Road Trip: Virginia (spray park + Jones Point)

We checked out the new playground at Lee District and then played at the spray park. The kids had a blast. We picked up dinner at BGR and then met more friends at Jones Point. It was great to catch up with friends and watch the kids play until the sun went down.

Bath time at our final night in a hotel.

Jones Point Park

We met some friends at Jones Point on a beautiful fall morning. We explored the lighthouse first and then hit the playground. Jones Point is such a fun and unique space. Another favorite spot we will definitely miss.

Jones Point Park in the rain.

We had planned a dinner picnic at Jones Point Park with our friends the Littles. And then it rained! Luckily, Jones Point Park is the perfect place to be on a rainy day. The kids brought their bikes and scooters and we hung out under the bridge. Eventually they made their way to the wet playgrounds and had a blast. We were all enjoying ourselves so much that we stayed until it got dark and eventually made it home, soaking wet. Too bad Jones Point is closed right now because of the government shutdown. It's looking like a rainy week.

Five Guys!

Elsa rides!

Elsa had been riding around our backyard and our sidewalks on and off for a few months with the pedals off her bike. (After seeing how quickly Amelia learned to ride using the balance method, we definitely wanted to do the same with Elsa.) We don't have a balance bike so we just take the pedals off the bike.

We took the bikes to Jones Point Park (best place to learn to ride) a few weeks ago and decided to let Elsa try riding with her pedals back on. Ben tried holding onto the back of her bike while she attempted to ride and she was really wobbly and it just wasn't working. After a few attempts he took a break and we were discussing that she might not be ready yet. Then I looked over and saw her riding on her own! She had even started on her own which is the hard part. When Ben was helping her, she was using him as a crutch and not balancing. But she was not about to give up and just went for it on her own. It's so fun to witness this childhood rite of passage.

I love this look on Elsa's face when she realized she just rode a bike on her own! (Also, we weren't very prepared with appropriate footwear. But at least we remembered a helmet this time.)

Oliver got stuck with the pink tricycle.

We walked over to the lighthouse as the sun went down and watched airplanes approach and saw lots of bats and fireflies. Another beautiful summer evening.

day of parks.

We have been enjoying a mild summer with some of the most beautiful, humid-free days. On one of those days a few weeks ago (I have a ridiculous amount of catching up to do on this blog) we headed to a park first thing in the morning and ended up at another park right before bed. And met a friend at a different park in the middle of the day.

We started at Jones Point Park. Elsa even wanted her jacket because of the cool morning air! I took the kids to explore the lighthouse and the rocks while Ben did a run across the Wilson Bridge. Then he played with the kids on the playground while I walked across the bridge. Perfect.

Amelia with her new glasses!

I love this big tree by the bridge.

We ended the day with a walk to our school playground. There are three different playgrounds there and the kids had to hit all three. There is also a little stream that goes behind the playground and Oliver soaked himself as usual.

 

The next day the girls set up dueling ice cream shops in the backyard. The shovel acted as a divider between the two shops. Elsa's was called "Sweet Sweet Chocolate Shop" and Amelia's was called "Sweet Treat Delights." I made sure to order from both.