Celebrating 10 Years of Home Ownership

On my list of "I Wish" should be pictures of our family and house each year.

I have the first and somewhere are some random others.

But more important than a photo is the storehouse of memories contained in these walls.

It may not be my "dream house" but it is my dream come true: a home full of the people I love.

  

  

  

Here's to ten more years of memories!

Pioneering Days

Nestled in the rolling hills of southwest Virginia lay a cluster of cabins.

 

 

 

 

Through my high school years, I worked here on the weekends, and in college, I returned for the summer.  I can guarantee that it never crossed my mind that I would be bringing my own children to Pioneer Camp (though I do clearly remember being grilled about my relationship with Doug).

 

 

 

Andrew and Stephen were the only ones old enough to attend, but the rest of us joined for the end-of-the-week activities, and Jonathan and Josie jumped into the Virginia Reel.

 

 

 

Matthew made friends, and I think they just might be making plans for camp in a couple of years.

 

 

 

 

 

In Which We (Finally) Celebrate Katherine's Birthday

The stars just didn't align for Katherine this year.  Firstly, her father skips town and misses the milestone birthday.  Secondly, her mother's elaborate plans were a bit too ambitious.  Thirdly, she fell ill to some nasty bug.

 

 

But the siblings were itching for cake and besides themselves with excitement over gifts so a party had to happen, rain or shine, in sickness or in health.

 

 

I had reminded myself to make a baby cake just for her, but in the process of actually baking the thought slipped from my mind.

 

 

Wariness gave into excitement.

 

 

And tasting was even better.

 

 

 

The boys had energetically made and wrapped gifts on her actual birthday and they were quite anxious for her to open them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of Stephen's handmade gifts: the giraffe can be removed.

Katherine was delighted with her (recycled) bead necklaces.

 

 

 

 

And apparently Pooh was the card of choice this year as it was sent by both sets of grandparents.

 

 

And while it didn't happen on her real birthday and was not quite the event of my dreams and the star of the show was under the weather, it fit our family just right.

 

 

We're so thankful for this little member of our family.

The Scouts are Back

 

They returned in one piece with tales to tell (mostly about sleep or lack thereof).  Favorite activity?  Art.  Lessons learned?  It can get really cold, even in July - scouts should always be prepared.

Overheard

"I am not allergic to cats.  I can eat cat meat."  Jonathan

Park Play

What a pleasant surprise to wake up to 62 degrees of cool in mid-July. 

 

 

 

 

 

We headed out for our local elementary school and community park.

 

 

The boys had the best time pretending they were being flushed down a toilet and clogging the pipe.

 

  

 

A few weeks ago the whole family made the trek.  We tried to persuade the climbers to scale this chain rope and go over the top, but there were no takers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were determined today, however, and Matthew went over first and Stephen followed shortly.

 

 

 

 It's not terribly far but we parallel a rather busy road which is a daunting prospect with 5 kids in tow.  I trust the big ones pretty well (and they took their bikes); the girls were in the stroller; it was just Jonathan - the wild card.  So glad we made it there and back without incident. 

 

And extra thankful for the cool temps and open windows in summer.