Smoked meat fest

Each year a friend of ours and his cousin host a smoked meat fest in Louisa, VA. We decided to go this year and it was so fun! I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the food. There was more food than I've ever seen and it was all incredible. I ate more than I even knew I could.

There were plenty of kids to play with and plenty of things to keep them busy. I hope we can go again next year!

Riser is 18 months old

Riser is 18 months old! I didn't do a 15 month update, so a lot has changed in the last 6 months. He now has 12 teeth (including 4 molars). His hair is getting longer, and much like his older sister's at this age (light brown, curly in the back). He is 33.25 inches long (77th percentile) and 24 lbs 6 oz (53rd percentile). 

Little man is still our champion sleeper. He's never really had much of a bedtime routine, and doesn't seem to want much fanfare before bed. He's happy to just be cuddled for a minute and laid down to sleep. He sleeps from around 7:30 PM to 7-7:30 AM. He takes one nap a day between 1-3ish. We finally stopped nursing around 17 months. Despite my hesitancy and sentimental feelings towards it, he seemed pretty indifferent and took it very well. He still is extremely attached to his monkey, which is his version of a pacifier. We just recently started keeping it in his crib so that he can only have it for bed/naptime which has been a big adjustment for him, but he is handling it fairly well. He definitely gets very excited to go to bed and see his best friend. 

Riser is running around everywhere, able to go up and down stairs, climbing on the couch, and trying hard to learn how to scoot around on his little training bike. He can repeat lots of sounds and words, but has his own gibberish language that is adorable to listen to. We can tell he has a lot to say and is talking a mile a minute even though he doesn't have the words yet. He can also be very loud and likes to be heard! He can sign milk, more, please, all done, thank you, and night night. 

He has been getting much more into cars. Every once in a while we will see him off playing by himself zooming cars back and forth on the ground. He also loves to dress up, dance, kick/throw a ball, climb, or basically anything his older sister is doing. He is mischievous. If he is doing something he isn't supposed to and I use my serious voice, he will look at me and give me the most innocent smile or laugh which is very hard not to respond to in kind. Riser is going through a separation anxiety phase, where he cries when I drop him off at childcare. But it seems like he isn't upset long, and is still a pretty social little guy. We love seeing sweet Sonny's personality start coming out - we are honestly in such a fun phase right now with these two! I just want time to stop for a little while.

Benny's birthday

Benny's birthday was pretty low-key this year. While he was in the office working, the kids and I thought it would be fun to make it a fiesta! We decorated with all the brightest colors, had little sombreros, ordered takeout, and had one of our neighbors over with their son to enjoy cake with us. Nothing fancy, but a fun afternoon!

And of course it wouldn't be a fiesta without a piñata. 

Happy birthday to this wonderful man!

August Extras

August was our busiest month of the summer with Eric having some work travel, our family trip to Round Hill, and my girls trip. In between, we tried to take advantage of the last full month of Summer. 

We went to the Virginia Living Museum.

Enjoyed some afternoon juice boxes or freeze pops.

Eric took Bonnie on an ice cream date.

Bonnie has been a very helpful big sister, putting on and taking off Riser's shoes when needed.

We've gone on walks and had playdates with friends.

We've continued to enjoy the neighborhood beach.

We made our last visits to Water Country for the season. Bonnie snuck onto Riptide Race (didn't realize she was about 6 inches too short until after they went on the slide - I guess no one questioned her!)

She also tried Wild Thang - another one we didn't even know existed in the park. 

I have been waking up before the rest of the house to run in the morning, and have developed a new appreciation for where we live.

We continue to take walks when it's not dreadfully hot and humid.

Bonnie is constantly asking to do her 'preschool work'. 

We walked over to playground one morning while I waited on my tired getting fixed.

This guy did a phenomenal job with the kids on his own while I was away for the weekend. 

One evening we were taking a little walk/bike ride down our street and Notch came to join us (after months of seemingly forgetting about us). To say the kids were thrilled to spend some time with her is an understatement.

We got to drop in on Eleanor at Busch Gardens on her birthday!

Eric caught his biggest catfish yet out back.

Both kids still love dressing up.

Bonnie did her first drawing of all of us. (Riser on the left, daddy on the right, me down below).

We tried to take advantage of our last bit of weekday time with cousins before they all started school!

Usually we do 'milk story time' before bed where Bonnie drinks her milk while we read a story. I guess she learned about pickles on Sesame Street, and for the past few weeks she has been requesting 'pickle story time' instead. 

Riser is learning how to give kisses and it's the sweetest thing in the world.

That's about all we have for August! We are excited to return to some routine and structure in September.