Calm before the storm of family reunions

We laid low in the beginning of June so that we could go all out for our vacation.

The end of gymnastics...streeeettttcccchhhhh!

Beginnings of a backbend.

Handstand.

Dress-up.

Playground.

We got a bike for Beck a while ago, but he wasn't interested in riding it once we got home.  Then one day, we pulled up into the driveway, and Beck said he wanted to ride his bike.  Of course, it was pouring rain!  So I told him he could ride it in the garage, and he rode in little circles for 30 minutes!

They race each other.  Actually, when one gets ahead, 

the other whines for the winner to wait.  It's hilarious.  

The garage has turned into a second playroom.  Beck just has to throw things sometimes, 

and this is the best place for it, aside from the actual outdoors.

Bella found this little nook under our new bookcase.  She loves small spaces.

Dr. Seuss at the doctor's office before our trip.  

Ramsey told me at lunch, the day before our trip, that her ear hurt.  She NEVER complains like that, so I took it seriously.  I said I was calling the doctor, and she said, "maybe it doesn't hurt."  

I knew it was for reals!  She had too much wax in there, and long story short, the doc treated her for an ear infection (her second or third one ever).  She was a champ. 

Matt's point of view

These are photos from Matt, so this is almost like his own blog post :)

This is our piano, given to us by Matt's Uncle George Higginson (Zina's older brother) that recently passed away.  It is a welcome addition to our home.  I get to fondly remember Uncle George every time I walk in the front door.  He was such a warm, welcoming person.  

This is from the block party when the local firetruck showed up, sirens and all. 

Gettysburg, our Mother's Day adventure.

More Gettysburg.  Matt's pictures do it more justice than mine did.  I love Instagram.

The kids working the maze at Land of Little Horses in Gettysburg.

Gettysburg Museum mandatory pose with Abe Lincoln.

Our family room.

This is a console we picked up from the Spring Market in Lucketts, about 30 minutes away.  It was almost Beck's dresser, but we decided to keep it out in the family room/kitchen area.  Beck and Ramsey were a little confused at first and filled the top drawers with Beck's favorite things.

The kids at bluedogart cafe.

Big Pencil in Wytheville, Virginia outside of Wytheville Office Supply.  I remember this moment as one of the last pleasant moments of this walk, pre-ice cream of course. 

Fort Chiswell Animal Park.

Perfect picture of Humphrey, the thief that stole Beck's cup.

Matt took the kids on their first campout on Friday after work--they went to the picturesque Sugarloaf Mountain.  I stayed home and enjoyed the quiet.

They went with the Erbs and Smoots--no moms were in sight--just dads and kids.

Here is Jack with Leah on the motorcycle--Matt did this same thing with Ramsey!  Beck was having none of it apparently.  Too scary according to him :)  Agreed, Beck.

This campout included a swingset and a barn with a potty, so it was not too extreme.

Matt set up the tent and caught this beautiful scene perfectly.  He slept about 2 hours, but Ramsey slept great and Beck only woke up a couple of times.  When he woke up, he was just wide awake and started having a normal conversation with Matt.  He slept in for sure though.

Ramsey was thrilled to ride the ATV too.  Both kids fell asleep in the car on the way home that afternoon, and they were so tired that they even transferred to their beds.  Ramsey hasn't napped in about a year, I think, so she must have been really, really tired.  

I enjoyed my night off by having dinner with friends, soaking in the tub, g-chatting with a friend while enjoying a Law & Order marathon.  Then I slept in and woke up to silence.  No alarm clock, no kids calling for mommy and daddy.  It was pretty nice!  When Ramsey woke up from her nap, she was so happy to see me and hugged me around the neck and cuddled more than she usually does.  She really enjoyed the daddy-daughter-son bonding, and said her favorite part was making s'mores.

