August 8

Duck Creek Village (for ice cream)
and quad rides/hikes near the cabin gates

Two summers ago we saw a yellow-bellied marmot near the cabin.  This time we only saw them here in Duck Creek Village.

A chipmunk, inspiring Princess Sparkley to request a pet chipmunk for her birthday.

The self-timer took this picture from an unstable rock.  We took two.  This was first, my eyes are closed.  The second one is blurry.

view of Zion NP

PS took this picture for us.  A tiny bit blurry.

Then we kept heading toward the road and stopped near the gravel pile where several years ago there was a small forest fire.  PS and Little Guy didn't want to hike anymore, so they stayed at the quads while B, Buddy and I hiked up to see the view.

Apparently the sun was in Buddy's eyes.  This picture cracks me up.

Heading back to the cabin.

Vacation: Day 1

Saturday (August 6) morning we said goodbye to our townhome (forever) and headed on our Utah/California vacation.  We flew from Dulles to LAX to Las Vegas where my parents picked us up, took us to In N Out Burger, took us back to the airport to pick up a suitcase that missed our flight and then drove us to their cabin in southern Utah, in the mountains above Cedar City.

When we left, we had an application submitted to move to a new townhome, but hadn't yet heard if we'd been approved.  I took this picture since it might be the last time the kids were at the old house.  It turns out it was, B is moving us while we're still in California.  Goodbye!

Airplane.  Princess Sparkley actually has several flights under her belt, but none that she remembers.  This is only Buddy's 2nd airplane trip.  And Little Guy was only a couple of months old when I flew from Kansas for a wedding once, so he doesn't remember. 

Random

I believe that Buddy is pretending to play the Star Wars theme song on the piano here.

Grandma M sent us home with some Star Wars sheets that somehow made it to the couch one day.

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.

Sleeping Little Guy

I love when I find Little Guy asleep with his hands together under his cheek.

National Museum of the Marine Corps

On July 29th, we visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA.  B and Buddy went there together a couple of months ago and came back telling us about it and assuring Princess Sparkley that it wouldn't be too scary for her.  (She's not a fan of load noised museum exhibits that might be scary.)  So we ventured back as a family and I really enjoyed it.  I think the rest of the family did as well.

Little Guy has some issues with looking at the camera.  Buddy tried to help out.  Then Little Guy went and had a talk with Daddy about how he needed to smile for the camera and he reappeared happy.

Sesquicentennial Celebration

During the week of July 22 was the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Manassas (Civil War) so the kids and I ventured out on the extremely hot and humid day and attended the parade and part of an old timey baseball game.

Here are the kids waiting for the parade.  If you look closely you can probably see the sweat dripping off of us (at 9:30AM). 

The parade.

Old Timey Baseball:

Reading with Daddy

 I told Little Guy to look at his book, not at the camera and he gave me the stink eye.

So I told him he could smile and he broke out this million dollar smile.

 All my boys.

Little Guy

 As a doggy:

Writing:

Buddy

Buddy drew this on a Post-It Note and handed to me a few weeks ago.  He wanted to remind me of a deal we made a few months ago.  I told him I'd pay him $5 if at the end of the month, the toilet had been clean without pee all over it.  He did pretty good for that month, earned his $5 and we never discussed if this would be an ongoing thing, or not.  Apparently, based on the picture of the kid peeing into the toilet, he'd like it to continue so he can earn some money, apparently to buy a Star Wars Lego space ship of some sort.

B's childhood home

B's family lived in three homes during his childhood.  The third was in Camarillo, CA where we met and where his parents lived until 2006.  The second was in Piqua, Ohio very close to where his parents live now.  The first was just outside Pittsburgh, PA so we drove by on our way home.

The Island

B's parents are both from Pittsburgh, PA and his maternal grandparents and uncles still live there.  Before I realized we'd be driving home on the Fourth of July, I suggested we call his grandma and see if we could stop in for an hour or so as we drove through Pittsburgh on the way home.  They weren't home, but were at their island cottage (still right in Pittsburgh) and were thrilled that we'd stop by.  I've only met these grandparents three times.  Once in California when we were first married (Nov/Dec 2001).  Once in Pittsburgh when we drove all night there and back from Kansas to attend B's paternal grandmother's funeral (Sept 2006).  And once, when B's parents were living in St. Louis they came to St. Louis to visit and drove over to B's brother's house in Kansas one day and we met them there (May 2009).  B hadn't been to the island since he was 12 or 14.   And I'd never met the Uncle and Aunt who were at the cottage when we arrived (meaning B hadn't seen them since he was 14 or so).

