The week before Thanksgiving we welcomed a new family member. Meet Buddy! I’ve been considering getting another dog for a while. Lauren was definitely on board, Dave and Sophie, not so much. Petunia definitely needs a companion that isn’t me. When I saw Buddy in the rescue I feel in love. He’s about 10 months old, a rescue from Georgia. We don’t know his story, but he is absolutely the sweetest dog ever and super well behaved. Petunia wasn’t thrilled at first, but has warmed up and now they’re pretty good buds.
This fall, both girls played a sport for the first time. Sophie tried out and made the volleyball team. She had never played volleyball before and she really loved it. She floated back and forth between the A and B teams, and even though BC didn’t win many games, she played really well and got better throughout the season.
8th grade volleyball team
Lauren ran cross country, which is one of the few sports that 5th graders are able to play in middle school. She did really well, placing in the top 5 for her school in most of the races, but I think the amount of work was a wake up call for her. She likes to get out and run, and she’s fast, but I’m not sure she was ready for all the training. She also was part of the stage crew for the school play, and really enjoyed that a lot. She bounced back and forth between practices after school for both.
cross country race5th grade danceBettlejuice for Halloween
Dave, Don and I did the Olympic distance triathlon in Rock Hall in October. We all did really well. Don’s PR’d and this was Dave’s first Olympic distance in about 25 years. I placed 3rd in my age group, and since it was also the MD State Championship that means I qualified for the Nationals next year in September in Atlantic City!
On September 9th Carley and Chris tied the knot! It was a beautiful ceremony, presided over by Becky, at a cute venue with a rustic vibe. Both girls were in the wedding. Lauren was a flower girl with Ari and Sophie was a junior bridesmaid. They did a great job and looked beautiful.
Becky as the officiant Chris and Carley with the flower girlsChris and Carley with the Juniorscheezin with the bride and groomThe fam all dressed up
It started to rain right at the end of the ceremony, but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. The party inside was hopping and everyone had a really good time.
Lauren caught the bouquet, but quickly passed it over to Hayley, who was very much angling for it.
Well, it finally arrived. The dreaded first day of school. And the year that both girls are in middle school!! Gray hairs to arrive shortly. We’re a few weeks into it as I write this and so far, so good. Both girls are doing sports this year, which is new for us. Lauren is trying cross country and Sophie made the volleyball team. Lauren also decided to be on the theater crew team for BC Applause. We’re excited to get them out there and involved with more activities.
It was a good, long summer with lots of time in Maryland.
Over the last few weeks we had more friends come and visit, enjoyed several sunset sails, and listened to Dave’s dad band.
My family came for Pirates and Wenches Weekend again (it maybe become a tradition!).
The girls both had friends for the last weekend in August, and The Devine’s came down for Labor Day weekend. I’m always sad to leave when summer ends, but fall is also a great time down there as well 😉
This summer we didn’t take a trip anywhere and instead kept it kind of local. The girls spend a week in Charlottesville with my parents and then Dave and I came down to join them for a few days. On our way back to PA we stopped over in DC for two days to do some of the touristy stuff that we haven’t done in a while.
In Virginia we visited with Aleen and watched some polo at King Family Vineyard. We also toured Monticello, and we met up with the Davis’ at Pro Renata in Crozet. I love when we can get Sophie and Lexi together.
King Family Vineyard MonticelloSkater GurlzSophie and Lexi
In DC we hit two museum, the Spy Museum and the Museum of the American Indian. We walked along the lawn and saw the Washington Monument, various memorials, and then veered off to see the White House. We also had some very excellent dinners, which was a good reward for all of the walking.
Overall the girls were pretty good, although I wouldn’t say it was their most favorite vacation. But I’m happy they can still be good sports for us.
Outside the White HouseVisiting Mr. LincolnOutside the Spy Museum
This summer Sophie decided to try out a sleepaway camp. A lot of her friends go for the full summer and she finally decided that she wanted to give it a try. She picked Camp Kweebec, which is only about an hour away. She knew several girls who went there. We decided that the half summer option, which is 4 weeks, was the better option for the first time. She definitely had some ups and downs over the month – most of the kids have been going for years, so camp friend groups were well in place – but after a tough start she had a good time.
