B's Journey: A look back at summer

Summer 2017 was wonderful indeed. First, back to June, here are are 2 more from our NYC trip:

Last day of school, with a flower for Mrs. L.:

Bea had an end-of-the year party and her classmates did a play about a summer camp mystery. It was lots of fun and these campfire cupcakes were a big hit!

Jonathan & Cecelia came our for 4th of July weekend, and good old Sula had to be a patient playmate:

The new bridge on the River Trail was dedicated:

We never did pick blueberries this year, but did get to the strawberry fields twice:

Anthony's cousin Joey from FL stopped by on his way home from Maine!

Bea and I head to Vietnam Culture camp, and it was as awesome as two years ago!

Six monks came to camp this year from Blue Cliff Monastery, and they were a perfect addition!

Bac Ninh Beauties!

When we weren't out of town or too busy, we went to lunch at the library. This was a highlight of summer for her once again. The free, yummy food, the fact that it's a "picnic," the games afterward, and the fact that we got to the library after makes it a perfect activity for her!

Off to Maryland, where we spent time both in OC and DC. Miles and family were at the beach and these two had a blast together:

It wasn't a very hot summer overall, except for a couple days in OC, particularly this one:

We mini-golfed twice, and Bea continued her streak of hole-in-ones. The second time we were cut short by a thunder storm and had to race home in the lightning and rain!

Back in DC, we spent an evening with the Dirksens,

and a lovely afternoon at the Franciscan monastery. Just a beautiful sight and beautiful day:

Last stop was dinner in Annapolis on the water:

Back home, we caught up with Samm a couple times and the girls went to the lake to swim, collect rocks, and "fish."

This also was the summer Bea learned to scooter very well. After seeing the daredevils fly down the hills at VN camp, and getting a few lessons from Miles at OC, she finally got the hang of it back at home on the River Walk:

Sula really slowed down this summer, but she remains our faithful companion and Bea's playmate:

My brother Dan invited us to Maine for a couple days and we enjoyed Old Orchard Beach and the surrounding area, the site of our wedding and annual brodeur family vacations throughout my childhood. It was so very gorgeous and brought back many memories:

Bea perfected her bubble-blowing skills this summer!

Beatrice shocked us, and probably herself as well, by accepting the offer to stay two more nights. Anthony and I headed home and she had a wild 48-hours without us with her cousins! So proud of her decision-making process and willingness to take this risk!

She went to a water park and flew down slides that she'd have never attempted before. The trip was fated to be awesome because this was the address she stayed at:

Mid-August sunflowers (and tan):

Bea and Rowan were the only two girls in the class without pierced ears and we recently heard Rowan had done it. Bea started talking about "maybe" wanting to do hers. I used the example of how brave she was staying without us as proof that I thought she was ready, and she went for it. A Saturday trip to Claire's got it done. Unfortunately, they pierced them with a different pair than she picked, but Bea handled it well and it ended up with a free bracelet and a steep discount!

No tears!

With David & Annalena in town, we spent an afternoon at J.J's. The girls flew their scooters around and down the driveway:

Once PD started for me and Anthony, Bea got some time with Nathan and a day with J.J. Here she is sampling dragonfruit for the first time: (not a fan, by the way)

and, since it took me so long to get to this post, I'll include pics from days #1 and #2 of FOURTH GRADE. I didn't get to it day one, so I asked another parent to snap the first, but day two I was little more organized!

Here's her friend "Little Sam," a first grader at SJS, whose mom is from the Philippines, and who we had a couple playdates with this summer. Bea spent time at her house after school the other day.