So-long, Sweet Summer

We knew it was going to happen. At some point, I was going to have to return to work. But, until that day came, we tried to pack as much into our last weeks of Suz-Summer as possible. And, as I've survived the first week and a half back, I'm happy to report that you can still have family fun as a working girl...the weekends are just even more precious.

Lazy Summer Saturday Snuggles

For our last week of summer, Allie and I continued our circuit of petting all possible farm and zoo animals in the Northern Virginia Area. This time we checked out the Reston Zoo to find new furry friends.

Little Llama Llama enjoying a snacky-snacky.

It takes more than a little chicken wire to keep her from making new buddies. 

Don't worry, Abs. You're still my favorite.

We even snuck in a visit from Aunt Erin and cousin Aiden. Allie was in heaven and Aiden begrudgingly found himself with a new toddler shadow.

Thiiiis about sums it up.

 The Loudoun County Fair came just in time for the end of summer. We put on our rain -gear and headed out for more close-encounters with the farmworld.

I'm a Renaissance Princess...John Deeres and purple nail polish work just fine.

Hmmm, I was promised bigger puddles.

We've decided only to let her around horses twice a year in case in a moment of cuteness she asks her Daddy for a pony.

Blue Ribbon Pig Impression

 We enjoyed time with the Buehlers before Sarah became an official big sister - welcome, Hannah!

Allie showing Sarah the finer points of driveway-pool-parties...

Eat your heart out, boys!

 Speaking of eating, we did that too...and cooking...and apparently Mommy's new running headband from Daddy doubles as a cook's hairband.

Inaugural meatloaf batch for her new ballerina apron, courtesy of Grandmom-I-can-so-sew-that-Wintrode. 

After the meatloaf, we got to work on some sweet treats for our annual Wintrode reunion.

The second-cousins have decided to continue to grow like weeds, check out below for photographic-evidence...

2011

2012

2013!
As MaryEllen put it, the kids and the personalities just keep getting bigger :o).

 And another blast from the past...

2012: Alice, Allie and Lukas...ready for action.

2013: The 2's Crews...

Too cool for school (which is good since they're all Pre-K anyway).

The A-Team, cousin-style.

Rockin' with her cousin Tim.

Why yes, I fit right in with the big girls (thanks Emily and Kierstin!).

Allie and her canine counterpart (also Allie :o). This good-looking pup was named while our Allie was still in my belly).

The whole crew - (Minus Christopher, he had the unpleasant task of a company-wide computer-upgrade to manage that weekend for Ernst and Young).

Unfortunately, Allie soldiered through the day without a nap, only to take a 2.5 hour-whopper on the drive home from 4-6:30pm...so there was energy to be spared that night. Like energy for this, for example...

Too much quiet...I walk in to find this. The explanation? "I'm healing my legs." 

Doc McAllie shouting, 'I HAVE a diagnosis!'

We're hoping she takes care of us in our old age. Doctor away, my friend.

And, speaking of friends...

While Allie's grandparents were in town, the two sets of grandparents decided to take-on the cousin-team and head to the National Zoo. And yes...it absolutely took four adults to corral these three. Mainly, because of these two...

Alright, who let them out of their cages?

Grandmom and her groupies (and bicep muscles after that day).

Smiles for miles.

Grandpop. Relax. It's just a statue (I know, I tried to tickle him and got NOTHING).

These guys actually thought they might get to read about some animals...maybe on another trip.

In true Suz fashion, I took a stab at cutting Allie's hair in somewhat of a 'style.' The style was only supposed to be about an inch shorter than before, but with layers. A botched attempt at hair-cut timing with a very squirmy no-nap toddler, meant that Allie now has an 'off the shoulder' do. Fortunately, the length is definitely growing on us (and her :o). Only problem is that she looks about 4 years old...SO not OK with her parents.

Why yes, that is a strategically placed and sized big pink bow.

And, what better way to streeeetch out summer than with crabs and good friends. The three of us headed out for crab-picking with Kim-marie and Ebi (the man that is brave enough...OK, fine, and lucky enough :o) to have snagged her as a fiance. How excited are we that he's joining the team?!

SOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!

And yes, that is chocolate all over her face.