Summer 2023 Reflections

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This summer was intended to be a “Summer of Fun”.  The girls each wrote lists of what that meant for them.

Emerson:

  • Get Along
  • No forced reading or workbooks
  • Don’t force going out side
  • Going to Watermine
  • Surprise things during the summer
  • “Never have I ever” Show

    Avery:

    • Going out to eat
    • Watermine
    • One-on-One Dates
    • More Play Dates with friends
    • No workbooks-Don’t force us to go outside for extended period of time

    Harper:

    • muse paint bar with family
    • Bowling with family
    • Ice Skating
    • Lots of swimming
    • Family game nights
    • Spending time with grandma and grandpa 

    Family, friends, one-on-one, and surprises were a theme.  It was clear that workbooks and scheduled learning did not consistute fun.   I found it very interesting that nobody included electronics and YouTube on their list!

    I knew no matter how hard I tried to be intentional about making fun a priority, I knew the girls would only remember what we didn’t do.  Tonight we sat down as a family and I reminded them: 

    • June 18 – Alex and Emerson at Hunter Mill Swim Pool
    • Week of June 19 – Monday – Harper and Liza at mall for lunch after soccer camp, Avery has Cuppetts end of season swim party at Dunn Loring Swim Pool with her mini CDC Friends, Tuesday Harper at Liza’s all day after soccer camp, Thursday – Harper and Liza swimming at Papa and Grandmas.
    • June 23 – sleepover at Papa and Grandmas
    • June 23 – Emerson goes to Declan’s pool party – first boy/girl swim party
    • June 24 – Petchenick family barbeque at our house
    • June 25 – night time swim and Ledo’s takeout at Papa and Grandmas
    • Week of June 26 – Culinaria cooking camp – Monday afternoon swim at Papa and Grandmas, Wednesday afternoon swim at Papa and Grandma’s
    • June 27 – Blake and Avery playdate
    • June 28 – impromptu night outside at Bear Branch Tavern
    • June 29 – impromptu takeout from Taco Zocola
    • June 29 – family Pictionary 
    • June 30 – impromptu lunch of choice after camp food not good (A and H – Chipolte, E – smoothie) / Bards Alley browsing and purchase
    • June 30 – Emerson and Addy go to Fairoaks Mall 
    • June 30 – impromptu Luciano’s takeout
    • June 30 – Family Movie Night – Hidden Figures
    • July 1st – Party at the McMillans (Sarah)
    • July 2 – family bike ride to Papa and Grandma’s to swim, bagel lunch
    • July 2 – family early dinner at Red Fox Tavern and ice-cream at cute shop in Middleburg before dropping Emerson off at Camp Highroad
    • July 2 – 6 – Emerson at Camp Highroad with Adrien
    • July 2 – nighttime game of checkers (Avery and mom) and nighttime game of Uno (Mom, Harper, Avery)
    • July 3 – Harper and Lizzie doing Math with ms. Pat, Ms. Pat making Harper a PB and P.
    • July 3 – Avery making delicious chocolate chip toll house cookies with Ms. Pat
    • July 3 – 6 – Harper sewing camp with Callie
    • July 3 – Carne Asada dinner at the Goldman’s
    • July 4 – Swimming in afternoon at Papa and Grandma’s
    • July 4 – Neighborhood party and fireworks in the Mazda
    • July 6 – Sausage Pasta Family night – all 5 of us after Emme comes home from camp
    • July 7 – Harper goes swimming and has solo sleepover at Papa and Grandmas
    • July 7 – impromptu pick up of sandwich shop for lunch for A, E, and dad
    • July 7 – Amaya and Avery play date at our house….production dance
    • July 7 – Impromptu Dinner of 4 (Mom, Dad, Avery, Emerson) at Red’s Tavern and then reading in Pit (talking about sex in their books)
    • July 8 – Emerson and I went to Mosaic to pick out workbooks at Barnes and Noble and impromptu lunch at CAVA.
    • July 8 – Avery, Harper, Mommy have sleepover at Papa and Grandmas because our AC is broken….Harper and Avery have fantastic time in pool playing games and making bead bracelets, buying fabrics at Joannes
    • July 8 – Emerson and Daddy have sleepover at Holiday Inn in Central, MD after softball tournament. 
