Frozen

I took the older kids to Frozen on Ice.  The girls have been excited for it all summer and so happy when we finally got to go.  It was like a rock concert for 2 to 8 year olds and so funny hearing them scream when their favorite song or character came out on the ice.  It was a good show and I enjoyed spending time with the kids.

Bike Rider

Marcus has learned to ride his bike.  He has been practicing on his balance bike all summer and finally had the courage to get on the new bike he got for his birthday. He loves being able to go faster and has such great balance.  He can now ride his bike to school with his sisters, to the YMCA and the park.  

Happy Birthday!

Marcus turned 4. 

He was very excited for his birthday. He helped make and decorate his train cake and our friend Matt came over for dinner and the birthday fun.  Marcus has grown a lot over the past year. He grew through two wristband colors as Busch Gardens, learned to swim (he is a little fish) and ride a bike.  He started his second year of Preschool and loves to go to school. He is kind and loving and loves to stay up late and sleep in. He is a great helper and loves playing and being goofy with his brother.

Just a few of the reasons why I love Marcus:

1. He is a great Big Brother. 

He has lots of fun with Erik and helps him pick-up toys and get dressed.

2. He will try most foods and he likes almost everything.  He will eat onions, hummus, peppers, & tomatoes unlike his siblings.

3. He is willing to keep trying things he doesn't like to do.  He hated his basketball class and would cry every time he went but by the end he had lots of fun.

Marcus was also afraid of the rock climbing wall but now can make it all the way to the top.

4. He is goofy and has a sense of humor.

5. Marcus loves books and reading, learning his letters and numbers.

6. He is loving and a friend to everyone.

Helping make his cake

Thomas and Percy Cake

Marcus and his cake

Opening his presents

I'm Four

Some of Marcus' Favorites:

Food: Popcorn & Ice Cream

Toys: Trains and the tracks

Color: Red and Blue

Movie: Trains and Cars

Day: Tuesday

Activity: Riding bikes and going swimming

Place: Busch Gardens

What do you want to be when you grow up: I don't want to grow up. I just want to be Marcus

I wish: I could be at Water Country USA right now!

Something cute Marcus liked to ask me:

"Are we on the threeway (freeway)? When are we going on the 4 way, 5 way or 6 way?"

1st Day of School

Today was the first day of school for the kids. The three older kids will be going to Coventry Elementary School here in Yorktown.  We are excited because the kids can walk or ride their bikes to school.  Natalya is in Mrs. Maloney's Kindergarten class, Marcus is in Ms. Missy Carmine's Preschool class and Raquel is in Ms. Walker's 3rd grade class.  All their teachers seem exciting and fun and I'm sure they will have a great year.

Natalya's first day of Kindergarten

Erik's first day as being the only kid home with mom
Marcus' first day of 2nd year Preschool

Raquel's first day of 3rd Grade

Off to school

Jamestown Settlement

We met up with more Blacksburg friends at Jamestown and enjoyed the afternoon exploring Jamestown Settlement.  The kids were so happy to see their good friends Nick and Luke and to hang out with the Lucas'.  Little Joel stuck to Raquel like gum on a shoe, he was so sad to leave when they had to go home. We had lots of fun with our guests and hope we get more visitors soon.

Inside a Powhatan Indian Hut

Carving a Canoe
(Tess, Enna, Natalya, Marcus, Raquel)

Resting on the Susan Constant

Our family

Paul, Enna, Natalya, Joel, Raquel, Luke, Marcus, Nick, Erik and Tess
hanging out in a canoe

Soldier Erik

Natalya and Raquel trying on armor inside the Jamestown Fort

Nick, Luke and Jessica joined us for dinner after a fun day at Jamestown Settlement.

Beach & Fort Monroe with Friends

Our friends the Lucas' came from Blacksburg to visit over Labor Day weekend.  We had lots of fun showing them around and playing. We spent most of one day at the beach and I think most of us came away with a sunburn.  But the kids sure had fun playing with their friends in the water and sand. We also took in a little history exploring Fort Monroe.

Beach Boy Erik

Natalya, Marcus & Raquel

Building sand castles

Playing in the water with Paul, Joel, Tess and Mike

Time for snacks

Natalya enjoying the water

Raquel, Paul and Tess

At the top of Fort Monroe

Raquel at Ft. Monroe

Piano

The girls started piano lessons and we didn't have a piano. After looking on Craigslist we found one and picked it up the night of their first lesson.  Of course it started pouring rain when we were loading it into the back of our truck.  Luckily we were pretty close to our house and it didn't get damaged from the water.  Mike and I were able to unload it and bring it into the house ourselves and the kids have had fun playing on it ever since.

Playing or more like pounding on the piano

Champs

The girls both qualified to swim at champs. They had to get a certain time to be able to swim at the meet. Raquel swam breaststroke and Natalya backstroke. They swam with the best who qualified from 12 different swim teams. Raquel placed 13th out of 29 with a time of 27.38 sec. and Natalya tied for 14th out of 24 with a time of 34.81 sec. 

To think the swim coaches didn't even want to put Natalya on the team because she was only 5 and here she swam at Champs. 

So proud of both out girls!

Sailfish Swim Team

The girls joined the neighborhood summer swim team this year.  They practiced 5 mornings a week rain or shine as long as it wasn't thundering.  They enjoyed it on the hot days but a few days were a little cold.  Every Monday they participated in a swim meet at various pools around the area.  Both Natalya and Raquel did great, improving on there times all season and both qualifying for the Champs swim meet in August. There team The Coventry Sailfish also was 1st in their division.

The boys and I spent many hours watching and cheering on the girls this summer. Marcus learned to swim this summer so hopefully he will be on the team next year.

Natalya ready to swim free-style

Raquel on the blocks

Every Tues. after a meet was fun swim with donuts.

Marcus was a big helper carrying chairs and snacks.

Showing off their new team swimsuits.

Hanging out between races.

Raquel and Daddy

Enjoying the last meet of the season

Part of the swimmers fan club