Garden...growing and growing...

Katy and her growing corn......

The gnome is now tiny, tiny compared to the plants

Weekend in Virginia Beach area

As promised here are some photos from the kids when we were at Busch Gardens and Virginia Marine Aquarium. The kids had a ball. Katy even tried out a roller coaster and Adam and Gabe went on everyone of them. :)

Watching the fishes.....

Katy as a starfish........

Gabriel interesting pose ....

Katy and Gabe try to catch some water ....

Adam and Gabe "petting" starfish....

Winery at LaGrange finally opening !!

Just learned that Chris Pearmund's new endevor The Winery at LaGrange is opening Labor Day Weekend. Mike and I can't wait to see what they have done with the place.

" Very rich in history and soon to be very rich in wine, the new Winery at La Grange will open as Prince William County's only established winery. The red brick three and a half story La Grange manor house built in the 1790's has survived numerous owners and finally has come to rest with an unique group of investors brought together by Chris Pearmund. While the 5,500 newly planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines grow silently, preparations continue in the manor house refurbishment and completion of the new Winery building.

The Winery at La Grange's initial 2,500 cases of wine include: Vidal Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Meritage, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Norton, Claret, Pinot Grigio, a Brut Reserve sparkling, and a Petit Verdot styled Port."

It is the quickest any winery has ever opened in North America. BTW...this is the baby brother of Pearmund Cellars. One of our favorite Virginia wineries.

We got a sneak taste of some of the wines back in March and they were already fantastic. I am very excitied about the wine they call Snort 2005. On basic terms it is a port style wine. The very small taste we had was fantasic and that was 6 months ago.

I am also very thrilled that Chris is doing a 2003 Brut Reserve - Sparkling Wine. If it is as good as some of the sparkling wines that Oasis (and why do I have the feeling it will be better) I am sure it will knocks your socks off.

Plus I can't wait to see what they have done with the place. It was falling down to the ground when they bought it. We did a quick drive by a few weeks ago and it was looking great.

So, what a great way to kick off September. I am sure it will be a great fall this year. I have a good feeling about this school year and life in general. :)

St. Joesph to the rescue......

Ok....Mike is going to put his condo on the market in the next week or two. I have built a website, design the brochures, read up on every free classified site out there and have become an expert in selling the houses.

But...one thing was missing...

This guy....St. Joesph. He is the house selling saint. Seriously. OK..it may sound silly but when you are raised Catholic it makes sense. :)

So, I bought the saint and as soon as we are ready to put it on the market we bury him face down in the dirt near the house (or in Mike's case -- the plant on the back porch since it is a condo)...say your prayer everyday for x amount of days and St. Joseph helps you sell it quickly without being ripped off.

St. Joe's Website

I'll post a link to the condo once we officially put it on the market.

Summer Camp

Katy and Gabe are loving YMCA Summer Camp.

Gabriel is doing "Survive It" Camp. They spend the days hiking, learn how to canoe, going through streams and creeks and getting as dirty as one little boy can possible be. He LOVES it. It was the perfect thing to help him settle back in to life in Virginia. :)

Katy is in Explorers Camp. She likes it too. She goes hiking, doing crafts, archery and
lots of swimming at the Water Mine. (A cool water park near the camp)

We are leaving tomorrow for a quick weekend trip to Virginia Beach. And a quick dinner with Mike's parents -- yum! Mike mom is a wonderful cook. :)

Next week is the last week before school gets back in....I can't believe summer is over. It went very, very quick.

Ok..I promise to post more kid photos when we get back.

:)

My wonderful children are back today :)

My Katybug and Gaby are back this evening. They arrive back at 8pm at Dulles Airport. I cannot wait to see them.

I have been spending the past week or so fixing up their rooms. I did Gabe's in a Space theme and did Katy's with butterflies, ladbugs and dragonflies.

They are going to be so exciting to see the garden. I made sure to have fresh battieres in the flashlights so they can look when we get home tonight.

I am sorry I have not blogged since Mike and I got back. I did when 1st place in a bar tournament right after we got back. :) And one of my closest friends (Shirl)came into town last weekend to celebrate her birthday. We spent all day on Saturday driving around the Blue Ridge Mountains go from winerey to winery. I'll post some photos soon of us.