Our Trip to Richmond

Just before leaving VA we decided to take a trip to Richmond to visit Andrea and Richard and get my hair done.  While we were there we took Will to Jumpology, an indoor trampoline play area.  It was fun and Will and I both had a great time jumping, but I almost couldn't get past the dirty, sweaty feet smell that permeated the entire place.  It was just too gross thinking about how dirty those trampolines were.  Then that ruined the fun of watching Will jump into the big foam bricks since all I could think about was how dirty and sweaty those things were.  I'm happy we went, even happier to report we somehow avoided catching any gross foot fungus, and happiest that we don't live close enough to ever go back!!  

 

Will tried out the tight rope

 

While I was at my hair appointment Jerry took Will to play at the
river.  For Will's half birthday we upgraded his
fishing and butterfly nets since they have
seen so much use!

Lindsay and the Kids Came to Visit

Lindsay brought the kids down for one last visit before we moved and school started.  Will was so excited to see his friends - he truly missed them all year.  We had planned to take the kids to the water park but when Lindsay woke that morning she was so sick she couldn't even get out of bed.  I felt so bad for her and for all the kids.  I wasn't brave enough to take all four of them to the water park by myself so I took them to Pump it Up instead.  They were disappointed but they were all understanding too.  I think they were just glad to visit!  Fortunately Lindsay started feeling mostly better before she had to drive home, but it would be terrible to be so sick and be away from your own home!

 

I thought it was funny watching Natalee and Amie with Skippy.  It was obvious
they never had a cat and couldn't figure out why Skippy was pressing
himself up against them!  It's even funnier looking back now - it's October
and since Skippy has been staying with them Amie especially seems to love him!

All the kids had fun jumping but Amie won the prize for most determined!  She
would not be left behind and climbed right along with the big kids!

Bowling

We decided to take Will bowling one Saturday afternoon.  Aside from Breeann's birthday one year that he was too young to remember, he had never been.  He ended up loving it and was very excited then after we moved back to PA and his friend Grace invited him to her bowling birthday party!

 

Laurie & Breeann Came to Visit

I had so much fun visiting and catching up with Laurie that I ended up with no good pictures of the kids playing!!  I guess that sums up a great visit!  

 

Breeann enjoyed the moon shoes that Will hardly ever played with!

The blankets and pillows were a huge camp in the living room.  They were
using a flashlight as a fire so I brought them some marshmallows to "roast."

VBS at Faith Baptist

Will went to Vacation Bible School at mom's church this year too.  I was proud of him for going since he really didn't know anyone there.  I was also excited that he decided to dedicate his heart to Jesus during the service one evening.  He had recently been asking a lot of questions and I feel thankful he was provided that opportunity. 

 

I bought him a small gold cross necklace to help remind him of his decision and that is a prized possession now.  (Of course that's mainly because he ascertained that the cross is REAL gold!)  I've gotta love my boy who is into all precious metals and gems!  As long as he can land a good job one day he'll make a great husband for any woman who likes jewelry!  : )   

 

Brittney Came to Visit



Jenny and Craig went to Cancun for the week while Brittney was at camp.  (I still can't believe Jenny went to Mexico without try to sneak Will away with her.  That was our standing joke that she had plans to kidnap him and run to Mexico!  Maybe she did try and it just didn't work - I'll never know!! LOL!)  At any rate, I got to have Brittney - at least for the night - after she started feeling bad at camp and came home.  

 

She joined us on our hike at Roaring Run.  : )

Jenn

Salem Fair

The Salem Fair is a very nice activity in Roanoke.  We enjoyed it previously since there is no admission fee and they really have lots of nice attractions.  This year they did a promotion where kids could get a free all-day ride pass by entering two exhibits in the fair.  Will decided to enter the cucumbers he grew and a watercolor painting he had done.   

 

He was really proud of the two ribbons he won!

And he REALLY enjoyed all the rides with grandma!

Mom was less than enthusiastic about riding the drop tower!
What a good sport!!

Minnow Ponds

After the beets were finished, mom let Will dig a hole in her garden to make a pond for the minnows he caught.  It turned into a rather large project and ended with tom creating a liner for the pond from a trash.  Will was thrilled!!  The pond even had an island and a rock bridge for the minnows to hide under.  Surprisingly, the minnows survived in the pond for almost a week!!  Mom added water from the hose and Will gave them some food.  I was actually surprised the chlorine water didn't kill them right away.  One minnow was quite the jumper and made regular attempts at an aerial escape.  Poor guy!

Eventually, mom was ready to reclaim her garden spot but Will wasn't ready to relinquish his pond.  So on the hottest day of the summer mom dug a huge hole through the roots under the mulberry tree in her yard so Will could have an even better minnow pond!!  I know for a fact mom never dug a hole in the yard for us kids!!  Will is so spoiled!!  : )

 

Will's Half Birthday

Will's half birthday is normally when we have his presents and party with friends since his actual birthday is so close to Christmas.  This year however, his party sort of became a victim of our move.  I neglected to plan his party before school let out (it just never entered my mind!) and that would have been the only way I could have invited his school friends since I never got to know any of their parents. (On a side note that was another difficult thing about living in Roanoke - all the other moms worked so it was hard to arrange play dates after school to get to know anyone.  All the kids just went to day care after school.)  So since school friends really weren't an option we thought through several other potentials, none of which really worked well.  In the end just the three of us baked cupcakes and opened presents at home then went fishing at Carvins Cove.  I'm glad Will can be flexible when it counts!  : ) 

We got Will a rubber band bracelet loom since he has been so into rubber band
bracelets lately but even I couldn't fully figure out how to use the loom!!

 

Will was frustrated by not catching any fish that day but the cupcakes
at home were some consolation!  : )

 

I Fought the Lawn and the Lawn Won

One thing I will not miss so much about our house is all the mowing.  It was fine during school because I could mow while Will was in school, but during the summer it was hard to find time.  I didn't like to spend time on Saturday mowing while Jerry was home from PA, but I also didn't like making Will entertain himself for that long while I mowed during the week.  I guess if Jerry had been home during the week it would have been easier.

 

I really had had enough of being at home all week by myself with Will, the house, and the yard to take care of after I got the mower stuck in a hole one day.  I knew I shouldn't have tried to mow that close to the spring in our front yard, but I guess I was in a hurry.  It was about to rain and we had a house showing that evening so I was distracted and ended up getting the front tire stuck in swampy grass.  I thought I could just pull it out but I ended up peeling a big layer of skin off my hand and getting a big dent in my shin.  : (   I ended up having to use the Explorer to pull it out - after my hand and leg were injured. And then I still had to get the house cleaned up to show.  : (  I was so mad that day!

 

Later though I saw that witty slogan about fighting the lawn and was glad to have an excuse to make a lame joke.  : )

 

This was my hand after several days of healing.  After the first day
it didn't hurt so bad, but when it started healing the itching
drove me crazy!!  It would even wake me up at night!
It's October now - my hand is fine but my leg still has a scar.  :(

July 4th Picnic

We had a nice picnic at mom's house for July 4th.  Mom's neighbor, Wayne, brought his guitar down and played for us.  Will was captivated!  Later in the summer mom bought Will a little guitar of his own and he played it until the strings broke!