The Virginia Creeper

Here are the pictures from Ryan and Trevor's camping weekend with Gramma and Grampa. I am not sure what happened to the pictures when I got them from Chad, but for some reason they are small and can't be blown up. If you know why, please let me know.

Anyway, they went on a 21 mile bike ride! Ryan said, "It was the best bike ride I've ever been on!" The trail is called the Virginia Creeper. It goes mostly down hill. Everyone loved it, but it took a long time to drive to where it was - 7 hours. This was there first real camping experience - sitting around the camp fire, food cooked over the fire, sleeping in a sleeping bag in a tent, fishing, meeting new friends. Trevor said, "I like putting the kindling in the fire!" They had lots of fun together, sounded like some good brother bonding! Thanks so much Gramma and Grampa for taking them! You are such blessings to all of us. We love you!!!!

Hanging out with Anderson

Well, last weekend Ryan and Trevor went camping with Grandma and Grandpa Johns. So, Anderson had lots of special mom and dad time. We made playdough, went out to eat, visited the zoo, played games, but his favorite part of the whole weekend was his special play date. Anderson had been asking to have Nicholaus and Henry over and so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. Anderson and I had lots of fun planning his "party". He wanted to go to the "Brewster's" park (a park next to Brewster's Ice Cream store). Our fun began at the park. The boys played, yes those are nasty looking rain clouds in the background. It did not rain, but boy was it HUMID!

After playing, we had a picnic lunch, which Anderson planned. There were dinosaur shaped sandwiches, cheetos, bananas and juice boxes. Then we walked over to Brewster's. Like I said it was hot! Most of their ice cream melted and by the time I had them wiped up, mine had melted also!

After the park we headed home, where there was more fun waiting. They rode bikes, jumped on the trampoline and played games. We played pin the tail on the donkey and a game similar to one I remember from the Bozo show:) During this game they won all sorts of fun prizes, including their pirate gear seen below.

A FEW DAYS SHY

Trevor's 7th Birthday is just around the corner and big things are already happening!

Yesterday, he lost his first tooth! He was so excited. He was eating an apple and the next thing I know he was running over to me with his tooth in his hand. Anderson was yelling, "Trevor lost a tooth!" Trevor said that he took a bite and felt something poking his gums. He thought it was a seed so he pulled it out, well that seed was his tooth! When Kris asked Trevor if he knew he had a loose tooth, Trevor responded, "No!"

Here is our proud little boy with his tooth missing.

Johnny Rocket's

Family Date Night!

Instead of telling you all about our family date night, I thought this would be a good opportunity to "talk" about ideas for Family Date Nights. I know that we could use a few new ideas. We don't always go out, but every once in awhile will will. So, here are my questions:

1.) What restaurants do you like to take the family to? (I am looking for some place fun for the kids, other than Chuck E Cheese's)

2.) What kinds of things do you do for family date night at home?

3.) Tell us about other fun family date night outings that don't include eating dinner.

Don't be shy! Share your ideas! What may seem plain and boring to you, may be a fresh idea to someone else.


And finally, our pictures from our most recent date.

Yoda

Ok, so its Anderson dressed in daddy's work clothes, but he sure does look like one of his favorite Star Wars characters!

The Middle, Finally!

So here it is, the week in review. We had lots of fun with Gramma Dee Dee and of course the time flew by with lots of activities to keep us busy. The start of the week brought sore throats and potential spoiling of our week, but thanks to prayers and vitamins they passed quickly. Our week was filled with soccer games, flag football games, shopping, more shopping, picnics, pictures (professional), projects at home, the jumping monkey, and lots of hugs & laughter.

Mom and Trevor playing skee ball at Chuck E. Cheese

Mom and Ryan having a race.

Anderson the builder.

Another race.

Cashing in tickets. We had over 400 . . . then when we got home I opened my purse to find a cup with over 100 more tickets in it! So, of course we had to make another trip to Chuck E. Cheese later in the week. We cashed in our tickets AND played a few more games. That time our tickets totaled more than 600!

One night Mom, Kris and I went to P.F. Chang's for dinner.

The Jumping Monkey (fun for a day, but nothing to write home about)

Our soccer players. Sorry, there aren't any football pictures, yet. Ryan plays on the Stingray team, Trevor on the Shark team and Anderson on the Grasshopper team.

Ryan was so hot after the game. He scored three of their five goals!

Future soccer player.

The boys were so happy to have Gramma at their first soccer and football games.

And there you have it. A lot of pictures, but more were taken and lots more could have been. Such a fun week. We are very blessed!