We Went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Bealeton with Friends.

We got there at 7:00 am and the weather was chilly for August.  We were not complaining!  We arrived just in time to see two balloons filling up for take off.  We saw a few more hit the air as well including one man who flew in a chair.  As Heather likes to say WE NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN - HE MAY BE TRAPPED IN SPACE.  They were also offering tethered balloon rides for 5 dollars.  I wasn't game but Anna, the girls and Heather were so we waited for an hour in line.  It was actually awesome because while waiting we saw about 7 balloons land in our field plus the kids kept themselves busy by searching for locusts and grasshoppers in the grass.  When it came to their turn, however, they announced that the balloon could no longer fly due to wind conditions.  Heather was vastly disappointed until I asked her if she wanted to go up in the airplane.  This was met with a YES YES YES!  Away she went.  She got to go in a golf cart to the plane and then headed off.  The smile on her face afterwards is priceless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

  

We Went to the Petting Zoo and Pet a Porcupine.

Lancelot was a big hit!  The weather has been so nice this August.  Trevor also got to hang out with the kangaroos.

He Wishes!

Heather's Going Through A Girlie Phase.

I was getting a bit concerned about it until I found her riding her "trusty steed".   

We Went for A Visit to Grandma Judy's.

 Grandma lives next to a creek so the kids were all about crayfish catching.  They caught about 20-25 and Trevor managed to get a newt as well.  We also found several caterpillars including the yellow and red one below which is poisonous.  Luckily I had the i-phone to look up the species BEFORE we touched them.  Grandma had no idea she had so many creatures in her yard.  The found chipmunks, hummingbird moths, birds and butterflies in addition to several different insects.  Trevor got so muddy in the creek and was very upset when we finally pulled him out.

We Used Some of Our Tickets from Our Cardboard Boat Race Winnings.

This August has been pretty bearable with the heat and humidity.  We decided to take advantage of the good weather and invite some friends for a round of putt-putt, carousel and a tour boat ride.  The kids had a fabulous time.  As an after treat they got to have shaved ice.

Working Hard....Umm Maybe Not So Much......

Today Was a Field Trip to the Museum of Natural History.

Trevor's favorite (of course) was the ocean section.  He loved to touch and see all the fish fossils and skeletons.  Heather said her favorite was.....all of it!  They surprisingly managed to walk all the way from work to the National Mall and back with minimal complaints (though I did promise they could get ice cream if they didn't whine about it).

We Went on a DC Ducks Tour While Working with Mama.

Since they've been coming to work, we decided to have a bit of fun too.  We saw the monuments and buildings, got a history lesson and also managed to see bald eagles, a bunny, cormorants, and some ospreys fishing.  We also had several airplanes fly directly over the boat.  The kids loved it.