The Cats rule the roost!

MAC loves to climb on the garden fence. I'm not sure whether he does this to view his world, or just get away from the dogs. Elvis stays firmly on the ground. The cats play outside all day, but we put them in the barn at night.

Who's the hot Kayak Chick?

That would be Tracy. Yes we were finally able to find time to get out on the Occoquan Resevoir to do some kayaking. This is Tracy's "home court" for mountain biking, so it was good to get her to "clip out" of her bike and explore the park outside of the trails, and as Tracy admits...for the first time she paddled the water without a pack of other adventure racers chasing her lead. We thoroughly enjoyed the relaxing paddle and even saw a few bald eagles flying around. We topped it off with a swing by Starbucks where we met a 10 month old who says "coffee"...okay it was more like "copy", but you get the point...her parents have not successfully hidden their serious caffeine addiction from her. Long story short....kayaking is relaxing...coffee is good for all ages.

Maya Starts Soccer

Maya started her first "formal" soccer team this year. She is enjoying the non-stop running and energy of U-6 Soccer. She's had an excellent role model in Taylor who is now playing in the U-10 league and has a really fun team. I still can't believe either of them are getting so old, but all my attempts to slow them down don't seem to work! Here are some pics of Maya and her teammates. Pics of Taylor and her VERY animated teamates (hilarious entertainment at all costs) coming at a later installment...7 more games this season should lead to plenty of opportunity!

First Day of School - 4 Sep 2007

So the girls went back to school on the 4th. Taylor into 5th grade(!) and Maya into kindergarten(!) We had a great summer with just the right onslaught of activities. I think everyone is excited for the Fall and the coming activities with friends, school, soccer, etc. Here is Taylor in her new role on bus patrol; Tracy and Maya before Maya headed to Kindergarten (same Montesorri school, but now as one of the "upperclass[wo]men"); and Taylor and Maya on the first day of school; All is right as the structure of school activities hit us like a welcome school bus ;-)

Where did Summer go?

Having completed the long summer of work travel, I decided to get my kayak out on Burke Lake to enjoy unusually pleasant weather for this time of year (L60s-H~80). It had been over a month since my last outing and I couldn't let the summer end without one more go. It seems like this summer was a blur and it took the isolation of the middle of a lake to reflect upon all the activities.

I'm thinking of naming the Blue Heron in the pictures I took while kayaking. We've developed quite a friendship, as I see it everytime I get on the lake.

I hope everyone is doing well and that you are eagerly anticipating what I term the ROCKINEST season of the year...Fall. Here come school, soccer, pants weather, and rainy day storms. Ahhhhhhhhhwsum.