backyard stage!

Our most recent project was building a stage in the backyard. I always thought it would be fun to have our own little theater in the woods. I was inspired by the fun fairy woods and stage at the Annmarie Garden in Maryland, one of our favorite spots to visit before we moved. The kids have always loved putting on plays for us so this seemed like a fun project. Ben built the stage, with a little "help" from the kids, over the course of several Saturdays. Then he helped me hang a huge chandelier that I constructed out of a giant embroidery hoop and yards and yards of tulle. And it still hasn't fallen apart after several weeks and multiple storms! We still have a few more finishing touches to make to the stage and we also need to stain it. And of course Ben has grand plans to build a treehouse off one side.

The kids had fun performing "The Little Red Hen" as the inaugural production for the new theater in the woods. And they immediately filled the stage with all their "stuff."

 

A Midsummer Night's Dream

I took the girls to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Raleigh Rose Garden one evening. It was the most beautiful, perfect setting for the play. It's such a fun play and this was a fantastic production and exciting to be so close to the actors. The girls loved that it involved fairies and that there were some kids in the play. I was surprised how well they followed the story line. We brought a picnic dinner and ate and wandered around the roses while we waited for the play to start. It smelled so good. I loved watching the sun set and the fireflies come out. After the play we stopped by Insomnia Cookies for one of their awesome s'more cookies.

Dinosaurs at the zoo

I had tickets to see the Dinosaur exhibit at the zoo so I took the boys one day while the girls were still in school. Oliver loved all of the dinosaurs. Simon was terrified at first but eventually warmed up to them.

Life with Oliver and Simon

Love my daily adventures with Oliver and Simon. We pulled out Oliver's marble run while Simon was napping (because Simon is always quick to destroy it) and Oliver loved watching the marbles.

Oliver frequently requests to go on nature walks and I love it. We walked around Lake Johnson on this particular morning.

It was amusing to watch Simon eat his afternoon snack, which he LOVED. (I love it too.) He even fed some to his little dog. Blueberry vanilla goat cheese (from Trader Joe's) on toast with honey drizzled on top. So yummy.

Duke Gardens

A morning walk around Duke Gardens with the boys.