Chincoteague

Abbie at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel scenic overlook.

 We set out for Chincoteague for a beach and pony visit.  From Richmond, we traveled through three underwater tunnels as we drove to Virginia's Eastern Shore.

 Our hotel has a Chincoteague pony that you can visit.   Here is Abbie and Sophie with Lightning.

The Assateague lighthouse was built in the 1860s.

 We climbed to the top of the light house.

 View from the top.

The girls completed the Junior Ranger program at Toms Cove.

 Here is the family, except for Paula.  She took the picture.

 Toms Cove has a great beach and a nice visitor center.

 The ponies grazing in marshland.

After we spent a few days with Matt's family at their home in Richmond, VA, we drove over to Chincoteague Island, VA which is on the eastern shore of Virginia.  We often visit Virginia Beach while we are visiting in the summer but we decided to try something different this year.  We drove about 3 hours or so to get to Chincoteague.  We had heard that it was really neat to see the wild ponies.  The girls were so glad to get just a little beach time.  There are only about 4000 people who live on the island but once a year, they have the Pony Penning there which is a big deal.  It's at the end of July.  We were there about a week before that took place.  The local people told us that about 50,000 people come to the island each year to see the Pony Penning.  Local firemen and other guys ride around on Assateague Island (just across from Chincoteague and herd up all of the wild horses.  They put them in a corral for a few days and then they have them swim across the channel.  After they do this, they auction off the wild ponies that have been born.  However, each year, several of the ponies that are auctioned off are donated back to the wild so that they can maintain a wild herd of horses on the island.

The weather was wonderful while we were there!  It was not really that warm at all.  We were even a little chilly.  Matt, Paula and the girls took a boat tour one morning around the island but ironically enough, we couldn't see the wild ponies very well while we were in the tour.  We actually got some nice views of them just driving around Assateague Island.  We also enjoyed visiting the lighthouse with Aunt Leia.  Our legs were definitely sore for a couple of days after walking up all of the stairs in the lighthouse!  We enjoyed seeing some new things and spending time with family.

More from Richmond

 On Saturday, July 20, we went to downtown Richmond.  The weather was awesome for being outside.  We bought tickets for a canal boat tour, and we walked around for a bit before our tour.

Sophie and Abbie in Shockoe Bottom

 Captain Cotton was the tour guide for the canal cruise.  He was awesome because of his passion for history.  The cruise route is probably only 2 miles long with an enthusiastic story teller as tour guide.  Captain Cotton threw in some corny jokes that reminded me of a typical ride on the Jungle Cruise at Disney World.

At night, we went to a minor league baseball game in Richmond.  It was 80s night, so the Ghostbusters were there for photo ops.  Matt wore his Walley World shirt which was quite appropriate for the 80s theme.  We all enjoyed 80s prices at the snack bar: $1 sodas and $1 popcorn.

Richmond Visit; Henricus

 We went to visit Matt's parents in the Richmond, VA, area this summer.

 We flew to Washington DC, and rented a car to drive to Richmond on Thursday, July 17.   The plane was only half full, and we had the whole back half to ourselves.

On Friday, we visited Henricus Historical Park.  Henricus was the second permanent English settlement in North America; Jamestown was the first.  The park features a reproduction of the village from 1611, and it is an attraction similar to Jamestown settlement, but smaller in size.  We thought the kids would enjoy a lower-key history experience than visiting Jamestown Settlement or Colonial Williamsburg.

 Everyone tried some of the herbs and spices growing in the garden.  Abbie tries some spearmint in this picture.

 Abbie loved to help clean the house.

 Abbie loves goats.

We visited a reproduction of Rev. Alexander Whitaker's house in Henricus.  Pocahontas was abducted by English settlers and was converted to Christianity under Whitaker's direction probably at Henricus. Pocahontas had grown up in the area, and her tribe traded with the English settlers at Henricus and Jamestown.

 Abbie tried on some armor.

Sophie visited a reproduction of an Indian village at the park.  It was interesting to us that Pocahantas was not actually a princess.  Pocahantas' father, Chief Powhatan, was the chief of the Powhatan confederacy. However, the royal secession ran through women.  Powhatan's oldest sister's oldest son was the next in line for the chiefdom.

All in all, we had a great day.  The weather was nice, and Henricus Park had just enough fun things to do for Abbie and Sophie.

Fun on the 4th at the Gray's

Our family of four.

Sophie, Carley, Katie and Savannah (in front)

Hailey and Abbie

baby Madeline and I

Our family had a nice 4th of July this year.   I had thought that I might end up working that day but then I didn't have to which was nice.  Matt was off too so we ran a few errands, grilled out for lunch, and had a nice day.  We were able to see Paw-paw and Nana for a little while too.  That evening, we headed over to our friends, the Gray's for their annual 4th of July cookout.  The weather was so wonderful this year with high temps only in the low 80's.  The Gray's hosted our Sunday school class and the kids all had a great time playing outside, running through sprinklers, playing in their play house and riding around in the motorized cars.  Matt and I were able to visit with friends and eat a lot of good food.  I was able to hold baby Maddie for a long time because she fell asleep.  One of the guys  in our class shot off a lot of fireworks in the backyard before the big fireworks show.  Then, our family started heading towards home but stopped to watch the end of the Brentwood fireworks show.  This year, Matt had a bad cold so he wasn't feeling the best but he made it.  

Hanging out at Goofballs

Sophie's ready to bowl!

Abbie's ready to bowl too!

The girls loved riding the bumper cars!

Here's Abbie in her pretty white dress with Daddy after church one day.

One day last week, I took the girls to Goofballs so that we could use a Groupon deal that I had bought.  The girls had a great time playing the laser game, playing on the playground, doing the mini bowling, riding the bumper cars and playing some video games.  It was a fun thing to do while it's hot outside!

Fun with Cousins

Look how big Monroe is getting!

Monroe, Sophie, Abbie and Morgan

Abbie is excited about going to Encore camp for her first day!

We've been staying busy this summer.  Last week, we had VBS at our church each night and it totally wore us out.  Matt and I led a group of 3rd graders including Sophie.  The kids had a wonderful time at VBS this year learning about Moses and the Red Sea this year.  We've also been going to the pool in our neighborhood a few times each week and trying to get together with some friends this summer.  Last week, Aunt Martha and Uncle Matt came down for a little bit and the girls were able to play with Morgan and Monroe.  We all enjoyed it!  Monroe has grown so much!  Morgan loved playing doctor with the girls.

This week, the girls are attending a camp at their school where they get to take fun classes that they've picked like painting, American Girl, Rainbow Loom, etc.  I'm sure they will bring home lots of cool stuff at the end of the week.  =)

Funny Story on Abbie

A couple of weeks ago, the girls and I were shopping at the grocery store.  We were on the baking aisle picking up a couple of things when we passed by the birthday stuff.  Abbie stopped to look at all of the candles, icing, decorations, etc and then, said, "Mom, next year, when Sophie turns 10 we are going to have to buy her candles somewhere else."  I said, "Why?"  She said, "because they don't have a candle that says '10'."  I laughed and told her that if you want a candle to say '10', you have to buy a '1' and a '0'.  It was so cute though!  The girls know that I like to buy the number candle of the birthday year that they are celebrating so that I can look back later and remember for sure how old they were.

The girls enjoy helping me bake sometimes!