Setting up camp...

WOW! We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful weekend! It all started Friday when I got the idea to set up the little tent! Well, first, both boys were all about it...then it was just me...






then Patrick chipped in again...



then Zach set up his art studio...



soon after that, Patrick's little friend, Adam (from kindergarten) stopped by and we all ended up walking to the ballpark! They both had just played that morning and weren't ready to quit...so I was pitcher and Zach was outfielder (on his bike..haha)

Double rainbow!

In the middle of all my unpacking madness, I opened my shop door to throw out some more boxes and saw the most incredible double rainbow, when it wasn't even raining! So I called for the boys to see it...and we just HAD to check it out!



We rode (walked) to the end of the street...hoping to find the lucky pot of gold at the end...but had this view of this most beautiful sunset instead!



We have some 'pet goats' a couple houses up, so we had to stop and say hello to them too...

Glen Allen Days at Meadow Farm Park

Saturday was "Glen Allen Day" at the same place we went fishing with the bamboo poles...They had lotsa fun stuff to do and it was a great family day!



This ginormous flag was on a crane in the parking lot. I hope it doesnt give Zach any ideas about what we may have at our NEXT house! ha!



They had a small car show too...This beetle was a favorite with all 3 of us! The seats were made to look like gloves!



of course we HAD to do the inflatable slide!!!



I think Patrick looks like he's skateboarding...I got him in midair! ha!



My baseball player got the guy in on his first try...of course! haha



Zach had a close one!!



We went on a little "train ride" thru the trees...



some of us liked it more than others...



Then we ended a beautiful day with a beautiful picnic!! Again, some of us enjoyed it more than others...hahahahaha Can you tell these are my kids or WHAT?! Did I only pass on my "expressions" to them??? GEESH! hahahaha



This is my most favorite pic of Patrick. It's moments like this that make me truly happy and so thankful. This is a for real smile...he really did have a good time. :)

fishing w/the bamboo poles...

...I forgot to turn these pics before I loaded them on here...will have to fix that before next blog...




We went to one of Patrick's favorite fishing holes last week...he found some old bamboo poles in the little shed out back he wanted, make that, HAD to try out!




Zach's not that into fishing, so we brought bread...good thing! I counted about 70 of these little poop machines!!!



Here we go, one last throw...



ok...ONE more try...



My girlfriend came out and brought her mini-greyhound dog. The boys loved him! haha

unwelcome neighbor...

sorry...but this spider gives me the willies!!! ...not the FOUR egg nests (I'm guessin' that's what they're called?) with probably a gazillion babies inside!!!! Well, momma spider musta known I wasn't very crazy about her, because she's been gone for about a week now! I'm hoping to the little fixer upper next door and not INSIDE my house!!

The First Day of School

Well, here we are. The first day of 3rd grade and kindergarten. You can see the school right across the field...The boys were so excited to walk!



...awww...



This is Zach's kindergarten class...his teachers name is Mrs. Utley...



...who has been teaching kindergarten for 19 yrs!!! :0 I've heard different things from different people and am leaving it up to Zach the ladies man. If he can't win her heart, no one can! ;)



I was walking out the door here and I think we were both holding back tears. I thought it'd be a piece of cake since he's been there for 2 yrs with Head Start...But I was the one boo-hooing down the hall. Am gonna try to do better today tho... :)

p.s. you might be wondering why there aren't many pics of Patrick...are you kidding!? This is SO uncool. There was NO way I'd be allowed to take a pic in HIS class! And God help me if I started crying in front of HIS friends! ...haha...

THE flagpole!

Zach's wish came true...he got his own "raising flag pole"! I'm not quite sure how tall it really is, it comes in 3 pieces and the bottom part is 9' 5" and when I walked it off, it was 23 of my feet...so anyway, it's BIG. It was at the top of my "to-do" list while they were on vacation...He loves to come out first thing in the morning and raise his flags.




I don't understand the obsession with all the flag business, Zach's been this way forever! They HAVE to be big enough to "blow in the wind"...he could do this for hours. Raise and lower...raise and lower...




...Now it's playtime!...

Labor Day Wkend

this is looking at our house from the road...the main road (route 360) goes right in front), so we only play in the back!

this is Zachman riding his bike for the first time with NO training wheels!!! He kept pestering me and pestering me, so I finally took them off and didn't even have a chance to help him...he took off on his own and has been non-stop ever since!

here are the 2 "new kids" testing out the neighborhood...


...our new tire swing! ...from a "ford mustang gt!"... lol

our first social gathering! we had Lisa, her friend Amy and Miss Carol and Buddy over for a cookout. i could feel g'ma around me when i was preparing everything. i can hardly wait til i get all my "entertaining things" unpacked so i can really do it! :)

zach and his favorite way to ride the swing!

and who is this? our yaya? Lisa?