We dropped her at a bus pick up so all the kids can arrive together. It was an emotional good-bye, but her bus seatmate from a friend from school, so that helped.
Waiting to board the bus to Camp KweebecGiving Lauren a hug to last her a full month
She didn’t have her phone for the entire month so the only communication we had was via snail mail, which was weird for all of us. The camp also had an app where they posted pictures daily, so we could at least see what the kids were doing.
On her bed in Bunk SyracuseSophie with her bunkmatesDecked out as goalie for the hockey team
After a month away, she finally came home on July 23rd and spent the next three weeks as a counselor in training at Miquon Day Camp, which she loves. She hasn’t decide what she’ll do next year, but she knows that she can be a paid counsel next year, so the scales might tip in that direction. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, Lauren spent the first two weeks at sailing camp in Rock Hall with Bella. After that, we came back to PA and she did a month at Friend Central Middle School, where they had a day camp that she loved. There was swimming, sports, crafts and general hanging out with other kids all day, which is just up her ally. She also had two friends that went with her.
Lauren with her friends Chloe and NoaBulls eye!Art with her bunkmates
It’s been a long, filled summer and we’ve still got a few weeks to go! Camps end on Friday and the girls will be headed for a week down in Va. with my family.
The best part of our house in Rock Hall are all the friends who come and visit us throughout the summer. Over the 4th of July Don and his family came down and we did all the f things – sailing, tubing, BBQ and fireworks on the 3rd, and running in the Flat 5 Miler on the morning of the 4th, which is always a total scorcher.
Leading up to the 4th, we spend two weeks in Rock Hall while Lauren and Bella went sailing camp. The both really loved it this year. They were in the intermediate group with older kids, which I think they liked a lot. They also got to ride on the camp’s float for the 4th of July parade.
Lauren, Oliver & Liam on the bow of the boatPicking crabs! Fireworks at the end of our drivewayLauren and Bella in the parade with their sailing campDon, Walt, John, Dave, Ally, Natalie, Crystal, Me
And in mid-July, Aleen, Sallie and her family came to visit us. It’s the first time we’ve gotten the full families together and it was so much fun! Lauren got along really well with Sallies boys, Lang and Wes, and everyone had fun on the boats. The weather was also perfect, which was just the cherry on top of the weekend.
Wes and Lang on the sail boatPetunia giving Aleen some loveThe tubing queen! Family dinnerAleen, Sallie and me
The following weekend Justin and Steve came down. This was the first time they’ve been to the place and again, it was lovely. Perfect weather, a really great afternoon sail on Saturday, and after a crazy thunderstorm, a beautiful sunset on the beach.
Saturday afternoon sailSophie, Bella, Lauren and Naomisunset on the beachSteve and JustinDave, me, Steve, Justin, Crystal, John
We’ve got a few more fun filled summer weekends ahead of us. Summer always goes so fast, so I’m trying to slow down and savor every moment!
Here are the girls before they left for school. These pictures do justice to the girl’s current personalities right now.
A few days before the last day, we went to a small ceremony at the middle school where Sophie received a Student of the Quarter award. We were super proud! This was a tough year for her and she really put extra effort in at the end.
front of the certificateback of the certificate 4th quarter award winners
On the last day of school we headed over to the elementary school for Lauren’s promotion ceremony. All of the 4th graders filed in to Pomp and Circumstance and then each was called to receive their certificate. It was a great four years for Lauren at Cynwyd Elementary. We’re bummed she didn’t get to do 5th grade there, but looking forward to having the girls in the same school again.
receiving her certificatethe proud graduate
That evening, Lauren had a sleepover with her three best friends. She wanted to camp in the back yard, but there were thunder storms in the area, so they camped in the living room, tent and all. It was touch and go on whether the tent would fit, but in the end it did, just barely.
