Week 43

October 21-27
Here’s what we did in or everyday lives this week:


Our sweet friends gifted us their toddler bed that instantly became known as “Samuel’s Big Boy Bed!”. He was very excited and explained to Elsie that it was his “property”. Brothers...


Everyone wanted a turn wearing Daddy’s ear protection when we shortened the legs on Samuel’s bed.


Ta-da! The finished product...right next to our family bed. Hah! Although its not a dramatic change, it is nice to have a little more space in the bed.


Rosy cheeked little napper


Little bits: one of the babies’ favorite types of lunches


Naptime view; This tree outside our bedroom window makes me really happy.


Kathryn is two! Kathryn, the beloved friend of both Samuel and Elsie, invited them over for a little playtime and a birthday lunch. “Too much party” is a legit thing, and this was just the right amount of fun for my two. It was also a nice opportunity to meet all of Kathryn’s grandparents.

❤️, Molly

42: October 14-20th

The highlight of our week was a trip to the pumpkin patch!

We went with our friends, Mary Glenn and Kathryn Coleman. Here are the threee little buddies at Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville, NC.


Samuel talked all morning about getting to ride a tractor. He was not disappointed! Here we are on our way to the “pumpkin patch”.


By “pumpkin patch” I mean a perfectly manicured lawn with clean, cute, child-sized pumpkins conveniently spread out in rows. Hehe!


He's on the hunt for the best one! (picture by Mary Glenn)


A winner is selected... (picture by Mary Glenn)


...and carried back to the tractor. (Picture by Mary Glenn)


Samuel, Mama, Elsie (picture by Mary Glenn)


There was an overwhelming number of activities (and other children!!!!!) throughout the rest of the pumpkin patch. The giant bouncy pumpkin might have been Elsie’s favorite. She was right out there running and jumping (and falling) with all of the big kids.


Aside from the tractors, Samuel’s highlight might have been the corn room. He was so happy to carry kernels to his heart’s content.


We stopped for an apple cider donut at the canteen to eat with our picnic lunch before heading back home. Here are my sugary little munchkins, asking for more.


I finally put a picture of Little Baby 3 up on our fridge.


One amazing perk about living in our house is that our landlords have a lake cabin and always invite us to come out there and play. With a sandbox, tractors, rocks to throw into the lake, a wagon, and various other toys, “lake life” couldn’t get much better for Samuel and Elsie. That is until Papa Gene brought home a new toy. Samuel was smitten!


Speaking of landlords, Samuel made a dog pen for “Archie”—the pet of our beloved Oregon landlords/“grandparents”. The Ronhaar family is often in our thoughts, and I’m so happy Samuel remembers them!

❤️, Molly

Here and Now: Week 41

October 7-13
Here’s what we did in our everyday lives this week:

On Sunday we were able to visit our friends, Mike and Ann, at the farm where they’re living. (Mike is another project engineer on the project.)

Well folks, we prepared for the wrong hurricane!  Florence went around us while Michael came through and left us a little on the wet side. We were only out of power for 24 hours, but Clarksville, the town just down the road from us, was without power for a week. This photo doesn’t depict how hard the rain fell, but it came down in buckets. Two hurricanes for us this summer—not what I expected when we moved to Virginia.

Naps for all

Little Miss finally fits into her cute peacock outfit from Grandpa Dean and Grandma Freda. I’d been waiting for this since I first opened the package over a year ago. It was worth the wait—so cute!

Kids are rough on stuff. Grr.

Visit to the Fair in Chase City

The Microsoft-sponsored petting zoo included a bunny...

...a snake...

...and a camel! There were a few other animals, too. Samuel was most fascinated by the tortoises.
❤️, Molly 

Week 4-0

September 30 - October 6

Washington girl at heart! (Or as people emphasize in this neck of the woods, Washington State...)

Kathryn, Elsie, and Samuel; Sweetest of friends off for a wagon ride at the lake cabin

Countdown is on!

Fifteen miles down the road we have a state park with two playgrounds, a splash pad, and multiple campsites along the reservoir. It’s a great place to go burn some energy when the house feels too small. Now that the temperatures are cooling down a bit, we are hoping to visit quite often. Seeing my babies out on a walk without the stroller (plus figuring out how to hold hands) makes me realize they're getting so big.

Looking peaceful...when they’re napping ;)

Baby Briar, our newest little cousin, spending time with Grandpa and Gigi

Lunch time for some hungry critters

In the big red barn in the great green field...

Fascinated

Why yes, I felt the same exact way. Somedays our little walk to town is starting to feel like a half marathon.

Molly, Tracy, Mackenzie—I love Abu Dhabi reunions.

The Rizzutos! Friends from Abu Dhabi to Washington/Oregon and now to Virginia/North Carolina
❤️, Molly