train table, Old Town, and ice cream

The train table we got from Craigslist.  We have since simplified the tracks (otherwise, it's train-ageddon, no matter who is playing with it.  Ariel especially likes the helicopter.  We put animals on it, too (alligators, tiger, goose.)

 Walking around the fountain at City Hall in Old Town Alexandria - a favorite thing to do in Old Town.

 We hosted an ice cream social with our neighbors during National Night Out Crime Prevention night.  We had a good turnout, and met lots of neighbors.  The fire and police people came, too!  Strangely, this is the first year I've even heard of National Night Out, but apparently it's a big deal around here.

Goodies from Japan

Our friend Kelly (neighbor and running/biking partner in Japan) went shopping for us before moving back to the States.  We were so glad to have more Japanese coloring books, toys, and a few clothes.  This is a picture Kelly took in her Yokota house (see the flat brown carpet.)  Hoping to see her again soon!  Arigato, Kelly.

Daddy-Daughter dates

 Sometimes I need to catch up on things around the house, so Jeff & Ariel go out together.  This day, they went to Dulles Town Center - a big mall with 2 play areas and a great food court.  They had Indian fast food at Chopati (healthy rice-veg bowls & wraps.)

 And sometimes they take a "BOB run" (BOB is the stroller) in our neighborhood.

This we call "owl bridge" on the George Washington Parkway (Mount Vernon Memorial) Trail.

(old) photos from school

In some rare moments to clean out email, I retrieved these photos from Ariel's school (last year's preschool.)

squeezing into the doll stroller

Last preschool day (in June 2014), but she still had summer school, which isn't so serious.

Studying Mat Man (it's a song) and making him with snacks.  Then they got to eat!

Summer time

On a walk in Old Town Alexandria.  Ariel did not want to sit for a haircut with Cindy, so we took a nice walk instead.

Ralph and Nene enjoyed some guests for a week: Jax and Lucky.  That's Jax on the left.  Brittney, Ariel's former preschool teacher, was getting ready to move, so we kept the cats for them.  They are doing well in their new state, and we'll keep in touch.

A typical day of Bookageddon.

Retiring the much-loved-and-worn Little Mermaid lunch bag, and moving on to a new Hello Kitty one.

Swimming in our little pool in the back yard.  Ariel in her Olympic leotard/swimsuit!  This was during Aunt Debbie's visit, and a long day of play with friend Brandon.  His family was moving locally, so Debbie was kind enough to help me babysit him for the day.

Farm Sanctuary

 Celebrating my 3-year vegan-versary with a trip to Farm Sanctuary's shelter in Watkins Glen, New York.  It was a pretty area in New York's Finger Lakes region.  It was a touristy area with lots of wineries.

 Leo the cow.  All the animals had their own stories about how they arrived at the shelter.

 Feeding grass to Shannon the Turkey.

 A Farm Sanctuary Cat.

 This rooster and turkey are good friends.

 This sociable turkey knows he is good-looking.

 Happy moments at Hilda's grave.  Hilda, a sheep, was the first Farm Sanctuary animal, who was found barely alive in a dead pile at Lancaster Stockyards.  She lived a long, peaceful life at the sanctuary.

 Our room at the Ginger Cat B&B, named after Ariel the Cat.

more Canada pics

As you can guess, we've been busy with other tasks & paperwork in the home office these days.  But I'll catch up on the blog eventually.  Ariel is in her second day of kindergarten today.  She had a good time there yesterday with new friends and teachers.  We had one last day of swimming in a big outdoor pool on Labor Day before school started.

As I'm sitting here finding bargains on "big sister" books for Ariel on Amazon, I will give a hint for her Christmas wish list: lift-the-flap books (fun for everyone!) and small Thomas trains.  She has a great train table we found used.  It's has small wooden trains & vehicles, but is compatible with small wooden Thomas trains.  They're the kind with the faces on the front (Thomas, Percy, Emily, etc.)  She would be pleasantly surprised.

Dinner in our Ottawa place.  Hosted on Airbnb by Liane Eng.

Changing of the Guard by Parliament.

 Amphibious tour (Ottawa River)

 At the Canadian Museum of History, on the Quebec (French) side of the river (Gatineau.)

 Walking around Byward Market, a hip part of Ottawa.

 We stopped at a Canadian Wal-Mart on our way out of Ontario!