Getting Ready for School!

 Today I took the girls for back to school haircuts and a surprise pedicure!  They were sooooo excited!  I have never seen such wide smiles - and for the entire hour that we sat in the pedicure chair!  They are so sweet and adorable.  I am so glad that we get to do such fun girlie stuff together!!

Rock Creek Park Nature Center

 Laurie came to visit us and Kris this weekend and on Saturday we went to visit Rock Creek Park Nature Center.  There were lots of preserved animals to look at and some live ones (turtles and a snake).  Declan just thought this was the best thing ever!  After we looked around we went on a short hike and had a picnic.
On the way home we stopped at one of the locks on the C&O canal that runs along the Potomac. It was really cool and everyone got a lesson in how locks work!

School Open House

 Today we went to the kids' school for open house/orientation.  They all got to meet their teachers and see their classrooms!!!  We've been waiting for this for AGES and everyone was excited - especially Aoife!
Aidan's classroom is in a trailer along with all of the other 4th grade classes.  His teacher Mrs. Campbell, seems awesome and really on the ball!  Emmy has Mrs. Handley and is really happy because her two friends who live around the corner had the same teacher in 2nd grade and they really liked her.  Aoife has Mrs. White - who is barely taller than Aidan - for Kindergarten.  She is so warm and welcoming.  I'm sure it's going to be a great year!!

On the playground:

 Aidan in his classroom:

 Emmy and her teacher:

 Going to Kindergarten!!

 Aoife's cubbie

 Aoife's locker - so exciting!

 Doing her Kindergarten scavenger hunt!

 Aoife and Mrs. White

The National Building Museum

 We went with Kris to see the National Building Museum.  There was a cool maze that was a temporary exhibit.  The kids loved it!  There were also a couple of areas where the kids could build and play.  They had a good time but there wasn't much else there.  The building itself is beautiful and you don't need to pay to get in the building - just to walk through the exhibits.
We had a good time and even had lunch there!  The kids always love having lunch out!

Here's a picture I found online that shows the maze from above!

 

Declan enjoying the maze!

 Aoife swinging Declan

 A lego model of the museum

 Can Art

 Aoife building

 My boys!

 Declan loved the big blocks!

 Aidan loved the virtual blocks!

 Trains!

 Arch building!

 Arch destroying

 we made a quick stop by the art museum - Degas exhibit!

 Tired after a long day - Emmy snapped this!