Both of them looked adorable in their little cap and gown.  After the ceremony we ate a yummy pot-luck dinner, cake and the kids played and did crafts. Natalya is on to Kindergarten this fall and Marcus will be attending another year of preschool in Yorktown.

 

Erik's Art Work

Erik loves to color. It doesn't matter where, he just wants to do it.  

While I was packing for our move Erik found the sharpie that I used to label boxes and took to coloring everything in his path.  He colored  all over a chair, couch, TV, TV stand, windows, kitchen counter tops, himself and even his sister.  Natalya was watching TV right next to Erik while he was doing his coloring and didn't even notice until he had colored all up her arm and leg. I'm not talking a little line, I'm talking full on scribble up and down one side of her body. How she didn't notice I don't know.  Luckily the sharpie came off most everything with a little scrubbing and no permanent damage was done to the house.  Lesson learned on my part, no sharpies, markers, crayons, pens, pencils or chalk is to be left where a little 2 yr. old boy can get them or I will have pretty pictures all over my furniture, walls and kids.

Erik's drawing on a chair

Pictures on the computer too.

You can see a few of the sharpie marks still
 on his tummy days after his coloring spree.

Car Houses

Marcus loves his cars and he loves his legos. He put them together and builds car houses. He is always building new houses and loves to show them off. I hear a couple of times a day, "mom come look at my new car house." And If you are really lucky he will build one for you.  

Happy Mother's Day!

I love being a mom and I have the 4 best kids any mom could ask for. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Some of the cute art the kids made me for Mother's Day.

End of Soccer

Both the girls finished up their soccer season this weekend. Its been fun watching them get into the game but will be nice to have our Friday nights and Saturday mornings back.

The Green Goblins

Natalya after scoring a goal

Natalya, her teammates and coaches
(Joel, Aiden, Mak, Donovan, Natalya & Zak)

Natalya & her trophy

Natalya had a great soccer season. She had fun playing with her friend Joel and getting snacks after the games.  She really new how to hustle down the field and even played her last game in the rain. She scored 2 goals at her last game and loved getting her own soccer trophy.

 The Blue Lightening

Raquel and her teammates
(Paul Wyatt, Paige, Zach, Hazem, Luke)
Javier, Mary, Raquel, Charlie & Hayden

Raquel really grew as a soccer player this season. She has loved her team and coach she has played with for the last 3 seasons and will be sad to move.  Raquel has learned to love being in goal and how to be a little bit more aggressive with the ball. Its always fun watching her play and enjoy the game.