My boys and water

It's summer. We've spent some time in water this week.

Ammon LOVES staring at his hands. He does it more than any baby I have ever seen.

And he smiles. I love baby smiles at this age. They are so beautiful.

At Meagan's (their cousin's) birthday party they played in the river or is it a creek?

I loved all the Greens and blues and browns the day afforded. It was the first day of summer and it was perfect.

Vacation

Mike's store inventory was on June 6th, Goldie finished school two days later and we headed off for a little bit of a vacation that evening. We spent the first few days with Arrel and Marcia and the latter part of our week with Betty.

We got to go to the temple and Mike was able to do some work for his family, more especially his brother-in-law.

Mom and Dad watched the kids in a hotel while Mike and I went.

Then we all went back to the temple so the kids could walk around and see where we had been.

Josiah wanted to get a picture of him with Moroni. Isn't he awesome?

Afterwards we drove back to the padres home and later that day went to check out the state park. It had a fun hiking trail that I'm pretty sure we all got chiggers on. That has been fun trying not to itch.
But the picture above is from the next morning when we went on a guided nature walk. The guide is pointing out a paw paw tree.

In the afternoon we went to a plantation home called Prestwould and had another guided tour. It was my first plantation home, despite all the years I've lived in the southeast. It was interesting.

That evening we went to have sushi-a recent dream of Josiah's-and saw this

dinosaur.

The kids nicknamed him Scrappy.

And then Arrel and Marcia took us to see his brothers.
On Sunday we went to church and then headed home to spend the night. Monday we we went to Mom-maws and did more tye-dye and batik. It was a fun time away from the everyday.

Goldie's last day of school

June 8th was Goldie's last day of kindergarten. I sent her with Mike who dropped her off at school. Then I fed the boys breakfast and loaded them up with their lunch and we headed for a nearby park. We arrived at the same time as the 200 kindergarteners on the bus did.

It wasn't difficult for Goldie and Josiah to find one another and begin playing amongst the sea of children.

It was such a hot day all of us but Josiah spent the majority of the time in the shade. He didn't really even want to eat lunch he as having so much fun playing with strangers.

This is Goldie with her teacher. She is done. She has completed one year. My girl is growing. We love ya!

Ridge Runner

There was much anticipation and excitement for this simple train ride we recently took.

At $1 per person the cost of a ride around the park can't be beat.

And although some of us are camera shy we still had fun watching the smoke, feeling  the chug, chug,

enjoying the open air ride,

and going through tunnels.

This cute little train was recently restored to its former glory and now runs the track around the Bluefield City Park.

We rode it for the first time this month and had a good time.

Things are different

On June 3 we headed over to Mom-maw's for our weekly visit. I love this picture I took of Josiah at Staples. I was waiting for a copy they were making me for one of my sewing projects and Josiah grabbed some sidewalk chalk and took advantage of the time. It was fun.

And then while we were at Mom-Maw's we went for a walk up the holler. I wanted to cry. Many of the trees are gone and the road has lost it's old time country charm. It's changed so much and I've only known it less than ten years. Mike said he didn't even recognize the spot he was at. The gas company is enlarging the road in order to further their pursuit of natural gas resources. It almost makes me want to join the conservationists that are against mountain top removal here in the east.

And although it is sad to me that the road has changed at least some things remain the same including family and love,

smiles and fun,

and little boys who like big holes.

Goldie's First Field Trip

On June 1, 2010 Goldie went on her first field trip.

Due to some strange rule in this district, no parents are allowed to ride on the bus so Ammon and I followed Goldie and her classmates (Tori is pictured above) in the Explorer.

There was a bucket of dirt just for Goldie and I. She dug into it, looking for precious gems.

Then she worked out all the dirt and was left with some pretty cool rocks.

Right in the midst of all the action, Ammon decided it was time to eat, so we took a time out.

Until he felt much better.

Then he thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the day while everyone else ate lunch and played. Later on in the day we made necklaces out of the stones Goldie had gotten. It was a great adventure.

Lookin' for Smiles...

Have you seen any smiles lately?





Hope you have had a great Memorial Day!