Labor Day Weekend Fun

This Labor Day weekend we were thrilled that Daddy didn't have to work at all because it meant we got to spend lots and lots of time together. It was a great weekend!
On Saturday, we decided to go to Belle Isle, a small island in the James River, to explore and enjoy some time outdoors. It was our first time visiting the island and we learned it has a very storied history. Among other things, Belle Isle has been the site of a granite quarry pit, a power plant, and a Civil War POW camp. Today it's just a fun place to hike, run, bike, and wade in the James River. We had a great time and look forward to going back again soon. As you scroll through the pictures of us at Belle Isle, you may find yourself wondering, "Where is Julia?" Well, Miss J fell asleep the minute we hit the walking trail and slept through her entire first visit to Belle Isle. All the more reason to go back!
On Monday, the weather looked iffy so we cancelled our plans to go to Westwood and went to the Children's Museum instead. The last couple times we've gone have been really fun because all three girls can enjoy the exhibits now, instead of the twins just sitting in the stroller and watching Caroline have all the fun.

Walking across the suspension bridge to Belle Isle. 

View from the suspension bridge of another bridge over the James River.

Gee, don't the girls look SOOOO excited about their first trip to Belle Isle??!!

View of Hollywood Cemetery from Belle Isle.

Caroline dipping her toes in the James River.

Ooh, that's chilly!!

Margaret along the shore.

Where's Julia? Oh that's right....sleeping!

Margaret wanted to get in the water SO badly!

Little girl, big river.

Back at home, it was baths, stories and bed time for all!!

Children's Museum....

Julia having a blast.

Digging in the sand pit.

Busy girl Caroline

Peek-a-boo!

Margaret loving the slide.

Back at home, Daddy and Margaret goofing off with the baby doll stroller...

Just Around the Corner

As the end of August approaches, we're staring down the barrel of the end of summer in the Hepper household! Just one more week until school starts (Praise Jesus, Hallelujah!) and we are ready!! Caroline is so jazzed about going to school 4 days a week this year and cannot wait to see her "last year" school friends and make a few new ones as well. Julia and Margaret may not realize that their school year is about to begin as well, but I'm excited enough about it for both of them, so it's all good. 

We've been spending our last couple weeks of summer vacation doing all the things we do best: playing dress-up, dancing, visiting with friends, swimming, doing lots of artwork, playing outside and going to birthday parties (I swear almost every last one of our friends was born in August).

 I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a fair amount of whining, temper tantrums, and TV watching also going on in our house right now as we are tapped out on camps and the end-of-summer doldrums are firmly taking hold. :) Come on, September, get here soon!

Check out what we've been up to...

This video makes me laugh every time I watch it. It was supposed to be just of Margaret "walking" Isabel. But poor Frances is unexpectedly forced to make an appearance too...

A rare moment when all three girls are occupying the same space and no one is crying. (J, M, C)

"Cinder-Mella" dressed for a princess birthday party.

What a beautiful princess!

Note to self: do not leave Julia unattended while the shower is on and the door open...

Sweet Caroline enjoying a wagon ride with her sisters.

Julia loving the red buggy.

Margaret pleased as punch to be riding solo in the wagon.

Our girls: Julia, Caroline, Margaret

Rainy Day Photo Dump

It's been raining all day here in Richmond and we've done nothing but stay inside and enjoy each other's company. And now that it's nap time, I've got nothing better to do than to clear our camera memory card of the pictures I've taken in the last week or so. Most of them are of the twins because Caroline was busy at gymnastics camp, having a blast while she learned how to do a "tumble roll" - which is just a fancy word for a somersault :)

Julia on a walk with her stroller.

Acting silly under the table. M/J

 While Caroline was at gymnastics camp, Mommy let us play with big sister's dot-a-dot paints!!!!

Here Margaret, let me help you...

Add caption

 Mmmm, dot-a-dot paints are delicious (and non-toxic, thank goodness!)

Playing together with the Little People barn.

Snack time! We love bananas! J/M

                            Julia doing what she does best lately....having a temper tantrum...

When Caroline wasn't busy tumble-rolling, she spent lots of time on her scooter.

Julia on the Move!

Julia finally decided to stop letting Margaret show her up on the walking front. This video is from the weekend and she has already gotten better and faster! Go Julia!

Plus, a super cute pic of the little girls at the doctor last week. Margaret decided that 5pm on Friday evening was the perfect time for a doctor's visit to diagnose her first ear infection. Julia is thrilled to be there too...because she got a lollipop out of it. :)

Finally, a strange but cute video of Caroline holding court with her paper animal puppets. First, she asks everyone to make the sound of each animal and then she launches into a partial rendition of her (self-created) favorite song, "Yellow Sunday."

Humming Along

There's nothing too exciting happening around our house these days, and that's just the way I like it! We're just humming along, enjoying all the play time we can as the end of our summer approaches. Check it out...

Making mischief: Margaret and Julia

Julia loving some yogurt.

Margaret loving some yogurt.

Caroline loving some Sweet Frog.

Caroline and Julia at play: Julia was thrilled to let Caroline leap over her on the couch. It's a good thing Caroline has mad jumping skills!

Meanwhile, Margaret got dressed up to go shopping :)

Caroline showing of her "block dog" before heading out for a pool play date.

Julia holding on for dear life to the slide at the Children's Museum.

Big Canoe, Part II

 Here ya go!

Caroline on a paddle boat.

I see beer pong in their futures....

Bikini Buddies

Passed out after too much fun.

Decorating a pink lemonade cake with Marmee.

Grampy holding court with his girls.

All the grandkids. This was the best we could get with two babies, two toddlers, and too cool for school 6 year old all determined to look in opposite directions!

I'm a walker (Margaret) !!

Ice cream sandwich face (Sophia).

My sweet baby girls, Margaret and Julia

Hanging out on the slide, Margaret and Julia

Margaret on the Move!

Even though we've been home for almost a week now, I'm still being lazy about sorting through the rest of the pictures I took at Big Canoe. Hopefully I'll have them up soon.
 In the meantime, here is a video of Margaret walking. Interestingly, Julia has regressed on the walking front. She no longer seems interested in the developmental milestone and seems instead to be focusing all her energies on biting her siblings and tantrum throwing. Maybe she's just jealous of Margaret ;-)