Monday, July 11, 2011

Some of our favorite things from the past month...

We've had a busy start of summer and have been enjoying many of the great things that the area has to offer. We have definitely developed some favorites though and spend lots of our down time visiting these places over and over and over and over...

Fairfax Corner
is the place we go probably more than any other--with a great movie theater, a few of our favorite restaurants, lots of fun shops, and a patio area featuring live music on summer nights, we always have a nice time stopping by - whether it's for lunch, dinner, a movie, or all 3. North's favorite part of the complex is the fountain that kids frolic in during these hot days. We recently went late one evening and got some cute photos with our phones of him playing in the water.




We also spend LOTS of time at our local frozen yogurt shops - pinkberry and red mango - yum. We Milner's can't seem to get enough!

LinkAnd finally, though we don't have a proper yard of our own as renters, we have been enjoying growing a small garden in planters on our patio. While every single berry we have grown and nearly every tomato ends up in our friendly neighborhood squirrel bellies before we can begin to think of harvesting them, we've had great success with our pepper plants (seems they are too spicy for our squirrel friends). North loves checking on our plants daily and helping to pick peppers that have ripened.

Smithsonian folklife festival!

Last weekend we headed downtown for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. It was a beautiful weekend to spend outdoors on the national mall and we all had a great time learning about different cultures. And we got to visit the kids corps section and see all of the kids coloring the postcards that Alan had designed!

North loved seeing live music and performances

and seeing how products and crafts are created

but most of all (unsurprisingly) he loved the watermelon


Fourth of July

We had a fabulous 3 day weekend enjoying the fourth of July in our nation's capitol. And North and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary in Fairfax since moving here! We went swimming at a fun local pool, enjoyed the downtown festivities, and enjoyed spending time together around our house.

North loved watching the small fireworks and fountains that our neighbors had bought and had a great time playing with his first sparklers.

And we all enjoyed the parade downtown.
Waiting for the fireworks!North loved them!

Nanny & Papa visit!

Recently Nanny and Papa made the long trip to Fairfax and spent a few days with us. We loved getting to see them and show them some of our favorite spots!

North and Nanny playing and giggling and snuggling in our living room!

We especially loved getting to take Papa to the World War II Memorial

Showing Papa his picture in the registry

and North loved getting to walk them around his favorite museum

North thought they needed to steal the throw pillows from all of the other couches so he and Nanny could snuggle properly

It was great to see them. We miss them!

St. Mary's!

A few weeks back we spent the day at my alma mater and enjoyed exploring campus, point lookout, and the beach. We all three had a fabulous time--it was so nice getting to share the space with Alan and North.

Church point!

Visiting some townhouse pond ducks!

North loved the cattails!

Enjoying the boathouse!

and Point Lookout!