Maryland Renaissance Festival

This festival is during Sept and Oct. The atmosphere and surroundings make it feel like you stepped into a fantasy world.

So many different characters were there. People came dressed up in "Renaissance" clothing. Some people even had tails, we even saw someone dressed like Tumnus, including horns on his head.

They even had some jousting.

Turkey legs, yum!

The day started out with an art show in Alexandria. Kimberly, Miriam, Alexis, and me also went to La Madeleine for lunch, for the best tomato soup ever! What a fun day we had!

Quinceañera

Alexis and Valerie went to their first Quinceanera for a friend of Alexis'. It's a celebration of a girl's 15th birthday. This birthday is celebrated very differently from other birthdays as it marks the transition from girl to woman, and indicates that the girl has reached a higher level of maturity. They had delicious food, beans and rice, cake and dancing. Although, everyone was speaking in Spanish, along with the music being in Spanish, too. What a fun experience to have!

Alexis' 14th Birthday Party

We had, of course, another swim party to celebrate Alexis' birthday. From left to right Mckayala, Maggie, Valerie, Alexis, Maria, and Sadie in the pool.

Pizza, treats, brownies with peanut butter chips and peanut butter ganache and the movie the Ringer. What a fun birthday Alexis had!

1st Day of High School

I still can't believe Alexis is in High School already. She had a really great first day. Her first class was Drama.

Touring DC with McKenna

Iwo Jima Memorial.

Then to Alexandria for some ice cream. We're so excited!

Old Post Office Museum, Nat'l Archives, the White House, three smithsonians, Iwo Jima, Old Town Alexandria...complete and total exhaustion. We both hope McKenna enjoyed her first trip to Washington, DC! Alexis has been friends with Mckenna since she was three years old and we're so glad she came for a visit!