Weekend with the folks

So my mom and dad came in for the weekend to visit and so my mom and I could play in a member-guest tennis event at the club. Here's a photo from our dinner tonight at the club where we had the deck to ourselves!


The kids participated in the SVSL Championships this morning, also at our club, and they did well in each of their three swimming events to contribute to the Blacksburg Country Club Barracuda's team win (photo of them with the team trophy)! It's great to end the season this way and the kids can see how it took the efforts of every member of every age to pull off this big win. Thanks to coaches Danielle, Genny, and Michele!

What the boys did on their summer vacation

Sigh...lots of Nintendo DS and Wii this summer! I saw an article that said something along the lines that kids in the US can name like twice as many Pokemon as they can species of animals. And no, we don't dress them alike on purpose, but every once in a while they make a grab for the same color PJs. They each have about six pairs in different patterns and colors...our favorites from Hanna Andersson.

Things completed from our summer list:

• Create family blog
• Learn some origami
• Ride bikes (need to do more of this one)
• Read Eragon

Things left to do:

• Lemonade stand
• Make cheese
• Read the gospel of John
• Spend time at the creek including a camp-out
• Go to New River

Spencer's Pastel Drawing

The Evening Sun by Spencer

Spencer and Oma went to Mish Mish today to get him pastels and paper and this is the exquisite little number he came up with. The picture doesn't do it justice, but he certainly has a nice eye (and a nice Oma!).

OBX part 2

This is a bucket of sea creatures gathered at Canadian Hole including one affectionately named "Snapper." I find this little guy amazing the way he takes off in the bucket!

And here's Hermie, another specimen we played with. We saw scallops, crabs, oysters, clams, mussels, etc. Then we went out to dinner and enjoyed their cousins in steamed form!

Spencer in the waves...and these are small ones compared to many that he spent time in. He has no fear, but a healthy respect for the waves and good techniques for handling them.

OBX

Grant - before he had his Lucky Charms!

View to the south from the deck off the kitchen.

North to Avon Pier

Here are the kids on the sound-side, in an area called "Canadian Hole" because of the numbers of Canadian windsurfers who descend upon the area. The water is warm, footing is soft sand, and you can walk out for probably a quarter of a mile without the water getting above your waist.

Grant the nester!

Hatteras Lighthouse - one of the few excursions we could get them on!

Spencer bobbing in the waves under the watchful eye of dad and brother.