The End of Summertime

Summertime is officially over now that the school year has started.  We had several fun weekends with the Jester family in August, and Emma got to spend three final weeks with my parents before she began preschool at StoneBridge. They've been watching her three days a week during the summer months, which we've all enjoyed.  Now she'll attend preschool three days a week while I'm working, and her first day of school (this past Thursday) went really well.

Work on the kitchen at our new house has been slow, especially since we've been out of town some weekends.  But it's coming along, and we're thankful that we don't have to complete it very quickly, since we're living with my parents until it's done. My parents have been amazing, and have done work on the house even on days when we haven't been able to. We appreciate them so much!

Here are some photos of our fun times this month.

Emma and I met Dan's sister, Robin, and her daughters at the mall one day to play and eat lunch. Emma loves playing with her cousins, Miriam (left) and Naomi (right)!

The mall has an awesome play area beside the food court.

We visited Gordonsville, VA with Dan's parents and his brother, Tim's, family one weekend.  We stayed in log cabins at a "luxury campground" and had a blast!

We spent our first evening enjoying a late-night swim.

The kids loved the splash pad, too.

There were a couple of fun playgrounds

And a miniature golf course. Josiah and Emma enjoyed hitting the balls at everything except the holes.

Dad Jester and Tim, discussing their putting strategy, I'm sure.

Benjamin and Nathan gave each other some competition

 

Mom Jester and Benjamin entered a fishing competition at the resort, and everyone went along to enjoy the lake and some more casual fishing

Dan, Emma and I took a jaunt on a paddle boat since we didn't have fishing poles.

Emma enjoyed it for about 10 minutes, and Dan was ready to be finished in 5.  It's not exactly the most comfortable ride. :)

Nathan and Dawn enjoyed a much longer ride than we did

Emma and Josiah got fishing lessons from Grandpa

 Emma loved watching her cousins fish.

And this morning, Dan's brother, Tim, sister-in-law, Dawn, and their boys, Benjamin, Nathan, and Aaron ran a 5k obstacle course in Virginia Beach. We went to watch them race and cheer them on.

The Jester family runners just before the race. 

Dawn and Aaron running past us after completing their first obstacle

Emma and Josiah enjoyed playing in the bounce house while the others were running.

We saw the group at mile 2 and cheered them on!

Josiah conquered his own obstacle on the sidelines 

 

Everyone was happy to be finished and sporting their medals at the end of the race

Dan's school, StoneBridge, started on August 25th.  Emma, Dan, and I attended a new student/parent orientation earlier that week, where she got to spend an hour in her preschool classroom.  She was too young to attend StoneBridge last year, and went to a preschool near our home instead.  She never really loved it there and would cry 95% of the time when I dropped her off.  It was a relief to all of us when my parents offered to watch her during the summer months.  After having a few months off, she seems happy about going back to school, and Dan thinks very highly of the lower school program at StoneBridge.

The prettiest girl at new student orientation.

 Jumping to class on her first official day of preschool!

We are very excited about this new school year for Emma.  She is excited about going to "Daddy's school," and we pray she loves her time there and grows in her knowledge and love for Jesus.