Remembering Today

A pretty remarkable tree

Ginny, at Small Things, has been inspiring me with her tree pictures. I even got out the book she has been using as a resource, Remarkable Trees of Virginia, from the library with the hope of planning some remarkable tree day trips.

Well, I hadn't gotten around to visiting any of the trees in the book, but before the science museum yesterday we stopped at Maymont for a picnic. It was quite cooler than we were hoping, so we didn't stay long. Quite by accident, we came across this tree back behind the little outhouse. It didn't make the book and I don't know anything about it, but it looked pretty remarkable to us. I think my kids could have stayed there all day to climb on it! Yeah, we are definitely buying Maymont when we win the lottery.

They are all looking at my mom, who has the good camera. Hopefully, I can steal some of her pictures to get on here. My iPhone is handy, but not the best.

This is a better picture of the tree, although it is too dark. It is some kind of evergreen. Remind me to look it up! ;-)

More science (or one-baby wrecking crew!)

I couldn't believe these two were working together!

Uh-oh, look who's coming!

Head 'em off at the pass!

He's ba-ack!

Wait, not yet! We're not done.

Not so fast, little guy!

Should we let him? He's worked so hard to get here!

Success! :-)

Science in action (our field trip to the Science Museum of Virginia)

Fall outings

I know I was supposed to blog about summer and vacation, but it is easier tonight to recall the happenings of the last couple of weeks as opposed to the last couple of months. I promise to get to those posts, though, before they are lost forever.

The above picture is of my "home crew" (I decided that is how I will refer to my eight children still at home. I don't want to say all my kids, because it isn't all my kids. But the reality is there won't be too many pictures with all my kids any time soon.) standing in front of the paddle boat that we had our wedding reception on many years ago. I thought it was a cool idea for a picture. :-)

We spent that afternoon with my mom in Old Town. There was a "tall ship" , the Godspeed, visiting from Jamestown and we went down to tour it. It has been ten years since we were in Jamestown (bad homeschooling mommy!) so most of my kids hadn't seen it and those that did barely remembered it. So, we went. Sadly, they had it docked at the end of a pier filled with large, modern boats. The Godspeed was almost dwarfed by them. My kids weren't very impressed. I assured them it looks much larger by itself in Jamestown. They did enjoy going aboard and looking around. Big Red didn't like it so I spent most of the time walking him on solid ground.

Regina probably enjoyed it the most. She got into a conversation with one of the crew when she told him she is writing a novel about pirates and asked him questions about ships and such. They talked for a long time. Augustine wasn't impressed with the ship, but he was very impressed with all the airplanes coming into the airport just a couple of miles away. I promised myself to pack a picnic one day soon and head up to the airport park so we could relax and watch the planes for as long as little hearts desire.

Gratuitous cute baby picture!

More fall outing posts to follow after prayers and bedtime!

Random thoughts of gratitude- from the lake

Things that make the lake with eight kids a success:

Golf cart

Rash Guards

Spray-on sunscreen

Life Jackets

Lizards

Canoe

Sail boat

Moby Wrap

Floppy Hat from Hanna Andersson

Tick Twister

Homemade Pizza

Taboo  and SET

Calvin and Hobbes comic book

Morning walks to the dock with a cup of tea

Beautiful weather and happy kids!

Carolina Dreaming

What better way to spend a snow day than looking at vacation houses in the Outer Banks! We have spent the day going through the catalog and looking at the pictures on the internet. Only seven months until we go!

How about this one? Peach Duckquiri

The almost forgotten beach trip

Way back when, in September, we had a fabulous vacation to the Outer Banks with great friends. I have never gotten around to blogging about it, which is a shame because it really was a great time and I would hate to let the memories get lost in my head. There were twelve kids altogether, including two little toddler boys and two preschool girls. They all got along so well all week. And the weather was great! Who could ask for more?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Get packing, Mom, we're going on vacation!

There is so much I have wanted to post about this week, including the 4th birthday of a simply enchanting little red-head, but there have been virtually no real moments of quiet time all week!

And now for vacation! All my profound thoughts and precious memories will have to stay, hopefully, in my racing mind until we get back. Then, as life settles back to a more normal routine and rhythm, I will turn my attention to capturing these days that fly by without mercy.

Tonight, though, is laundry, the making of  lists and organizing of "stuff" all necessary for a week at the lake. Tomorrow, after a mind-boggling amount of work, (for the record- I hate packing!), we hit the road.

Once we get there, we will have a few days of nothing but us and the lake. No computers, no phones, no video games or DVDs. Just us, lots of books, lots of games, and lots of swimming. And hopefully, those truly quiet moments here and there for Mom to sit on the dock and take in the view, to breathe slowly and calm all those thoughts of what needs to be done. I am in need of some peace and some inspiration. I pray that this week will be just what I need.

And when I come back, there will be lots of pictures and stories of birthdays, loose teeth, new teeth, first words, and whatever else there is that is too good to forget.

Road Trip

Ahhh, the road trip. Those words had quite a different meaning 20 years ago. Should we go to the beach? Visit friends at another college? Or just drive through the mountains taking in the Fall scenery? What a decision!

Now,those words mean lists: the "which clothes to pack for each person" list, the "what we need in the van" list, and which of those things need to be accessible to me, the "what needs to get done before we can leave" list, etc.  Oh, the stress!

Somehow, it usually comes together, without too much missed or left behind. Those are the times when I take a deep breath and wonder what God was thinking to put an organizationally-challenged person in charge of 8 other human beings who seem so woefully  helpless. Even those who shouldn't be. Like the teen who, when dressing for the wedding we are attending says things like, "Mom, did you pack any black socks for me, or maybe an undershirt?"! I think it was easier before the older kids started thinking they could pack for themselves.

But we made it to Ohio and back. And really did have some fun along the way! A big thank you to Jim Weiss and his wonderful story-telling CDs!

I will post pictures, just as soon as I figure out how!!