Recent: Bon Voyage

This is my little life recently and my blog plan for next month!

bon voyage

We will be leaving Charlottesville for the next two weeks and travelling together to Europe for the first time! I have not crossed the ocean since college and Thomas has never been to before! We’re excited (and a little nervous!). Today we head to Hillsboro and drop off the kids with Grammy and Peas, who generically offered to take care of them while Thomas and I were gone. I know they have many fun activities planned!

We are flying to Rome tomorrow, where we spend the day and night, traveling to the coast to ride the Explorer II for a 7-night Mediterranean cruise.

My sister is a travel advisor and spent weeks deciding what to do within the 10-day time frame in Europe. She recommended this cruise line as one of the best (small boats, high-end) and was able to see as many coastal cities as possible. If you want to help you plan your trip, contact her here!

Our ports: Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Trapani (Sicily), Tunis (Tunisia), Carloforte (Sardinia), Day at Sea, Palma (Mallorca), Barcelona.

I plan on Instagram (I’ll follow along here!) my path through my trip and blog posts in each Port City, but until then I’ll be in low power mode on my blog. I have some travel and summer themed posts ready to go while I’m away.

Schooooool is out in the summer!

Officially there are first and seventh graders!! School ended a week ago and the boys had an amazing year. Both boys appear to be much older than the beginning of the year.

Birch is very proud that his artwork will get off the bus

Mazen who practices “boy mathematics”

Paper filled with alias, Lego sets, prices, “income” and timelines to build them!

Birch is learning to ride a bike!

If you’re wondering (because we were) the training wheel is no longer a thing. The trend for balance bikes is to use your feet to move forward and lift them up on the ground. He’s doing it well!

Mazen will be attending a new school in Grade 7 next year, and is pleased at his advanced elementary school. We will miss them while we go!

Family trip to Busch Garden

Summer started with a surprise day trip to Busch Gardens Williamsburg! It was perfect on early summer Monday at a high of 75 degrees! It’s not too crowded and not too hot. We were able to walk most of the big coasters (we like them!) and the kids’ rides didn’t wait too long either.

Thomas and I had been on the Pantheon twice in a row. (Magen was in charge of birches when we went, and that worked really well. We set them up in the arcade!). If you want to taste what it is, check out this front seat YouTube video! It was seriously amazing.

I also rode the Griffon and Magen joined me for Apollo’s tanks and swings. Next time I have to play what I missed.

For food, I had a brisket salad from the smokehouse at lunchtime, but it wasn’t too bad and had half of the French fries from Birch. And for dinner we stopped by torchie tacos in Richmond. Yam!

Cumbre Soft Opening

Our gym friend Juan Pablo and his business partners are in the process of opening a second Cumbre location in the dairy market. We were given a sneaky taste about what is literally – literally – as an official taste tester so they could test the system. Be sure to check it out when it opens in a few weeks!

Tip: Don’t get too close to the curb

I popped a new tire with this sharp point. Hmm!

Rivanna Roots Concert

These outdoor concerts are at this time of the year before they get steamy! Burch took one of his friends, and Thomas and I also met some of us there. The perfect night!

We are discussing getting a Scorpio sign mini tattoo on your ankles! It’s probably a little thin, but definitely small. I? ! Temporary tattoos to test!

Friday after 5 people

I also love Friday, an outdoor concert in Downtown Pavilion all summer. I shared Orzo Salad and Solo Cups. Of course Rummikub! I’ll go wherever I go. I put an air tag on Birch and let him play!

Chaps ice cream for everything!

Shrek: Musical

I took the boy to watch Shrek’s musical in middle school. I loved it! I love the show no matter what age 🙂

Camping trip

Thomas camped them! I don’t want to sleep in the tent again so I’m happy they let them go without me while I’m on the beach. They loved it and Burch did something amazing!