    • July 9 – Allison Russo and Hannah come over to Papa and Grandma’s for evening of swimming and takeout with me, Avery, and Harper
    • July 9 – Harper sleepover at Papa and Grandmas, ate the best sesame bagel ham and cheese sandwich for lunch
    • July 10 – Mommy, Avery, Harper go for impromptu dinner at CAVA
    • July 11 – Harper and Liza go swimming at Papa and Grandma’s
    • Week of July 10 – Avery and Emerson have Thoreau camp
    • Week of July 10 – Avery’s first week of Intensive Dance Camp with her friends and learning new dances
    • July 12 – Harper and Mommy impromptu Simply Social coffee and mango smoothie after dropping A and E off at Thoreau
    • July 12 – Harper sleep over date at Papa and Grandma’s after Futsal. 
    • July 12 – Daddy, Avery, and Emerson dinner date at Hawk and Griffin after dance class – (did not have best time though due to Avery in a mood).
    • July 12 – Harper and Liza play date at Liza’s house/Hunter Mill Swim Club
    • July 13 – Mom, Harper, and Avery impromptu dinner at Café Sono
    • July 14 – Emerson and Daddy trip to PA for softball tourney for the weekend
    • July 14 – Harper and Pat paint at Muse Paint Bar
    • July 14 – Mom, Avery, and Harper Connect 4 Tournament while jamming to Mama Mia soundtrack
    • July 15 – Avery and Harper have fun sister day making play doh restaurants and painting – pajama wearing and no outside until 5:00 pm.
    • July 15 – Mom, Avery, Harper go to the mall – shopping at Old Navy followed by impromptu dinner at Fish Taco in Mosaic District.
    • July 15 – Emerson makes some good plays in right field and does well at the plate…Daddy and daughter enjoy their one-on-one time together at the hotel.
    • July 16 – Emerson and Daddy go to the Hershey Factory and take a tour in Hershey, PA
    • July 16 – Mommy, Avery, and Harper enjoy swimming at Papa and Grandmas and playing the “Corner Game” in the pool
    • July 16 – Family dinner of salmon (burger for Avery)…first night eating at the table in over a week, combined effort in making, preparing for, and cleaning up dinner
    • July 17 – 21 – Harper b-ball camp, learning new tricks!
    • July 17 – 21 – Avery in her second week of dance camp with her friends
    • July 17 – surprise Starbucks cake-pops for Avery and Emerson
    • July 17 – fun carne asada family dinner with homemade guac and and after dinner b-ball session, family walk, and firecrackers poppers, and a surprise lizard next to Daddy washing dishes in kitchen sink
    • July 18 – Emerson and Grandma time together at the mall shopping, eating gelato and watching “Young Sheldon” at home
    • July 18 – Harper and Liza go swimming at Hunter Mill after basketball practice
    • July 18 – Family dinner at the island….solid single of random food in the house (burritos, ravioli, pork) and just fun talking to each other
    • July 19 – Amaya and Avery play date at our house before dance class.
    • July 19 – Avery, Emerson, Harper play a round of sequence with me as the cheerleader
    • July 20 – Emerson and Papa lunch date after 643, then swimming at Papa and Grandmas for a little while, and an episode of “Young Sheldon”
    • July 20 – Harper and Liza play date after basketball camp at Papa and Grandmas – swimming in the pool
    • July 21 – Avery and Emerson go school shopping with Mom for their own school supplies at Walmart, followed by takeout from CAVA and Pot Bellys
    • July 21 – Harper and Daddy go to the Black Team Soccer Team Pool Party
    • July 22 – Harper has lunch with Ms. Pat and Mr. Bill – chick fila take out!
    • July 22 – Emerson and Harper go to Old Town Alexandria with Papa and Grandma, eating at Chadwicks, and icecream at Kilwins!
    • July 23 – Avery, Emerson, and Harper cook an award-winning dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmigiana, garlic bread, green beans, and brownies.  Grandma and Grandpa come to enjoy!
    • July 24 – Avery, Grandma, and Papa have 2-on-1 date and go shopping for dance/birthday clothes at Cinnamon Tree, buying new ballet shoes and then Bagel Café for lunch