The kids were thrilled that we had to take a ferry across the river.  Little Guy kept saying, "this is my first boat ride.  It's bigger than Aunt H's kayak."  B's uncle took the kids down to the water and they tried to attract some ducks with pieces of bread.  It was a quick little visit but I'm glad we stopped.

Highest Point: Campbell Hill, Ohio

B and Buddy visited the highest point in Ohio in January 2010 in the snow, on their own.  They got certificates.  This has been a bitter subject for Princess Sparkley who is all about certificates, but turned down the chance to go on that trip.  On the way home from Ohio, we were on a county trip in the area so we stopped again for the entire family to get this high point.

Little Guy is very adamant that he does not want to get counties.  We usually give high fives to each other when we get a new county.  Little Guy makes sure each time that we understand that he does not want us to give him high fives.  He feels the same way about high points and having to raise his hands in the air.  I usually have to bribe him with candy.  This time, I tried Peanut Butter M&Ms to which he said, "I don't like peanut butter."  (How is this kid mine!?!)  So I had to promise him that I'd dig some plain M&Ms out of the trail mix for him.  (Because he loves trial mix but without all the "yucky stuff, only M&Ms.)

He and PS were both thrilled with their certificates.  Hooray for the high point in Ohio!

Sleeping In

This is what I found when I woke the kids up Monday morning so we could get on the road and head home from Ohio.

Sunday Evening Walk

Baby A

Princess Sparkley had fun entertaining cousin A who will be one next month.

Baseball

Now that Buddy has graduated from T-ball, he's been wanting to practice hitting pitched balls.   Luckily he has a dad that loves baseball as much as he does, so we've spent a lot of time at Grandma's playing baseball.  (Videos coming.)

Darth Little Guy

Little Guy is a big fan of Darth Vader.  He hums the Darth Vader song all the time.  Wants to be Darth Vader when he grows up.  Has a red light saber.  Etc.  Uncle BE has a Darth Vader helmet at Grandma's house that he hunted down for Little Guy to try out.

Sleepy Sunday Morning

Hoosier Hill: Highest Point in Indiana

July 2


Top left picture was taken by Little Guy... that's why I had to crouch down low.

Pool

 July 2

Contrary to what these pictures may lead you to believe, Little Guy had a great time at Grandma's pool.  His favorite part, squirting Grandpa with water.  The big kids also had a blast.  There were two water slides that dumped into three and a half feet of water that they were just tall enough to go down.  Buddy was brave and agreed to go after I told him I'd pay him a quarter if he went right then.  He spent the rest of the time (hours) going down the slides.  Princess Sparkley was promised a quarter from me and another from Grandma.  It turned out to be her favorite part of the pool.  Even B, Grandpa and I went down a few times.  (Video coming of the big kids on the slide).

Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleaveland Indians

July 1

The grandparents were trying to take us to their local minor league game, but they were sold out.  Then they decided if they took us to a Friday night Cincinnati game there would be fireworks, and we wouldn't have to make a crazy stop on our way home to see a fireworks show in West Virginia somewhere. 

At the beginning of the game, Princess Sparkley, who isn't as excited about baseball, asked if I'd ever been on the giant tv at a baseball game.  I explained to her that we've been to a lot of games and never known anyone on the jumbo tron.  Flash forward several innings, the jumbotron pans across Buddy's arm (he says he's sure he saw it and it was waving) to Little Guy, me, Grandma M and PS before it heads to the baby Reds fan next to PS.  Very fun!

And the fireworks afterwards were awesome!  We tend to hit baseball games around the 4th of July because we're already going to be in a a crowd, why not skip the 4th of July fireworks viewing crowd and just enjoy the fireworks at the game.  This show was really long and super impressive.  Very loud as well, which PS didn't enjoy.

Also, I have a cousin who lives in Cincinnati.  I figured there was no point calling his family when we'd only be in the town for a short period of time during which we'd be at the game.  I found out the next day via Facebook that his family was at the game!  Based on their pictures, they were a few sections to our left and down.

Ohio: Wright Patterson AFB Museum

July 1