The Post With All the Culture...

When I picked up the boys, we decided to meet at Robert E. Lee's family home, Stratford Hall. We pass it with every trip to and from Namma's and I've been looking for an excuse to pop in. We met for lunch in the small restaurant on property and then toured the home. The boys liked attempting to build a tobacco barrel and loved the fact that "way back then" people only fully bathed twice a year. That sounded about right to them.

Once back in town we met up with Tanis and Clara for my favorite program at the National Gallery, Stories in Art. Or so we thought. I had to pull out my favorite phrase... "You know how I tell you that mommies can make mistakes too?" Well I got the timing wrong but we did a speedy tour of the impressionists and then hit the gift shop. All in all it was a fun afternoon even if they missed the story and craft. 

Lastly we FINALLY got to see Tia and Baby Marin after way way way too long. None of us could believe how much she'd grown and the boys agreed, despite their disbelief of it being possible, "The Queen of Cuteness"  had in fact gotten cuter! 

Cheers, 

Mamma Toad

Happy Birthday America... Northern Neck Style

We enjoyed another wonderful year celebrating Independence day at Namma's cottage. And this year we left with out the kids! Don't worry, it was planned. They spent the week at Namma Camp; swimming, crabbing, reading, playing yatzee and dominos, trips to the Crazy Crab, Cow Cow and Chitterchats plus enjoying a new bike and scooter to zip around Fleeton Point!  While they were busy at Namma's, Jim and I enjoyed a week of no laundry, no dishes and eating out every night. I could do a whole post on the massive toy clean out and reorganization that also took place but I know I'm the only one that's really excited about that part of the week. I'll just say EIGHT 40 gallon trash bags left our house for the dump. 

With out further ado here is the photo dump from the 4th of July... 

Cheers, 
Mamma Toad 

What's Better Than One Birthday Post? Two, Of Course!

Colin turned eight, this year, EIGHT YEARS OLD! I legitimately remember being eight which incidentally makes me feel old, very old but that's another post for another blog. Jim found a really cool shop, Labyrinth in DC to host Colin's Pokemon birthday party this year. It even included our very own"Doctor"of Pokemon to teach the class. I still don't think I know any more about this game than I did before the party started but all the boys seemed to have a great time and that's all that mattered. 

























































As you might imagine, Jim also had a birthday this month but I didn't get any pictures of that so that's not actually the "second birthday" teased in the post title. No, poor William never gets a fun Frog and Toad Birthday post because his is in November so this year I thought I'd do a little throw back and include photos from his birthday. 'Cause when you have two, "everything has to be even" or so I've heard. He had Jay had a "no whine, lots of cheese" (h/t Mrs. Murchison) birthday at Chuck E Cheese. 

Cheers, 
Mamma Frog & Toad

Another Summer with Frog and Toad

William's graduation invitation self portrait. 

I was on the fence about attempting to revive the summer blog this year since the boys are getting older and as Garrett mockingly lovingly reminded me, I was much more creative with our day-to-day summer themes and activities a few years ago. Pirate week? Arrrrrrv course! *pause for laugher... or groaning*

This year is a bit stilted as William's summer began Memorial Day Weekend and Colin is Still. In. School. I mean, seriously. He is finally done this Friday and I know we'll all be thankful. He's been a trooper listening to William detail his many day camp adventures while he still has homework and an 8 am school start. Though we all know his internal alarm clock is unflinchingly set for 6am, 5am when we're "lucky" so its not like we'd be sleeping in anyway.

So, in the immortal words of Inigo Montoya...

After five straight years of daily trips to and from Old Town, our time at St. Paul's Nursery and Day School has ended with William's kindergarten graduation. Excuse me as I grab some tissues to muffle my sniffle-sobbing. I won't even attempt to express what this school, community, family has meant to me. It was a shining beacon of new moms and future confidants for me when I feared I'd never again have friends after the island of isolation, diapers, bottles and spit up. Oh and its been a pretty awesome place for my kids too. Even now, two years after Colin's graduation, his best friends are those he met in Mrs. Land and Mrs. Phippen's class on day one.  Without further {emotional} ado here are a few pictures from the day...

We love us some Via!! 

Namma was the best surprise guest ever! 

Maybe next year Cupcake. #dontstopbeliveing

This year was our fourth annual Memorial Day BBQ and I must admit its getting easier with each year, though the rain made it more interesting. My inner event planner loves a good challenge and planning for 90 degree heat, a tropical storm and plummeting temperatures certainly kept us busy. Because we're both running around so much we hardly ever get any great party pictures but sweet Saint snapped this one. He's taken to getting a picture with Jim and Colin each year. Jim, once again smoked 3 briskets (his best ever!), 12 racks of ribs, pork butts and about 45 links of Kruez's sausage! One of these days the boys can help take over the bbq but until then they're happy to sample Jim's hard work.

10pm smoker check in

Prep work begins... food safety gloves and all!

Breakfast taste test! 

The peonies always bloom just in the nick of time. 

Let the games begin.

While Jim was in Vegas for his annual guys' baseball trip, the boys and I packed up and headed to the Northern Neck for a weekend at Namma's. Dominos, farmers markets, morning walks, learning to needle point (the boys, not me), the Crazy Crab, Chitterchats and Sunday in the pews at St. Mary's. It doesn't get much better than that... 

Its enough to make you pass out nearly the whole way home. 

Till Next Time, 

Mamma Toad