1st grade

September 3, 2013 was Sydney's first day of school as a 1st grader.  I am so excited to see her grow this year.  She gets to add all kinds of new activities as a 1st grader, She has PE three days a week, Art one day a week, computer lab one day a week, library one day a week and she can even eat lunch at school.  She is really growing up.


Here is a photo of Sydney on the first day of school.

Six Flags America

Sunday September 8, 2013 was SRA's family day at Six Flags America in Mitchellville, MD.  I still can't believe they closed down the whole park and provided lunch for everyone that worked for SRA.  I have to say it was really fun and I really enjoyed seeing the girls ride the rides in the children's area.  I find it really funny that Heather needed someone to ride the rides with her and Sydney was tall enough to count and we were to tall, but they seemed like they had fun.

Summer Adventures

School ended on June 6 and summer began,  our summer has been packed with fun activities with family visits to a animal park and time away with family in WV and TX.  We even made it to our community pool.  We hope to go to the beach in TX since Sydney has been dieing to go to the beach all summer.  We also spent time with our Grandparents and the girls great grandparents for my grandma's 86 birthday and Paul's papa for his 90th birthday.  Wow what milestones those are.  One would hope to be able to make it to that age. 

Places to visit in Leesburg, VA

Historic sites

The Leesburg area contains 21 entries on the National Register of Historic Places, including:

• Dodona Manor, the restored, early 19th century home of George C. Marshall, a general and diplomat who received the Nobel Peace Prize and owned the home from 1941 until his death in 1959.^[13]
• Morven Park, the estate of Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis; and
• Oatlands Plantation, a National Historic Landmark.
• White's Ferry, the only ferry across the Potomac River, has its Virginia terminus just outside the town. It is a cable-guided car and passenger ferry. A ferry has plied the river from this site since 1828.
• Exeter Plantation.^[14]

At least 63 historic markers are located in and near Leesburg.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leesburg,_Virginia

Stats

Interesting Facts about Leesburg, Virginia

As of 2012, Leesburg's population is 42,616 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 65.72 percent.
-------------------- The median home cost in Leesburg is $406,800. Home appreciation the last year has been 0.73 percent.
-------------------- Compared to the rest of the country, Leesburg's cost of living is 50.10% Higher than the U.S. average.
-------------------- Leesburg public schools spend $7,328 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $5,691. There are about 13 students per teacher in Leesburg.
-------------------- The unemployment rate in Leesburg is 3.90 percent(U.S. avg. is 8.60%). Recent job growth is Positive. Leesburg jobs have Increased by 2.26

http://www.bestplaces.net/city/va/leesburg

Busy 2 year old

Heather is doing quiet well for a 2 year old she is busy, busy, busy.  I believe she has a inner monkey in her.  I find her busier then Sydney was at that age if that is even possible.  I have to say it is a hard age, but I love this age at the same time.  You get to always be on your toes.  It is never a dual moment at our house.  She is saying more words and loves the out doors.  I heard her today count to 12 not sure she knows what she is saying, but she did it at the grocery store.  I hope we can find her a little school where she can be with kids her own age.  Not saying playing with Sydney isn't a good thing I just find she is growing faster since she has a older sibling. 

Kindergarten

Well, I can't believe I am writing a blog in June already, but time is flying and I will no longer have a Kindergartener.  Sydney has grown so much these last few months and coming from a life aboard to having to adjust to a new school in the middle of the year to some might be small, but to others it is really hard.  I have watched my daughter cry about not wanting to move and I worried what we had done to growing and loving her new school.

I hope she holds on to her memories of our time in Abu Dhabi and take with her it doesn't matter what you look like or your religious views that everyone has a way of life and to treat others the way you want to be treated.  I will never forget seeing our girls play with other kids and then though they didn't speak the same language they know what they wanted and would play together and it didn't matter where they were from.  I think adults could learn from children that color, race or religion doesn't matter that friendship is the most important thing. 

I have to say I find it fitting that Sydney's best friend is of Asian dissent.  I thought to myself out of everyone in the class she picked someone different and I hope being aboard has given her the knowledge to over look peoples appearances and to look inside someones heart first.  Come to find out the little girl is the smartest girl in the class.  Way to go Sydney for picking someone to look up too.

I have to say I am one proud Mom and looking forward to seeing her grow as a 1st grader.

The girls birthdays

I thought I would write one blog about the girls birthdays since they are one month apart.  It is hard to believe that Heather turned 2 years old in January and we took her to The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum where you can milk a cow, pick eggs, play in the store and kitchen.  It was all pretend, but I think the girls had a wonderful time.  After naps we all went to Chucky Cheese for some pizza and games.  All and all I think it was a great birthday.


Sydeny's birthday was in February and my parents came up to celebrate her 6th birthday.  Yes that's right my baby is 6.  She wanted to go to Build A Bear this year so she made a Valentine's dog named Scarlet for her birthday.  She really enjoyed making her and being able to watch them add the stuffing and wash her just like a real animal.  We added all kinds of accessories for the dog.  I didn't know they had so much stuff for the animals there.   I think this was one of Sydney's favorite birthday's to date.


 

Our last Christmas in Abu Dhabi

It is funny I am writing about Christmas in February, but with our move and trying to find a house it seems I haven't had a lot of time for blogging.  Our last Christmas in Abu Dhabi was one to remember from opening gifts to having the movers come and pack our stuff on Christmas day seemed like a fairy tale.  We woke up and we all opened gifts and we finished just to have a knock at the door to start packing.  After an hour in the power went off since we needed to get a security deposit back we needed two days to do it so it had to happen during packing.  Water included.  I never thought I would add water down the back of the toilet to be able to use the toilet.  I can't remember what we had for lunch, but we had our Christmas dinner across the street since our good friends were going to be in Dubai she said we could use there house and we sure did.  We had turkey and all the trimmings.  I have to say with all the craziness I truly believe this was one of my favorite Christmas's ever.  I am looking forward to having Christmas in our new home and have family over to celebrate.