Saturday, August 7, 2010

James river State Park

This was supposed to be posted last week, but for some reason it didn't.... Here it is.
This year we took a vacation with just our immediate family. It was wonderful to get away with just our little family without any other commitments.  We were planning on going camping, but then I cut my finger and we didn't think that was a good idea.  So my wonderful understanding husband switched our camping reservation to a cabin reservation.  It turned out fantastic.  We had a 2 bedroom cabin with a full kitchen and living room with a fireplace.  The kids room had 2 sets of bunk beds and they loved it. 

 Plus it had a deck, gas grill and a covered porch with rocking chairs. We ate breakfast every morning on the porch.  My favorite part... The cabin was air conditioned. It was luxurious.  It was in the middle of the forest along the river.  I drove on a lot of dirt roads and little one lane bridges.
We also spent some time playing and swimming in the river.  We rented a canoe and a kayak and floated down 2 miles of the river. (we had our own life jackets)  The river had a great rock for jumping into the water and the kids loved playing in the water and being able to paddle around to check out the deer and the train running along one side of the river.  I don't think I would camp there because the primitive sited don't have running water and the developed sites are set up for RV's and have gravel, not so nice for tents.  That and the train runs all night and all day.  It would be a little loud, thankfully we had the AC on in the cabin and didn't hear it at night. 

OK, I can't get the pictures in this post to line up right and do what I want, so you can just look at them how they are... I am ready to throw the computer about because it is so frustrating.


Random Pictures

This post is just pictures from our afternoon at the park... It was a fun afternoon to just play.  Buddy didn't want his picture taken.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Downtown Mermaid - 14

We came home from vacation to discover that the AC had broken in our absence... on a day when this was the temp showing in the van... Actual temp was only 105. So we ended up staying in a hotel (giving up at 10:30 PM.) 
Daddy and Buddy went home in the morning to try and fix it before the repairman showed up. The girls took some mermaid pictures and went to church in the air conditioning. Not a great day.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Monticello

The State park was about 1 1/2 hours south of Charlottesville, so we took one day and drove up to Monticello.  I had never been, so it was fun.  We took the tour for children, and their families so even the kids liked parts of it.  The gardens were georgous, and the outbuildings were all interesting. Maybe I will try to go back some time when the kids are older and can appreciate it more.  Oh yeah, Princess chose her own clothes.. even I don't dress my kids that bad, Plaid and Stripes.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Happy Birthday Buddy!!

Buddy turned 5 and usually does not like his picture taken... it is a challenge to post some when he frowns all the time, or runs away.  He had his yearly doctor appointment and is 36.5 pounds, and 43 inches.  I didn't get pictures of him opening presents (Thanks everyone) or him blowing out the candles on his chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles with Chocolate ice cream.   However we did spend the afternoon at the park and I got these. 

He frowns...
Then he decides to stick his frowning face in front of the camera......
Then he tries to keep frowning even when he wants to smile....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!!!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Blueberries

We made it out blueberry picking with friends again this year.  We got lots, even if it was really hot.  My little Munchkin in all purple, (including purple striped socks loves picking, but wont really eat them.)

Friday, July 30, 2010

Busy July

July has been a very busy month.  We did lots of stuff, and now I have LOTS more stuff to blog about and lots more pictures to post. 

The middle of July was marked by another trip to the ER, this time for me.  I was cutting herbs and managed to take a slice into the tip of my finger. It was a little painful and since Daddy had taken Princess backpacking for the weekend, the neighbor took me to the ER. Of course this was the week of Vacation Bible School, so I spent my week in the kitchen of church directing the snacks with a HUGE bandage on my finger. After 3 weeks, my finger is still very tender and it hurts to type....but it will heal. 

This is the snack area where I spent most of the week trying to get 160 kids to eat healthy snacks.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Karen at Cruise center - 13

Munchkin did not want to be in this one... she was tired.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Princess Azalea - 12

At Nauticus Museum

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Chrystler Museum Mermaid - 9

Accidental Tourist - covered with ticket stubs.