    • July 24 – We finished Number the Stars and had a good discussion…reading each night alternated between lounge area, downstairs, and my bedroom.
    • July 25 – Nashville Trip! Station Inn Concert, Listening Room Concert, good food, Gulch photoshoot, muesuem, shopping for sovieners and trying on hats, swimming and hanging out with ANN friends
    • July 30 – Harper sleepover with Papa and Grandma, swimming
    • July 31- Harper hang out with Grandma and sewing camp
    • July 31 – Alex comes over to hang out with Emerson and Avery
    • Aug 1 and 2 – Harper and Lizzie have fun doing math with Ms. Pat 
    • July 31 – Aug 4 – Harper sewing camp with Blanca
    • Aug 2 – Emerson goes to Bazin’s and has sleepover with Papa and Grandma    
    • Aug 3 – Emerson goes to nail salon, out to breakfast (Sweet Leaf), and lunch (The Virginian) with Grandma
    • Aug 4 – Avery and Emerson’s Birthday – lots of present opening in morning, Emerson/Papa/Grandma go to lunch, Grandma, Mom, Avery, Emerson, Harper go to the Barbie movie
    • Aug 5 -12 – Holden Beach for the week with the Nidays and the Brophys…lots of beach time, pool time, playing pool, BBQ, Pirate Treasure Hunt, ice cream, puzzle time, Girl Scout Cooking Baking Challenge, and hanging out with friends for a week straight!       
    • Aug 12 – Harper’s birthday…morning donuts and cinnamon rolls with Brophy’s and Nidays…singing Happy Birthday, Pollo Peru dinner and dessert at Papa and Grandma’s with Lauren, Gabriel, Noah, and Elias.  10 presents for 10 years old!
    • Aug 13 – Watermine birthday celebration for Maddy girls with friends and family
    • Aug 14 – Day camp at Papa and Grandma’s with Noah and Elias, swimming everyone, Avery and Noah bake cookies, Noah sleeps over 
    • Aug 15 – Spent day with Noah at our house….science experients, riding bikes, making forts, reading books, playing!  
    • Aug 16 – Liza comes over for play date with Harper before practice, Noah and Elias sleepover!
    • Aug 17 – Noah and Elias spend day with us!  We pick up Avery and Emerson at OES from Open House and then order food from Santinis for lunch.  Elias sleeps over again!
    • Aug 18 – Elias spends the morning with us after sleeping over.  The girls and I all go to OES for Harpers open house, meeting Ms. Blissard and all their old teachers.  We all then go to RTCP for a well check up with Dr. Powers who is hilarious and had us all laughing, followed by a 3:15 lunch at Chipolte followed by a quick fun stop in Target!
    • Aug 19 – Harper goes to Zava Zone for Laurel’s birthday party! 
    • Aug 19 – All the cousins and Auntie Lauren and Mommy go to cousin Mollie’s first birthday party and have a fun water balloon fight
    • Aug 19 – Russell, Mary, Papa, and Grandma come to hang out; cousin time while Daddy and Gabriel cook dinner…lots of fun playing baseball, soccer, and cuddling.  All the Bernangos spend the night.
    • Aug 20 – Grandma Adele’s celebration of life; all Petchenicks, Russell and Mary come to celebrate….a bittersweet day. Bernangos spend the night again!    
    • Aug 21 – First day of school….OES bus stop breakfast.
    • Aug 23 – Noah sleeps over.  We have yummy ravioli sausgage dinner.
    • Aug 24 – Noah and Elias sleep over; all the cuddles
    • Aug 25 – Friday afer first week of school…watched Princess Protection and ordered takeout from Bear Branch
    • Aug 26 – Cousin time at Papa and Grandmas, swimming with Noah and Elias, and Lucianos for dinner
    • Aug 27 – Emerson has breakfast at Caboose with Lauren, Gabriel, and the boys
    • Aug 27 – Hanging out with Noah and Elias and Papa and Grandmas for the official send off before the Bernangos flew back to London.  We had a fantastic two weeks with them!

    And yes, they needed to be reminded.  I’m sure they will appreciate this in time.  For now, they mostly remembered the few times I asked them to read for book club or that “is dinner really impromptu, if we eat it every night”.