RVA summer

Summer is in full swing here in good ole RVA! It's hot, but we've been having fun. So far it's been picnics.cookouts.
yardwork.workwork.
kiddiepools.theriver.
youthgroupevents.
concerts.fireworks.
volleyball.weddings.
babyshowers. Yes, baby showers! Many of our friends are pregnant right now, and I, along with my friend Georgia, had the privilege of throwing a baby shower for our dear Amanda Krieger. It was a special afternoon for sure. One of my favorite gifts that she received was a quilt handmade by her sister-in-law (and good friend of mine too), Lindsay Krieger. A-dor-a-ble.

We celebrated the 4th of July actually 4 consecutive days this year, we're so patriotic. We kicked of the holiday weekend at my Nana's house for the Annual Dempsey Family Picnic! The day included the traditional water balloon toss, volleyball, watermelon, lots of dogs and kids running around and running after each other, and fireworks that my dad was bound and determined to set off. Great day. And how cute were Penny and Riley in their red & blue bandannas, which they sported all day? (See photo to right). On the 3rd of July I went down to Brown's Island to watch the fireworks with my friend Katie. Lots of people (and heat and sweat) but a great show for our state's capital! A thunderstorm hit right afterward, and I came home to an unfortunate surprise... no power :( which equaled more heat and more sweat throughout the night, ughh. Steve was in Boston at that point where he spent Independence Day at a Red Sox Game with his friend Joe and some buddies. They didn't just sit in the stands, noooo, they had all inclusive box seats paid for by Joe's brother's company. Me = jealous. I'm allowed to be jealous right? I spent the 4th at the Wetlands on the James with the dogs and hanging out with friends, very fun but still no Fenway Park. Fireworks were cancelled here on the 4th due to more thunderstorms. Since when did Richmond move to the midwest? I didn't mind because Steve returned home the next day, and we got to watch the rescheduled firework show at Dogwood Dell together. Holding hands, drinking PBR, watching fireworks, perfect.

We really treasured the night of the 5th because Steve has been traveling A TON lately for work, so any evening, any moment we can connect just the two of us, we cling onto and savor like a lion catching and very slowly devouring his prey.

...Was that analogy too much? Maybe. You get the point.

A fun thing that Steve & I discovered this summer is Jammin' on the James at the Wilton House. It's a FREE outdoor concert series where you can bring the whole family and a picnic dinner then just kick back in your favorite lawn chair to enjoy the music. Did I mention it's FREE? If you're like me, you are all about free stuff especially events like this. Richmonders, check it out, we were not disappointed.

Also, yes, we bought a kiddie pool for the dogs. And yes, we were those people driving down the road at 25mph, hazards on, kiddie pool atop our sedan, windows rolled down, hands gripping the pool on either side, and praying the wind doesn't lift the thing up and send it flying behind us. We only got honked at once, and we made it home safely. It was worth it. The dogs love it. Penny *really* loves it. Hope to post a video soon.