Pioneer Day Picnic

A family in our ward does a Memorial Day picnic at their home each year.  This year, we did it in July and called it a Pioneer Day picnic.  They set up a slip and slide each year that the kids love.  And this year, Buddy got to try out his new badminton skills he learned at Cub Scout day camp.  He seriously loves badminton and keeps making us watch it in the Olympics.

Marine Corps Museum and a Hike

The Richmond cousins had a day off school (3/19) and wanted to meet us for some fun halfway.  Except, it turns out that there isn't a whole lot to do halfway between them and us, so we tricked them into coming a little further and we took them to Buddy's favorite museum, the Marine Corps Museum.  Then we took them hiking and played at a park in Prince William Forest Park.

In the gift shop, there is a Lego version of the Iwo Jima Memorial.

L->R: PS, S, Buddy and Pickles

Then we played frisbee and volleyball at a park (we picked up a couple of stragglers).

Then we went on a little hike and ended up at a stream we played in.

Then we followed them to IKEA to help load bookshelves, etc. 

Sprinklers

As our trip to Grandma and Grandpa's in California neared its end, I asked the kids what was left that they wanted to do.  They wanted to run through Grandpa's sprinklers so he turned them on for them one day and we tried to get Fenway in the water... turns out he hates water.  He'd run in the sprinklers to get his ball if he'd first checked it out and it seemed like he wouldn't get too wet.  Then he'd roll around on the grass to get all the water off.  Once he squeezed his way into a thick bush and back out again, it had to be just to get the water off.  He did enjoy drinking from the sprinklers though.  I like the tongue shot I captured.

Smith Mountain Lake, VA

We needed to borrow some luggage for our California/Utah trip from B's sister.  Her family was spending a week at Smith Mountain Lake in southern Virginia, so they invited us down for a couple of days to enjoy some time with the cousins.

B and I kayaked to two new counties: Franklin and Pittsylvania counties. And I super injured my wrist and couldn't use it for almost two weeks. *

The kids (and I) were super brave and had a great time swimming and kayaking around the lake.

And the films: 

Buddy jumping in off the highest dock.

Buddy swimming.

Buddy kayaking.

B trying to board Buddy's kayak.

Buddy and Princess Sparkley kayaking.

*Two weeks ago yesterday and just the past 3 or 4 days have I been able to use it a lot.  It still hurts today, just a little, but before, there was a period of time when I was wondering if I could have broken it somehow.

Kayaking

We went down to B's sister's yesterday just for dinner (and a super nice birthday dessert for me) to return all of their camping stuff before they go camping later this summer.  They had rented kayaks for the day before and decided to take them out on their community lake.  H got better pictures on her better cell phone camera, but here are a few.  The kids loved it.  We saw a bunch of fish jump.  Little Guy went all on his own (with B in the back seat) and then wanted to go again so I asked if I could go with him.  He said yes.  Then he was super disappointed because he didn't want to share a seat with me.  Luckily Mr. Grumpy Pants (is it a three year old thing?) perked up when I reminded him we were going to get to eat cheesecake.