It’s been about a month since I updated the blog (my apologies, Emme), so I’ll try to get caught up quickly. All of my pictures came from the phone this time. Unfortunately, when we’ve been out, I haven’t had my camera, but thankfully the phone is always a good back up.
Since I last updated, Mark started a new job. He is the project manager at Sunrise Senior Living’s corporate office. On his second day at the new job, the girls were both invited to a birthday party in the evening, so we took the opportunity to go out together to celebrate. He’s really enjoying his new job so far, and the project that the company has him working on is new and challenging. He’s had nothing but great things to say about the people in the office and the company itself, so it certainly seems like things are off to a good start.
We finished out the week with a super fun 80’s concert with the Williams family and Bo. The Reflex is an 80’s cover band that Mark and I have seen twice before at free outdoor concerts, and we heard they were going to be back for another one, so we got the crew together and made a fun evening of it. The photo is courtesy of the band’s photographer, but I had to share it because the girls were front and center the whole time. They were singing, dancing, and having a blast! You can see them on the right side of this picture.
The girls and I had an active hiking week that followed. We met up with the cousins for a hike around the Oakton area, then we met up with friends and hiked out in Leesburg. Of course, Cayenne got to come on both adventures. Hiking is definitely one of her favorite things to do! We love getting the chance to try new hikes, and it’s even more fun with friends and cousins! On our hike in Leesburg we saw the evidence of a big storm that had come through. It appeared that lightning had split at least two or three huge trees. You can see just the top of the fallen tree where Nina is standing - it was a huge tree!!
Sadly, a few days after our Leesburg hike, Nina sprained her ankle pretty badly. She couldn’t walk on it for a couple days and it was very swollen. It wasn’t the ankle that she broke, thankfully, but the recovery certainly hasn’t been fun. It’s been over two weeks since it happened, and her ankle is still blue and purple with bruising and she has to wear a wrap style brace any time she’s doing activity. It’s been a real bummer for all of us, but we’re hoping it returns back to normal soon and she can get back to doing all the normal activity she loves.
We did put the ankle brace to the test on Friday of this weekend. Mark’s new company was having their summer family picnic on Friday afternoon, and we knew there was going to be a zip line and other fun activities. She did pretty well with it and was able to climb the wall and do the zip line. Lyla also climbed and did the zip line. Both girls loved it!
There were other games going on, food, a DJ, face painting, etc. It was a fun afternoon for all of us.
The next day we headed downtown to the DC United game for Mark to receive his golden scarf. Since this is DC United’s last season in RFK, they are celebrating some of the players of the past by giving them a golden scarf before the game starts. It’s a little way to remember some of the team’s history at the stadium. Nina and Lyla were really excited to go down to the field and receive the scarf with Mark. The scarf was cool, but seeing Talon was still a huge hit. When I took them to games when they were little, they were always SO excited to see Talon. It’s cute that the excitement hasn’t wore off!
This was their reaction when they saw Talon walking over to them. :)
Then they thought it was even funnier when he photobombed their picture.
Talon presented the scarf to Mark, they stayed for a few photos, then we headed up to the seats to watch the game.
