Tony, Nicky and their children visited VA over Memorial Day Weekend. They came over on Sat. afternoon for a picnic and the kids all played in the yard. The last time we saw them, we had just adopted the big kids, so it's been a while! It was nice to catch up and all of the children played so nicely together, it was a relaxing afternoon. Alec and Patrick became instant buddies, catching bugs and jumping in the trampoline. And the girls enjoyed splashing in the kiddie pool with baby Hayden. I had forgotten how active a 1 1/2 yr. old can be though! He was everywhere!
Before they arrived, Patrick took AP to the Soap Box Derby Family Day while the girls played and I got my workout done. Then we went grocery shopping and had to relieve Patrick so he could go to work and check on the pool opening at Piedmont. We ended up having to spend hours more at the Soap Box event b/c Patrick's car wasn't performing well and some volunteers helped us get it weighted down and taught us some tricks to make the car more competitive. There was a cookout and the girls stayed entertained enough and I got to help Patrick with one of his runs... switching tires and loading him in. I was a bit stressed it was taking so long and I had groceries in the car, the girls and company coming, but Patrick came back from work in time to switch off with me again so the girls and I could get home and get set up for the picnic w/ the Griswolds! Abby was exhausted and quite a handful while we attempted to make deviled eggs, fruit dip and cookies, but I pulled it off and Margaret was a big helper... which really helped make a difference.
My car is still in the shop. The tire rolled right off it last week while I was taking Abby to a doctor's appt. I could tell something was wrong w/ it and had actually stopped a few times and got out and checked to see if it was going flat (never would have know to check the bolts!)... so I was in the proccess of pulling over again when it rolled off. We were fine, but it was POURING down rain and it took about three hours to get towed and get a ride home, so it was a big pain. We can't find a matching tire and we're waiting to figure out what to do next. Any way, it worked out that we had just inherited an old Saturn from my mother-in-law, so I've been driving that. But with the Expedition at the shop, we had no way of getting AP's Soap Box car to the event this weekend. Insurance said they would cover a rental, so I was able to get a truck... a 2011 red Dodge Ram w/ less than 600 miles on it!! I've been tooling through Culpeper thinking I'm hot stuff! I'll be sad to have to return it tomorrow... I've been spoiled for a few days, and the kids think it's a blast too.
Slideshow for more pictures:
