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Friday, September 11, 2026

patriot day


we had the opportunity to visit ground zero nine years ago in september, just after the 12th anniversary of 9/11 and it was a moving experience.  the waterfalls and the reflecting pools that sit within the footprints of where the twin towers once stood are a lovely tribute, and the freedom tower is quite a sight to behold.  our thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who lost a loved one on this day 25 years ago.

love, laurie

Thursday, September 10, 2026

la festa italiana 2026

i've mentioned numerous times that my favorite end-of-summer tradition is visiting our local italian festival over labor day weekend.  it's especially important to us since it's where we went on our very first date back in 2004.  i can't believe this year is 22 years since we first went together! 

we went three times this year and had a good time eating and sight seeing.  we tasted lots of stuff, and met up with grandma and grandpa as well as some friends too!

let the countdown begin for next year's festival!

love, laurie

. . .

previous trips to the italian festival: 

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

sneak peek night at roba family farms!

robas opened for the season this weekend, but before they did, they held their annual sneak peek night for season pass holders on wednesday evening.  noah and i went up after school to check it out.  he was thrilled to be back, because he has been asking me if he can go to roba's for weeks!

he rode the rides, said hi to the dinos, reunited with his tractors, and sipped some apple cider.  we had a fun time.

love, laurie

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

checking out a new splash pad


a brand new splash pad opened nearby and noah had a good time checking it out and getting soaked with grandma one day after school!

love, laurie

Monday, September 7, 2026

happy labor day!


i'm sad to see summer go, but i always do enjoy the fall.  
i won't miss the insane heat and humidity we had this summer!  
slightly cooler temps are welcome!
happy labor day!

love, laurie

Friday, September 4, 2026

preschool snapshots

noah survived two full weeks in his new 4-year-old preschool classroom.  he is doing good and learning lots of new things.  now we're looking forward to a long 3-day weekend.

love, laurie

Thursday, September 3, 2026

off he goes!

i snapped a "first day of school" photo of ryan on monday before he left the house for his first day at his new job.  it's hard to wrap my head around the fact that he is moving on to a new school, but they are lucky to have him because he is a fabulous technical director.



love, laurie

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

admiring the butterflies at lakeland


we took a trip back to lakeland and visited their butterflies before the butterfly festival ends.  they are so beautiful and love the flowers inside their butterfly house.

noah always loves riding all of his tractors at lakeland too!

love, laurie

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

tent thief

i was wondering where leko got to, and then found him camped out in noah's play tent.  i get it, leko,  i would want to hid out in there too!

love, laurie