Finally - a haircut!

Graham has been sporting a mullet for a while now.  What to do?  His parents are lousy at cutting his hair, we don't particularly like the barbershop he's been to before....so we tried a new place called "Pigtails and Crewcuts" in Virginia.  It's fabulous.  I can't believe we haven't gone there before!  It's all of $5 more than the regular barbershop in our neighborhood but SUCH a better experience!  Graham hopped into the car and "drove" for his entire haircut.  He stopped for a quick animal cracker break (they have snacks on hand for the customers), and he got to pick out a toy as he was leaving the store.  I'm probably one of the few motheres in Virginia Beach that had not yet experienced this place.  What a fun experience!  And convenient - it's two stores away from Graham's gym class.

On To The Enchanted Storybook Forest!

We love the Norfolk Botanical Gardens!!  They have created a new Enchanted Storybook Forest that we have access to with our regular membership.  And it's AMAZING!  There are a variety of different houses that are built based on fairy tales/ stories that kids grow up with.  Heidi and I took Jasper and Graham and had a great time exploring!

Jack and the Beanstalk - even has a goose with a golden egg!

Who knew how much Graham would enjoy a tea party?!  He did NOT want to leave his tea pot in the house.

These were the houses belonging to the Three Little Pigs - one made out of hay, one made out of sticks, and one made out of bricks.  Graham was most interested in the fake flowers at the entrance to the house.  Inside this house there was a rock wall to the second floor window and a slide out of that window.  Very fun but a little "grown-up" for Graham.

Our own Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer!

And the crooked house

A Fire Truck!

Heidi and I took Graham and Jasper to the Botanical Gardens a few weeks ago to check out the Enchanted Storybook Forest, and there were three fire trucks in the parking lot for kids to explore - such a fun surprise.  Graham LOVES big trucks, and very much enjoyed trying to drive one!  He did not want to leave the driver's seat!

One of our FAVORITE evenings!

Our very dear friends, Eric and Jennifer, planned a fun evening for friends a few weeks back - an evening on the beach with yummy dinner, music, and games.  Kyle and I decided we wanted to go by boat!  (It takes us about 10-15 minutes to get to Chick's Beach by boat; it takes us about 25 minutes to drive the same distance.  And, there's just no way to describe being out on the water - intensely relaxing!) 

We packed up two paddle boards, dropped Graham at my parents' house for the evening, and hopped in the boat (we keep our boat at my parents' place).  We had an amazing meal that Jennifer prepared, good time with friends, good paddle-boarding time, fellas played cornhole.  Then we packed up and headed back home around dusk.  Probably one of our most favorite evenings in a long time!

Visit With Dear Friends!

One of my college roommates and her family came to visit on their way to the Outer Banks - LOVED seeing them!!  Shelly and Jason are such fun to be around - Shelly and I were roommates freshman and sophomore years.  And we lived with 6 other girls in the same house for junior and senior years at JMU.  These girls are sisters to me!We loved our time with the Walls.  And, Graham enjoyed playing with the girls - he and Ruby are very close in age.

Boycotting the High Chair

A few weeks ago, Graham REFUSED to get in his high chair.  I mean screaming fit, tantrum refused.  So, we ate breakfast at the kitchen table like two adults.  (Subsequently, we'll pulled the "on-the-go" booster seat out of my car, and it's now attached to one of the kitchen chairs.)  He is definitely ready to be at the table with the big folks!

Love this picture - I imagine him saying "I'll have another yogurt, please!"

And the "snacking" cheerios went on the arm rest of the seat...

The Billy Goat

Graham climbs on EVERYTHING!  And, he moves his stool everywhere to reach things that are too high for him.  We even caught him standing on his stool in order to stand on his piano in order to stand on the window sill!!!  We will so have our hands full with two kids!  (I have a feeling we're having a girl....but if we have a boy I'll be pretty excited, too.  I think Graham and another little boy could have so much fun together.  And give me a TON more grey hairs than I already have!)