First 4 weeks of Summer

We visited Paw and Maw the weekend after school got out.

Its fun to have a little celebratory outing planned. :)

 Always an adventure- someone found a hawk that had been hit by a car and brought it over for Paw to doctor up.

 We went down to the Meherrin and got in.  So pretty!

 Celebrating the wonderful Dads in our life with some cake and ice cream.

 Back in RVA, we had VBS the following week.  Always a highlight for us.

 Mike did music with his trusty little sidekick.

 This year, he passed the drums off to a teenager and really flaunted his musical talent by playing several different instruments- one was the accordion to hail his Polish roots.

 We've been to the river twice- first jumps off the dock! 💓

 Another bird adventure- a young Osprey got stuck in the top of the kids' tree house so Paw rescued it & it flew away!

 Eels are the newest bait fad--- inside the bucket.

 There have been lots of days at the pool and they have been oh so glorious. 

This mama is so glad its summer!!!😎

Give me all the warm weather and sunshine.

We have been doing swim team practice this year (all the community and routine) but not the meets (without the stress).  It has been heavenly.

 There have also been several fun friend events.  Four of the ladies from our small group have been pregnant so I hosted a sprinkle for one of them.  This little set up of yummy drinks made me happy.

One of my goals for the summer has been to take the kids on a few day trips, to do the things we haven't been able to do the last few summers when Ben was younger.  So no time to waste, on the top of my list was High Bridge Trail.  We had cool weather the second week of summer so we did it while we could!

 See the speck of deer inside the trestle square below.

 We also had Lily's birthday party early this year (only took me 9 years) so that friends would be around.  We had a candy themed pool party, including a pinata!  She helped me plan it and it was lots of fun for us to work on it together.

 We made candy necklaces with lots of junk.  What's one to do with the leftover Fruit Loops but feed  them to the kids for dinner one eve?!  I love summer.

 The big kids got a shared bday gift of a new SMV membership.  Wasting no time. we went right away and Peter got her this snake for part of her birthday gift. 

 They loved the 'going places' exhibit.

 Cow Eye Dissection!!  Eeeekkk!

 We spent an afternoon with my friend Lamia and her boys at their pool!  Kids had a blast!

 We went with neighborhood and school friends to a baseball game, sorta for the 4th.  

Soaking in summertime.  Just so thankful its summer!!!

End of 4th and 3rd grades- oh my!

I can't believe we finished 4th and 3rd.  Where has the time gone and what are my kids doing growing so old?!

The kids had great school years.

Really, we loooooved each of their teachers and felt very fortunate to have good teachers.

Peter had Mr Cochran and Mrs Gilchrest. They each loved him and were perfect for him.

 Mr C put together an increible video of the year.  It was sweet to see Ben go in to enjoy something special with each of the kids as they finished their year.

Lily had the same teacher Peter had for 3rd. We were thrilled.  And I think it benefited her because she felt comfortable and at ease more quickly.  Her good friend, Sarah, has been in class with her for three straight years.

 Ben was a good sport to sit through two long awards ceremonies.  

A good imagination is so beneficial.

Joshua Tree NP + back to Vegas

Monday was the only day we hadn't planned.  I just wasn't sure how we'd feel or have much direction on how to use that time.  But Mike got on board and decided we'd head to California!

I think it was about a 4 hour trek over.

 We got to the park early-mid afternoon and just had a few hours to make our way through it.

 A few of the crew needed to do some climbing!

 A visit to Skull Rock.

 OUR FAVORITE PIC!

 Joshua Tree!

 After lots of time in the car, 

Mommy needs a drink, an embrace, a kiss, and a strong husband to 'hold you me'.

 This kid loves, loves, loves the sand and dirt.  He will sit down and play in it anywhere we go.

I wonder what he'll be when he grows up?  But please, please, not too fast!

These kids, this scenery, this trip- almost more than my heart can handle!

 We found a Motel 6 that night on the north side of the park.  The kids have sworn off Motel 6 and still talk about how they hated it- no complimentary breakfast.  Mom and Dad agree.

The icing on my little proverbial trip cake is that we got to see these- the Seven Magic Mountains!

I'd discovered them in my planning but they were on the wrong side of the city and I wasn't sure it made sense to see them.  But after we decided to go to CA, they were on our route!

 Do you see them on each of their shirt colors?

 Family Foto 💓

That afternoon, we boarded our flight and made our way back to the east coast.

The trip was such a blessing!  It was so so nice to be in warm, sunny weather before it reached us. So fun to adventure together, learn new things, see old friends! Not everything was perfect. There was plenty of arguing, and times that we were overstimulated & short fused. But hopefully, its the good times that we remember and this blog post is an effort/offering to make that so!  What a fun trip!  Loved a whole week with my people!

Our shoes went straight into the wash to clean off that dessert sand. :(