Family Picnic

As part of our Memorial Day weekend, we packed up a picnic lunch and drove to a local fishing spot called Motts Reservoir. While it was still pretty hot and muggy, we lucked out and got a picnic table in the shade - and with the trees surrounding us, we enjoyed a light breeze as well. It's a nice place! We've heard about it for some time now and I'm so glad we had the opportunity to finally go. Our family loves nature - and spots like these really remind me of HOME!

Besides a toddler having a potty accident, a toddler wanting to kill any bug she saw (even after explaining that the outside is the BUG'S environment!), a younger toddler trying any chance he could to get up and close to the water and a preteen not enjoying the quiet outdoors and playing in the dirt with sticks...our picnic went without a hitch! :) I'm so glad my kids had a good time though.

Fredericksburg Annual Luminaria

{Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center}

To honor those that have and are serving our country, our family and our good friends (the N family), drove to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery for a special event they put on called "Annual Luminaria." They gave us a hand out with information about the event that was interesting, so I thought I'd include it here...

2010 Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria

"In 1995, representatives of the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts approached National Park Service officials in Fredericksburg with the idea of starting an Annual Luminaria program to honor American soldiers who had died in service to their country. The National Park Service enthusiastically embraced the idea, and the Fredericksburg National Cemetery Lumineria was born.

The task was as imposing as it was admirable: to light one luminary for each of the 15,300 American soldiers who were laid to rest in the National Cemetery. Because many plots contain more than one body, roughly two Luminaria are used for each stone. The graves of Union soldiers dominate Fredericksburg National Cemetery, with a lesser number of plots set aside for soldiers who fought in the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II. (Confederate soldiers are buried in a separate cemetery in town.) The National Cemetery was closed to new interments in the 1940's.

Hundreds of Scouts participate in the Annual Luminaria program. On Memorial Day weekend, they assemble the luminary bags and place them beside the graves. As darkness settles over the Cemetery, Scouts light the candles, illuminating the hillside. Visitors walk among the graves, pausing now and again to listen as volunteers explain different aspects of the cemetery's history. Every thirty minutes "Taps" sounds on the wind, its mournful tones reminding Americans of the sacrifices that other have made for their freedom."

{While we initially waited for the shuttle, I caught Andrew pulling some funny faces from his daddy! :)}

We got there a little after 8 pm, when the event started, and waited for the free shuttle to transport us from the parking lot by the University over to the cemetery. The wait time was quite awhile we came to find out and realizing it wasn't a far walk...we decided it would be quicker to do so! It was only about 1/2 a mile - so not too bad. But the humidity was a kicker!

{John and his friend walking with their boys on their shoulders. So cute!}

{And now he's pulling on his ears. John is NOT thrilled! And little Andrew looks like he's just holding on having no idea to his daddy's discomfort. I found it pretty funny. (Sorry John!)}

{Walking along Sunken Road - almost to the cemetery. Here is a post the last time we were here.}

{Luminaria along Sunken Road}

{National Park Employees - greeting visitors to the event}

{Across the street, LOTS of motorcyclists parked to come join the evening.}

{My girls}

{Andrew's a bit blurry here, like many of the photos as it was getting dark, but I still thought he looked cute. Blurry and all! :)}

{Picture taken of the flag where TAPS was being played}

{One of our closest friends here: The N Family}

{And then a photo of our family before heading home}

If you've gotten this far, congratulations! :) And if you're interested in seeing some "Coming Home" photos, Pioneer Woman hosted a ton of inspiring and touching pictures you won't want to miss in observance of Memorial Day.

Our family, being a military family, is so thankful to those that serve (or have served) our country.

Thank you!!!!

Our Summer Highlights

Okay. Summer is quickly approaching and school days are almost done for the year (yea!), so I thought it was about time to think up a "wish list" of activities. And of course, our family wants to do a TON of things this summer (some local, and some not) - to get us out and about and having some much needed family fun time! We really want to see as much as possible while we live in the area, so I wrote them all down and we're going to just try and tackle what we can and see where it takes us!

• Arlington Cemetary
• Virginia Safari Park
• Jefferson Memorial
• Appomattox Court House
• Williamsburg (Busch Gardens, Sesame Street)
• Shenandoah National Park (Skyline Drive)
• Luray Caverns
• Camping with friends
• Trip to the beach
• Westmoreland Berry Farm
• Home projects (redoing bathrooms, etc.)
• Richmond Zoo
• Library of Congress
• Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
• Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center
• Chatham Manor (indoor tour)
• Carl's Ice Cream
• George Washington Birthplace...

as well as the simple pleasures of: bubbles, sidewalk chalk, kids playing in the sprinkler, backyard bbq's, movie nights, swimming, trips to the library and playground, slurpees from 7-Eleven...and just watching my children have fun!!! :)

Spring 2010 Soccer Championships

{Hugs before the game}

Aubrey's team played a tough game and put up a hard fight as one of the teams to make it to the Spring 2010 Soccer Championships, but they ended up losing 2 to 1. We're still really proud of them and how far they got into the season - especially because tonight they played against a previous played team that wasn't very sportsman-like and refused to high five them at the end of that game. But this time, they changed their tune and gave them high fives at the end. It was a great season...and this concludes our soccer updates until it resumes again in the Fall! Happy summer! :)

{Aubrey - blue shirt, middle player}

{They sprayed their hair red to match their socks}

{Aubrey tossing the ball back into the game}

{Bleachers=drums!}

{Aubrey's team scoring their 1 point}

{Aubrey getting ready for the ball}

{Happy boy!}

{And silly too...he kept running out onto the field and getting snatched and brought back to our seats}

{Aubrey - blue shirt, middle}

{Jocelyn wanted me to play ball with her}

{So we did! :)}

{It was a hot day and they played hard - they're getting their much deserved after game snacks. Cookies & popsicles}

{And having fun dunking their coach with their waters (not Gatorade at the coaches request! Smart!)}

{But Aubrey managed to be the one to get water splashed on top of his head! She got a big kick out of it!}

{Good game, Aubrey! We love you!}