One crazy summer officially kicks off!

Chris arrived on Tuesday night around midnight, and our crazy, hectic summer has officially commenced. He was thrilled to be here, and we are thrilled to have him. Little does he know that summer is about to get kicked into high gear with the long list of exciting events we have planned. Now, before anyone accuses us of being a "Disneyland Dad" type of family when Chris is with us, just read back over the last few years--we are ALWAYS on the go, trying to enjoy our kids and show them the world!!

Since Jason is incredibly busy studying for the bar exam, we have to cram as much fun into the weekends as we can. Of course, during the week, the kids and I will be embarking on our park and beach adventures without Daddy. During the next two weeks, we are heading to Luray Caverns, Great Wolf Lodge, the beach, Colonial Williamsburg, the park, the pool and out for as many bike rides as we can all stand.

Our upcoming schedule includes a trip to Florida on the Auto Train, Sea World, Disney World (of course!), Destin, and then on to Houston. In Houston, we will visit the beach, water park, see some movies, take in "Wicked," celebrate the girls' birthdays, the birth of our country, peruse some museums, visit with friends and who knows what else?

At the end of July (that's right, we are only halfway done!), we will head back to Virginia to meet our movers, and then we set off on a cross-country road trip that is sure to go down in Marquez family history as one of our wildest, most ambitious adventures yet. We've planned stops in Chicago, Dunes National Lake Shore, Amish country, Mill Run to see Falling Water (Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous creation), Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Sturgis, Lake Erie, Glacier National Park, the Museum of the Rockies and so much more!

Oh, but wait--there's more! Once we finally get to Washington and get settled in our new house, we are heading out on an Alaskan cruise, where I will partake in the mother of all massages to unwind from this chaotic summer. :)

Will I have time to update here? I hope so, but you may not hear from me again for a while. And if you don't hear from me by September, I may very well be checked into some quiet respite home to recuperate from the madness!