The last couple of weeks

Every year I have to attend 2 days of training to stay certified as an EEO Investigator.  It was June 5 and 6 this year.  It was pretty rough.  I had to make separate arrangements for each child, and it was tough for me to sit all day for 2 days!  I am out of "office" shape for sure--I don't know how Matt does it really.  The kids kind of melted down at the end of the second day.  We have chosen to mainly lay low until we go to the Warner and Brennan family reunions soon.  

June is here already!  Ramsey had the idea to make popsicles.

We used tiny paper cups and loosely followed Jessica Seinfeld's recipe shown above.  Sure, when Matt makes his smoothies, he just eyeballs it and throws some stuff in.  I need to follow a recipe because I don't have any natural finesse in the kitchen.  At all.

I didn't even put money in--he just enjoyed turning the wheel and stomping on the gas.  

We had just finished our mommy-son date at the toy store.  We didn't buy ANYTHING!  Success.

Yoga.

Ramsey is doing storytime for Beck.  

Sometimes, it is all too much for Bella.  The noise, the chaos.  I can understand.

Firefighters!

Two balloons entertained the kids for a few days.  Some fighting, but mostly glee.

Wytheville, Virginia

We met Joel and Zina in Wytheville, Virginia--they were in Townsend, Tennessee checking everything out for the upcoming Warner family reunion, and Matt had the bright idea of meeting them halfway for a quick visit.  We went from Thursday-Saturday and enjoyed the visit.  

Here is Beck packing his own backpack.

It was so hard for Ramsey to choose what to take.

Ramsey put on some tinted chapstick for the trip :)

We went to Fort Chiswell Animal Park.  It was amazing.  This is the fattest rabbit ever!

HUGE snake.

Ramsey wanted me to take a picture of her on each animal statue. 

We rode a bus for a safari--Beck was pretty iffy.  He had a cup of food in his hand, and the resident camel, Humphrey, snatched it right out of his hand!  He kept recounting it over and over again, "Mommy, remember when Humphrey took my cup?"  And an elk licked Ramsey's hand while she was feeding him, and she kept talking about that too.  She said it was gross, but she laughed about it.  

I've never been so close to a zebra like this--we got to touch him.

The turtles were all congregated on this log for a sunning session.

We checked out a local antique store, and the kids rocked this bear for 15 minutes.  

They were so careful and kind to this little guy.  

I think they are getting baby fever.  Ramsey recently told me "Mom, you will be so happy when you have a baby in your belly."  I don't know where that came from--

maybe I've been smothering them with too many kisses?

Beck even leaned in for a kiss.  

We were walking around town, and started getting tired and cranky, so we managed to find a small, local grocery store that had an ice cream stand.  

All the green is so beautiful.  

So, Ramsey and I wanted to go up the Big Walker Lookout Tower--it stands 100 feet high.  This is the view.  Matt was not interested in going, and I told him he didn't have to, but he insisted because his little girl was going (Ramsey) and he wanted to hold her hand.  Incidentally, she was barely nervous.  I was not scared at all, Ramsey was a little scared, and Matt was terrified.  

We gripped hands the whole time.

Here is my sweetheart--he managed to smile even though the height of the tower was crazy for him.

The kids LOVED staying in the hotel.  We brought a pack-n-play for Beck since he still sleeps in a crib, but they really wanted to sleep in the same bed (first time, if you can believe that).  I just piled pillows around them in case one of them rolled off.

Blue had his own dog bed and blanket on the floor.

It took a while for Beck to settle down, but he eventually conked out.

Look at these three!  Joel took off his glasses because he feels like he looks like David Letterman when he wears a hat and his glasses, and that is a bad thing :)

We stopped by Southern Virginia University on the way home in Buena Vista, Virginia.  Matt spotted this lunch spot--bluedogart cafe--and Ramsey was so proud.  Here she is posing with the original Blue Dog.  I had a wrap, Matt had a ham sandwich, Beck had a hotdog, and Ramsey had a grilled cheese.  It was a welcome change from fast food, which apparently half of the family struggles to digest.