~ Masons ~

While we've still got little ones who think that, may as well go with it!!!

September was back-to-school month in all its glory and we are SO grateful that both our little ladies have so far been loving every bit! It was a month with lots of firsts and school related activities, book-ended with a sweet weekend visit from Mee-Maw and Grandpa in the beginning of the month and an apple picking adventure at the end.

Maelee talks about having the "best teacher" and has even become best buds with her previous nemesis from Kindergarten who is now in her class. She is reading mystery chapter books with tiny print, writing her own little stories, and is thriving in the classroom setting so we are thrilled to watch her grow! She's having fun with gymnastics and is taking an after school Spanish class and Science class this semester so it is a full schedule but we are appreciating the early school day as it gives more of the afternoon to enjoy!

Lilee took us a little by surprise with how much she has been eating up every minute of her 2-morning/week preschool program. It's been a bit of a strange, bittersweet transition for me, but no tears were actually shed when she walked through the doors. After a sincere, tight hug, she excitedly walked right into her "classroom," and went straight to the toy ducks on the floor to play. Her class is called the "Ducks," after all. :) Her teachers are awesome and take loads of pictures so it has been so confirming seeing how much she just loves her school time! Even though that high-pitched, precious voice of hers hasn't changed much, her vocabulary has really taken off lately so it's been so much just conversing with her. She is a riot! Still loves to ham it up and make people laugh, and still our sweet cuddle bug.

Both girls have energy for days and keep us on our toes!!!

Now that I've written out a quick update on their happenings, time to show you in pictures!

SWEET mommy/daughter fro-yo date after meeting her new FIRST GRADE teacher the Friday before school began.

LOVED seeing Mandy and Holland that night for dinner at my folks' followed by more yummy goodness- gelato down the street!

Another sweet treat of a visit from Mee-Maw & Grandpa at the end of one of their cruise vacations over Labor Day weekend.

Sprinkling the "Ready Confetti" under the pillow before the big day!

It's here!

Annual quick "first day of school video." :)

BIG STUFF.

Happy girl.

Cute pic that Maelee's teacher got.

And loving her back-to-school ice cream celebration at Baskin Robbins with Nana & Pop-Pop and some of her pals from last year's class!

Grade #1!

Then Lilee gets ready with the confetti!!!

Like I said, she is now a "duck." :)

Can't get much cuter...

She was so thrilled to be like big sis and "go to school!"

Some shots her teachers took.

After Lilee's first day, we took a walk down the block to surprise Maelee for lunch!

She was pretty tickled :)

And an ice cream celebration for Lilee's first day with neighbor pals, Kaia & Elaina :)

How sweet it is!

Taking in the Irish Festival in Shirlington Village.

More pics from the teacher of Lilee having a blast!

Grandparent's Day dinner at our place with Nana & Pop-Pop!

Our girls are SO BLESSED to have amazing grandparents!

Neighborhood buds.

The Townhome Crew.

Elaina, Kaia, and Xavi at Maelee's school's "Ice Cream Social" :)

Painting outside on one of the beautiful, warm days!

The last Saturday of September was a full one, and so sweet. It began with a trip to the Dulles International Airport to greet a family from church coming home with their new son from an 11 and 1/2 week stay in Uganda. It was pretty emotional for us as we imagined bringing our own child home from South Africa through that very same spot in however long from now... It was a very special morning.

We headed straight from the airport to an apple orchard about a half hour away from Dulles for our annual apple picking trip. Let's just say... it wasn't our best experience yet... It was a gray day but mainly, the trees were just incredibly picked over. Maybe next year we'll make it somewhere before the end of September! There may have been a few bad attitudes along with many bad apples, but we managed quite a bit of laughs, too, and chalked it up to "now we know for next year!"

Helping some friends color their "Welcome Home" poster before the big arrival.

Time to pick some apples!

We enjoyed most of the apples we got at least! :)

Later in the day (did I mention it was a full day?), Maelee and I went to a nearby park for the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra's "Fall Festival" where we ran into one of her classmates!
We missed out on most of the festivities but the girls loved their impromptu play date and I loved that I somehow captured this awesome shot of our girl in action!

Another happy shot from school.

And with best pal, Chloe, at Chloe's house this time!
Here mama was gracious to watch Lilee for me while we had one of our home study interviews.
These two are too much fun :)

And I'll call it at that for the month of September! Plenty more pics below if you want to see even more. Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Click on the link below for more pics from Sept!
pix.sfly.com/Tw05WEow

And some more adorable ones of Lilee at school!
https://pix.sfly.com/RHD28w