Here come Santa Claus...

Tonight we went to see Santa. This was actually the third time Caelan saw him this year, but we actually decided to pay for a picture this time. I can't believe how big he looks on Santa's lap!

Gingerbread Houses and Tree Decorating

Today we made a gingerbread house and added some more ornaments to the tree.



Trying to read the directions...


So pretty...ten seconds later the roof fell in....






Notice the concentration of ornaments....truly decorated by a two year old.

Soccer Tots

Caelan has been taking a soccer class called Soccer Tots on the weekends. He loves it and it has been fun seeing his skills get stronger over the last couple of months.

Leaves

A couple of weeks ago we spent some time raking leaves. By we, of course, I mean that Matt raked leaves, Caelan played in them, and I took pictures.

Kyle and Maria's wedding

We went to our dear friends Kyle and Maria's wedding reception a couple of weeks ago. It was a lovely evening with really great friends.

Caelan and Pop pop


Caelan and the bride


Sue, the groom's mom




Ryan and Matthew


Maggie (Miss Maggie to Caelan)




Really Matt...you can't do a serious picture?

The Old Hood

We made a little visit to our old neighborhood a couple of weeks ago to watch a kids triathlon that the HOA had put together. Considering we only moved two miles down the road, it wasn't a far trip. We do miss our nightly walks around the lake, but don't miss our lack of space in the condo.

For the love of nap time....

Caelan is napping inconsistently at this point. When he doesn't nap, he usually just gets really cranky in the afternoon. Sometimes, however, I get the opportunity to photograph him in slumber when he falls asleep on the couch after nap time is over...

Funny faces

Before my good friend Sara moved to Seattle, she came to hang out for a little while. We miss her terribly, but I do love looking at the pics of our time together.

More fountains

The week before going back to work, we had one last fountain play date with Sam and Allie.

Allie sunbathing


Snack time!


Caelan and Sam


Caelan and Allie

Potty Training

While home this summer, I decided to tackle potty training. Caelan and I boot camped the process, which included not leaving the house for a couple of days and not wearing pants at home for a couple of weeks. This made for interesting conversations whenever we had people come to the door. (The masons working on our front porch thought is was hilarious to see Caelan without pants on at the window...)

Like I said...we boot camped it...


Our time included a lot of naked reading


and of course...naked coloring

Matt's Tri

Although Matt typically does several triathlons each year, the Culpeper tri is the one he does every year. It's always at the beginning of August and is one of the prettiest tri sites that I've been to.


Yes...this is what he swims in....


Swim start


Bike...isn't he cute? :)


I love this picture because it looks so peaceful


On the way home

End of July

This post will wrap up July. (I know, I know, I am a month behind...)

The last day of July we had two birthday parties and then we wrapped up the evening with an impromptu jaunt through the fountains at Fairfax Corner.

The first birthday party of the day was for our neighbor Sydney.

MMMMM....Cake....


I'd say Sydney enjoyed her "first birthday cake"



I think duck butts are funny





The second birthday party that we went to was for Ben and Ian.

Sophia sitting on Dan's head


Yummy pizza


Ian getting some air


Connie and Ben


Ben likes pizza too!



Our last stop was to the fountains outside. Caelan and Sophia had a blast...








Wet little boy and tired Daddy on the way to the car

July was a really good month. :)