Kindergarten and Gymnastics

Our big girl flashes a pose on her last day of kindergarten at MacArthur Elementary. It is quite amazing how much she has learned in her first year of school. She is reading chapter books, adding single-digit numbers, telling us the three essential things that plants need to live, and writing panel stories that give us insights into her world view.

This last year also revealed Rory's first athletic passion: gymnastics. Although Rory has also enjoyed soccer and ballet and many other outdoors events, nothing else has motivated her to practice her technique every night at home.

Rory's gymnastics interest was fostered by a small gym called DanceSensations, where she recently completed her year-end routine. 

Rory showed us her determination and focus!

Here she takes her bow with the rest of her class. (That's Rory third from the right.)

Tall Ships, Small Ships

For Father's Day, we spent the day in Baltimore's Inner Harbor for a festival of tall ships. 

Rory and Aven got a kick out of watching all the ships and the people. 

They also enjoyed their snacks. 

The highlight of the day is when the kids got to design their own ships fit for sailing, albeit a little smaller than the ones we had toured. 

Here, they launch their vessels. 

Here, Aven gives a shout, "hurray" as her ship sails the length of the pool!

Backyard Camping, Again

As we did last year, Rory and Aven and Daddy opened up camping season with an night in our own backyard.

We had quite a nice setting ... I mean, how many people camp with their own firepit and trampoline?

Ah, their favorite part of camping has arrived. S'mores!

"Ok, my princesses, you may have a second round."

Even Mommy, who is not otherwise a fan of the camping life, emerging from the air conditioned home to roast her own S'mores. 

How cute is this?... Rory reading Aven a book at bedtime.