Here’s a bit of life lately and my blog plans for the next month!
Bon Voyage
We are departing Charlottesville for the next two weeks for our first trip to Europe together! I haven’t been across the ocean since college, and Thomas has never been! We are excited (and a little nervous!). Today, we’re heading to Hillsborough to drop the kids off with Grammie and Pea, who have generously offered to care for them while Thomas and I are gone. I know they have a lot of fun activities planned!
We are flying to Rome tomorrow, spending a day and night there and then traveling to the coast to board the Explora II for a 7-night Mediterranean cruise.
My sister is a travel advisor and we spent WEEKS deciding what to do within a ten-day time frame in Europe, and she recommended this cruise line as one of the best (smaller ship, high end) so we could see as many coastal cities as possible. If you’d like her to help you plan a trip, contact her here!
Our ports: Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Trapani (Sicily), Tunis (Tunisia), Carloforte (Sardinia), day at sea, Palma (Mallorca), Barcelona.
I do plan to Instagram my way through the trip (follow along here!) and do a blog post at each port city, but until then I’ll be going into low power mode on the blog. I have some travel and summer themed posts ready to go while I’m away.
Related: Summer Travel Clothes
Schooooool’s out for the summer!
We officially have a first grader and a seventh grader!! School ended a week ago, and the boys had great years. Both boys seem so much older than they did at the start of the year.
Birch so proud of his artwork getting off the bus <3
Mazen doing “boy math”
aka a paper full of Lego sets, prices, and “income” plus a timeline to build them!
Birch is learning to ride a bike!
In case you are wondering (because we were), training wheels are no longer a thing. Balance bikes, where you use your feet on the ground to propel forward and lift them up, are the trend. He’s getting it well!
Mazen goes to a new school next year at 7th grade and is glad to be done with his upper elementary. We are going to miss them while we’re gone!
Family Trip To Busch Gardens
We kicked off summer with a surprise day trip to Busch Gardens Williamsburg! On an early summer Monday with a high of 75 degrees, it was PERFECT! Not too crowded, not too hot. We were able to walk onto most of the big coasters (those of us who like them!) and the kid rides didn’t have much wait either.
Thomas and I rode Pantheon twice in a row which was the CRAZIEST / BEST coaster I’ve ever done!! (Mazen was in charge of Birch while we went, and that worked out really well. We set them up in the arcade!). If you want to get a taste for what it’s like, check out this front seat YouTube video! It was seriously so great.
I also rode the Griffon and Mazen joined me for Apollo’s Chariot and the swings. I’ll have to hit up the ones I missed next time.
For food, I had a brisket salad from the Smokehouse at lunch, which wasn’t too bad, and half of Birch’s french fries. And for dinner we stopped at Torchy’s Tacos in Richmond. Yum!
Cumbre Soft Opening
Our gym friend, Juan Pablo, and his business partner are in the process of opening a second Cumbre location at Dairy Market. We were given a sneak taste of what’s to come – literally – as official taste testers so they could test their systems. Be sure to check it out when it opens in a few weeks!
Tip: Don’t park too close to the curb
I popped my brand new tire on this sharp point. UGH!
Rivanna Roots Concert
These outdoor concerts are so great this time of year before it gets too steamy! Birch took one of his friends, and Thomas and I met some of ours there, too. Perfect evening!
I’m debating getting a Scorpio sign mini tattoo on my ankle! Maybe a little thinner, but definitely small. Should I?! Temporary tattoo to test it out!
Fridays After Five
We also love Fridays, the outdoor concerts at the downtown pavilion all summer. I brought orzo salad and solo cups to share. And Rummikub of course! It goes wherever I go. I put an Airtag on Birch and let him frolic!
Chaps ice cream for all!
Shrek: The Musical
I took the boys to see Shrek the Musical at the middle school. Loved it! I love any show no matter the ages : )
Camping Trip
And Thomas took them camping! I have zero desire to sleep in a tent ever again, so I’m happy to have them go without me while I was at the beach. They loved it, and Birch did great!
Summer Fun
Water Balloons on the Trampoline
Lego Mania
Science Experiments
Trivia At Random Row
A Sunday afternoon favorite whenever we can go!
We have the same sense of humor….and the same outfits.
Family Taco Night
His
Hers
Theirs
Kath Eats More Food
Wild Planet Pasta Salad, Jazzed Up
Big Salad with Egg!
Linguini with Clams + Breadcrumbs
Blue Apron Salmon Two Ways
Three Notch’d Sliders
Kelly Haag says
I’ve been reading your blog since well before you had Mazen, so it’s so fun to see how things have evolved in your life (thank you for sharing it with us)! Mazen has changed in looks so much, and I laughed at Birch’s funny faces. I have a 7 and 12 year old–amazing how universal some of parenting/kid-dom is (the lego budget/income is relatable). Finally, Rummikub–the best! Have a fun cruise!
Kath Younger says
Hahaha they must all learn the faces from one another at school! Thank you for continuing to read along!
Leah says
Mazen’s an awesome big brother, isn’t he? I remember when he was born, and it’s been so fun watching your kids grow up!
Watched the POV of that coaster, omg I was NOT PREPARED for the reversal!
Looking forward to hearing about the cruise; have fun!
Kath Younger says
Thank you for following along all these years! Hard to believe. He is a wonderful big brother, most of the time 😉 And the reversal is SO scary in real time – makes you think the ride is malfunctioning and going off the other track!!