DC trip with Abby

Left the big kids in NY to drive to DC to take Abby for a second opinion from a neurosurgeon at Children's National Medical Center. Took in the sights while we were there. The outdoor cafe's, taxis, elevators, people movers and escalators at the Metro were all bigger hits than the zoo. She also was disappointed she could not go into the white house to use the bathroom and was less than impressed to hear there wasn't a playground to climb on at Obama's house. Her swallow test is scheduled for Aug. 27th. We'll keep everyone posted.

Pictures from Camp Cousins!

Abby (and the rest of us) enjoyed meeting cousin Zoe from Denmark for the first time.

Sleepovers with the cousins are so much fun! Margaret enjoyed time with Elle and Lisi too!

Margaret and Nanna braved the Jack Rabbit at Sea Breeze!

The falls at Letchworth.

Doing crafts at the campsite. Macaroni necklaces and rock painting!

Enjoying the waterslides at Sea Breeze!

The littlest cousins attended a program at the Letchworth Museum and got to touch all kinds of small mammal pelts!

Swim lessons with Aunt Kathy were a big hit!

"We waded in the water and we got our toes all wet!..."

Abby driving a motor boat on Lake Ontario! She had her first canoe ride too.

A.P and Dadu get ready for a boat ride too. Staying at Uncle Scott and Aunt Michele's house was great!

Yummy food and lots of toys!

Margaret enjoying the pool at Scott's, but the big hit again for her was the pink Barbie jeep.

The kids and I just got home from Camp Cousins in NY. We hit Sea Breeze and the Strong Museum while we were there, and then ended the week with a few days of camping at Letchworth. The kids fished, boated, went white water rafting, did crafts, swam and had a great time again this year and a wonderful way to end the summer. Work starts again this week. Boo hoo...

Six Flags weekend trip!

We got stuck in traffic on Friday afternoon headed to Six Flags- it took about five hours to get there- ugh! Once we arrived I played in the hotel pool with the kids and the girls went out to dinner (California Tortilla, yum!) The boys stayed at Pop's house and met the new puppy, Adelaide.

The next morning we headed to Six Flags and had a blast! We stayed about ten hours and Abby lasted the whole time without a nap. She's an amusement park trooper- thank goodness!

All the plans went off without a hitch until we arrived home and Margaret ran into the house in a mad dash to go #2 and Abby threw up in the floor in the hallway just thinking about it!

Welcome home... welcome back to reality!

More Summer Fun

Two-three times a week we visit the pool, and Abby is getting much more comfortable in the water.

Eating at CJ's Soft Serve after story time. Cotton Candy for Abby and Pistachio for Margaret.

Painting a Lowe's craft project with big brother. Patrick also tempted to teach Abby how to ride a bike. He adjusted the size of Margaret's old bike and got out his pads for her to wear. She preferred just to pose for pictures and wear the helmet around to actually riding it though... A day paddle boating at Crockett Park- it was a blast!

Fauquier Co Fair... sand art, trapeze artists, a magic show, farm animals and rides... another fun day in the sun. Summer is going too fast...

Roller Skating

Roller girls!

Picking out a prize at the skating rink.

Arby's ball crawl!

Last week when Patrick was a Bible camp, the "girls" got to have fun! The big hits were the ball crawl at Arby's and the roller skating rink! Both were "firsts" for Abby and she loved every second of it. She danced and boogied down like a regular at the skating rink.

We also enjoyed the pool and playing in the fountain at the library. She's also looking forward to attending "Toddlin' Time" when it reopens this week and going bowling with the family. I'd also like to take the girls on a trolley ride through town. We're enjoying every minute of our summer thus far.

A bittersweet note- we donated Abby's left-over diapers to the pregnancy center. She is completely potty trained now! And last night I bought her a twin size bed- she's out grown her toddler bed! Our little girl is growing up so fast.

The Fourth

Abby plugs her ears for the 3-Gun salute after the reading of the Declaration of Independence!

Patrick puts the tent up- a 4th of July tradition. The kids stayed up playing cards and Monopoly.

Margaret and Abby enjoyed the sprinkler at the park.

What a wonderful day. The kids were really good and the weather was great. In the morning, we went to town and the kids pushed Abby on her tricycle around Davis Street to see a car show. We watched a ceremony in the town square with reenactors and a choir singing patriotic songs and walked to the park. Then, we had a little bbq at our house for Bubby, grand-father and Mrs. Bower, my library-aide from work and her husband. The food was excellent and we really enjoyed the company. The big kids slept in the tent outside and we enjoyed the fireworks display our neighbors put on. It was a perfect day! Happy Birthday USA and God Bless America!

Summer Fun

Abby has discovered chocolate pudding! Messy, but it doesn't melt fast like Popsicles or ice cream cones.

Eating ice cream at Hackley's Store has also been a big hit this summer! We've also enjoyed going to the park, the library and berry picking.

The big kids enjoyed the pool at their camp- Belle Meade. For the first two weeks of summer, they both attended and enjoyed hiking, fishing and swimming in the pool and Rappahanock River.

We've also enjoyed "letter boxing" through the local library. This is our third year participating and it's a great summer activity. We follow clues to find "boxes" hidden at special places all over the county and then keep a rubber stamp log of all the boxes we've found.

Last week Patrick attended "sleep-away" Bible camp for the 3rd year in a row. He was happy to see several buddy's from school and enjoyed the missionary from China the best.

Margaret went to Camp Culley again this year at the local museum and learned about Culpeper history. Abby enjoyed picking her up each day and participating in some of the activities. She also enjoyed spending time with the museum cat Missy-bits who just had kittens. On the last day, the kids made a hobo stew over the camp fire and had an awards ceremony. Margaret earned the "noisiest camper" award. Great!