How I Spent My Summer Vacation

7/31/2006 Here's Barkley with his favorite girlfriend Ezra. 

Girls' Weekend at VA Beach!

7/29/2006 Britt and I went to VA Beach to visit our BFF Liz. Friday night we went to happy hour at Liz's apartment complex, walked around the town center, and had dinner out at an Italian restaurant. What fun! We've missed her so much since she moved from across the street... 

7/29/2006 Britt and Liz ready for a night out on the town! We went to Blockbuster to rent movies, had dinner at Bonefish, and returned to the apartment to get in our jam-jams and watch a movie! We are such party animals! 

7/29/2006 The best channel on Liz's TV showed the security lobby -- we watched Henry the doorman talk on the phone! 

7/30/2006 Britt and Penny snuggled up in our sleeping space. 

Happy July Birthdays!

7/27/2006 Tonight we celebrated 3 July birthdays! Alexander turned 16 this month, and Brianna and Emilie turned 15.

Cake #1 - Pumpkin Cheesecake with a Gingersnap Crust 

Cake #2 - Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream Cake with Sprinkles from Milwaukee's Custard 

Cake #3 - Applesauce Spice Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

Happy Birthday Alexander!

7/27/2006 Here is Alexander with a gift that is one size fits all! Thanks Grandma French! 

Happy Birthday Brianna!

7/28/2006 Here is Brianna with one of her new Vera Bradley items! 

Happy Birthday Emilie!

7/27/2006 Here is Emilie sporting her new Coach sunglasses! She looks like a movie star! 

A Strange Visitor

This little guy was on our sidewalk the other day. I think he looks kind of cool, especially his purple tail. 

Our World Traveler Returns!

7/25/2006 Alexander returned from Hong Kong today after spending 2 1/2 weeks with his Uncle Ben, Aunt Jean and Cousin Grace. Ben has more pix of Alexander's trip at www.sawin.com, and you can see the videos Alexander made of his trip at www.floornine.com. It's good to have him home again! 

Happy 16th Birthday Alexander!

7/16/2006 Alexander celebrated his 16th birthday with his Uncle Ben, Aunt Jean and Cousin Grace in Hong Kong at -- where else -- the Hard Rock Cafe! Following dinner, Ben took Alexander to see the Black Eyed Peas in concert. 

Happy 4th Anniversary!

7/22/2006 Hard to believe it's been 4 years of marriage!! It actually feels a lot longer than that. Dirk and I celebrated our day at a performance of the Reduced Shakespeare Company at the Kennedy Center followed by dinner at the Melting Pot. Here's to lots more years together! 

7/22/2002 Here we are when we eloped!! What a difference 4 years makes! 

Sunday Afternoon on the Linda Mary

7/16/2006 Our hosts for the day on the Linda Mary -- Fred & Linda. Fred is one of Dirk's co-workers, and he invited us out to spend the day on the Potomac River. We started out at a marina in Aquia Creek and went to Fairview Beach where we anchored to have lunch and do some swiming. It was a fun day!

Brianna learning to drive the Linda Mary. 

Dirk and Brianna enjoying the Potomac River.

Happy 15th Birthday Brianna!

7/15/2006 We aren't officially celebrating Brianna's birthday until the end of July (because none of her siblings were here), but she did have a sleepover with her friend Pooja. They enjoyed a rousing game of Dance Dance Revolution! 

What good girls -- keeping those teeth sparkling white! 

4th of July Parade - Dale City

 

 

 

7/4/2006 Brianna participated in her 1st Gar-Field HS Marching Band event! The 4th of July Parade is always so much fun! 

OBX Vacation - 2006

 

Zoe at play in the ocean! Even though she's going to be a hot-shot middle schooler this year, she's still a kid at heart! 

6/21/2006 Dirk and I got up early one morning at the beach to watch the sunrise and try our hand at fishing. We didn't catch anything, but the view was great!

6/22/2006 Break from the beach -- Dirk and I took 3 of our girls and my mother to the Whalehead Club for an art festival. That's Corolla Lighthouse in the background.

6/24/2006 Well, another fun week at the beach had to come to an end. Barkley discovered the joys of chasing sand crabs this year! Ian and Zoe were getting packed to leave for Oklahoma with Grandpa Pete. We truly enjoyed having Emilie come with us, and even after a week, she and Alexander are still friends! We can't wait to return to the Voyage again next year!

Brianna's Semi-Formal Dinner Party

6/2/2006 Brianna hosted a dinner party for 11 of her girlfriends. They all looked beautiful in their finery as they enjoyed Shirley Temples and a 5-course seated dinner.