October Adventures

   October was a very busy month for the Crowders!  We did quite a bit of traveling, spent time with friends and family, and enjoyed lots of fall activities in and around Alexandria.  Here are some of the highlights.

Charlottesville, VA

We started the month with a weekend in Charlottesville and enjoyed another visit towards the end of the month as well.  This is a very special place to us and the last trip was a little sad as we’re not sure when we might be visiting again.  Andrew’s parents are leaving November 2nd to move down to FL and we are planning on moving back up north sometime in the next year so it was most likely our last trip for quite awhile.  We did take the opportunity to get some pictures of Julia on the UVA grounds with her Dad and Grandpa (both UVA graduates).  Who knows, one day she she may be a UVA graduate as well!

Madison, WI

We spent the second weekend of the month with my friend, Yvonne, and her wonderful family in Madison, WI.  Yvonne and I have known each other since our orientation at Providence College and an awful lot has changed in the past eleven years.  We have gone from worrying about mid-term exams and discussing econometrics problems to tracking down sippy cups and contemplating discipline methods.  She and her husband, Paul, have three adorable children and Andrew and I were thrilled to finally meet the two youngest and introduce Julia to all of them.  We made the most of our two days visiting the botanical gardens, the farmer’s market (the largest in the US), a children’s magic and puppet show (where Julia saw juggling and has been trying to copy it since), and a winery (where Andrew and Paul very graciously watched the kids while Yvonne and I sampled the wine!).  We enjoyed everything about the weekend, great friends, great food, and lots of laughing.

All the kids playing in the pond at the Botanical Gardens

Julia and Daniel splashing around

Natalie, Andrew, Daniel, and Julia sitting on an elephant

Andrew and the two girls.  He got some practice chasing two at once!

Julia and I in downtown Madison

Julia and Daniel held hands to cross the street – super cute!

The Moms!

Alexandria, VA and DC

Other activities this month included picking out pumpkins:

Trying on hats:

Visiting the National Aquarium for toddler craft time:

 

Attending the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the National Mall (for some reason Julia was all about Fear):

and, of course, trick or treating:

Happy Halloween!

Big Shoes

Julia’s goal for today was walk in my shoes… literally.  And she was pretty successful.

First attempt:

Goal Accomplished!!:

“Thank you, mama”

“Thank you Mama” was what I heard when I handed Julia a little cup of water this morning.  I thought I had heard wrong but then when she asked for more she said it again… and made my day!