Count the Ways...: June 2010

Holy Hydrangea!

Now I just couldn't resist taking the opportunity to brag about the G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S Hydrangea bush that I have outside in the garden around our front porch that has so beautifully produced these lovelies! I know you're jealous! I know this post will drive my mother CRAZY because she too has some rather large and beautiful hydrangea bushes in her garden, however, the blooms are but a lovely PINK, not BLUE like mine! I have been able to cut off these blooms for the last couple of weekends and display them in our home - I'm in love!

90 Degree North Carolina Weather = Pool Time!

Lately, it has been hotter than a beast down here! I would love love love to put in an in-ground pool, but that shall only be a dream for now - maybe someday! (sigh)
So for now, we bought Emma an inflatable pool that actually isn't half bad! At least it's big enough to fit all three of us - we call it the Griswold Pool, aka "family pool." After a long day of slaving in the yard (i.e. weeding the garden, mowing, weed-eating, planting flowers, etc.) and Emma having a 2.5 hour nap, we decided to cool-off. This was a first for Miss Emma and she had a ball - I think this will be a regular occurrence on weekends from here on out! As you look at these fun pictures, I think it's also important to notice how the Rolland household yard is beginning to get grass - YAY us! This really has been the best year we've had with our lawn and have managed to do so much with our gardens this year finally after living here for almost 3 years!

Memorial Day Weekend with the Grimords

I know I'm a little late in getting this post up, but better late than never right! Memorial Day was a blast. Emma and I got some quality mother/daughter time together over that weekend. We went home to VA and stayed with my parents while Allen ventured off to Ohio and Indianapolis for the INDY 500 to spend some quality time with his mom and sister. Even though we missed him, Nana and Grandpa Grimord kept us pretty busy in good ole Springfield. Amazingly enough, the city was pretty quiet that weekend, everyone seems to leave the DC area for Memorial Day, so unlike it's horribly crowded and miserable self, the Northern VA area was not a bad spot to visit.

I was fortunate to witness my dear friend, Theresa get married that Friday to the love of her life, Jason- it was a beautiful wedding, she was absolutely gorgeous and I was so happy to attend and share her special day.

The rest of the weekend we visited a petting zoo in Reston, which was fantastic for Emma, she loved seeing and getting up close and personal with the animals - as you'll see from the pictures it's extremely interactive. My brother (Uncle Tom) came up from Norfolk to visit in between his trips out to sea- it was great to see and spend some time with him. We took a quick trip to DC to visit the Iwo Jima Memorial and pay our respects, I had not been there since I was a child. We then made our way back into Fairfax County to have a picnic lunch at Burke Lake Park and took Emma on the train and carousel. As I said, it was a busy weekend!