Foster Botanical Garden

We've been going to this garden every Thursday evening this summer for free concerts, but this week I actually took some pictures! The girls showed me some of their favorite plants (I'm usually busy chatting with the grown ups, while the kiddos explore.) Daddy had to work late and couldn't come, but we had a great crowd of neighborhood and church friends to sit with and share food (almost 30 people--mostly kids!). The music was a local couple who plays bluegrass. Bug and Auntie L were both excited about the fiddle player.

Yes, that sign says "Watch out for falling
cannonballs." Take it seriously.

That sign is under this huge tree. If you look closely you
can see the cannonball-sized seeds hanging in it.

"Look, Mom! I could use it like an umbrella!"

Check out this tree's roots!

Bug Did It!
Bug accomplished some big things this week! She's officially done with fourth grade math (ironically enough, going to school in the fall slowed down her academic progress). She also finally finished the scarf she's been knitting! She's excited to have the lovely completed project, and only a little disappointed that she won't have the opportunity to wear it for at least a few years.

Library Fun
The girls finished the summer reading program weeks ago, and finally got to collect their final prizes--kites! It's almost always breezy here, so they've had fun getting their kites airborne in the green spaces near our house (no photo yet, I'll snap one eventually). In the photo below they're wearing their first level prize shirts, so they could get grab bag prizes (a bracelet, collapsible binoculars, and a puzzle box). That day the library was also getting patrons to paint rocks--one each for the library's new rock garden and one each to take home to hide in the neighborhood. They loved painting, hiding, and finding rocks in VA, so they're pretty excited that it's a thing here too!

Splash Pad with FriendsThe girls are a little old for this splash pad, but we went with a couple other families one morning and had a blast!

If you can't find Monkey, look up!
The abundance of climbable trees might be
her favorite thing about Hawaii.

Bug and Lion are waiting patiently for snacks
with our friends L and Baby P.