Summers in Virginia

Summer 2011

Snow cone tongue

buckets at the beach

nekked 4 wheeling

loving the cats

Visitors from Germany

Sandy toes

Hope for green things

meeting new friends

sunsets

playgrounds

sweaty brows

toothy smiles

sailing with dad

relaxing with mom

the most handsome man ever...

taking it all in

teaching little brother things he needs to know

killing me with those eyes

don't mess with my breakfast

tea parties with new friends

snuggles in the shade

packages from Germany

can't stop eating...

watermelon as big as your head

talking to apa (grandpapa)

hairy chins

busch gardens

fun where ever we go

fun at home too

rocking the euro short

learning to swim like a fish

catching her first fish! (on a $9.99 Barbie fishing pole no less)

eating the fruits of her labor

homemade ice cream

sampling

consuming

♥Pretty♥ <---- check out my girl!

What have you been doing with your summer?

Second time around

I know this is late coming, but it is what it is.

TWO! It's been two years that our boy has been been enhancing our lives. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. He is such a little boy too- full of grins and mischief. His favorite things are cars and boats. Especially boats on the water. Every time we drive by a boat or water, he makes sure that everyone in the car is aware of this by yelling enthusiastically WATER! BOAT! WATER! WATER! BOAT! -His dad has taken to driving out of the way to avoid circumstances where we might encounter these things.

because why would you need a fork?!

gifts from afar

Don't you want this guy working your lawn mower?!

Cars cakelets

they be good!

He's not all boats and cars though- he's a stunt man. I like to think he's pretending he's a cannon ball when he hurls himself into pools, not that he's deliberately trying to turn my hair grey. He loves his sister and asks where Itney is when she's not around. Books are becoming a favorite too- as long as they're filled with cars. Or boats.

All in all, two has been pretty fun. Our boy is growing into a lovely little person, and I'm excited to see where the next year takes us.

Home again, home again....

We've found a home again! Mid-May we get to move in and make it ours... I'm so excited! Here are pictures from the current owners:

guest room 

Family room with wood stove!

Yes, the pool table will be staying here...

Lots of plants in the front

Guest toilet

Looking from the family room into the kitchen

kitchen

greenhouse! (there are 3 additional storage sheds) with a large garden

Children's bathroom

Office

Front porch

back patio

Master bedroom

kitchen

And the front of the house!

Come for a visit... we are already loving Virginia!

It all happens at five!

Or so I'm told... For months all I've been hearing is that "when I'm five, I can do anything, all by myself." Well, five has arrived! And while there is still a fair bit of help involved, our little girl is growing up. I remember when I was five, and it's kind of a big deal- she's going to have memories that we make together. This needs to be special.

Since we've just moved back to the US form Germany, we're living in temporary lodging. We have a few suitcases of our own stuff and the military has loaned us an apartment. Add a few decorations and voila, instant party!

Gifts from our friends the Buecheners!

Oh la, la... Hello Kitty!

A girls dream... lots of wrapping paper, lots of unwrapping to do!

Practicing the "I can do it myself" bubble blowing.

*love*

Playing is hard work... she had already visited her cats at their hotel, had lunch at Red Robin, watched a video and was getting ready for a small party at Chuck E. Cheeses'- all the anticipation sacked her out on the 5 minute car ride!

Our Realtors joined us along with some new friends for the birthday girl.  

And not to be forgotten... little brother shared a lot of love and a lot more drool with his big sis of 5!

well almost...

Country roads, take me home

To the place, I be-long
West virginia, (ahem... just Virginia) mountain momma
Take me home, country roads...

We're moving! I have tons of travel blogging to do, but just wanted to pass on this little tid-bit of news we recived last week. Looks like we'll be moving around March to go to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton Virginia.  Its a pause on J's flying career as he'll be doing a staff job at Air Combat Command, but hopefully he can go back to flying in a few years again.  But we are really excited about Virginia, we've been to Langley before and its an incredible area.  Lots to do and see.  Of course, nothing can compare to Europe but we can't stay here forever unfortunately!

Since July... really?

I'm a horrible blogger... I have tons of stuff to tell you about, just no time. Here's a little poem to how I've been living my life:

Song for a Fifth Child

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat- a- cake, darling and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

And out in the yard and there’s a hullabaloo

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.

1958 Ruth Hulburt Hamilton