September trip to Chattanooga

Sophie and Abbie are enjoying the trail at Rock City.

Paw-paw with his granddaughters.

view from the top at Rock City

our family

look who's in the birdhouse.

Martha, Uncle Matt, Monroe, and Morgan

Abbie loved geocaching (I think that's what you call it).

Our family enjoyed going to Chattanooga, TN with Paula's parents and sister, Martha's family over Labor Day weekend.  We had a great time!  Our family got there on Friday night but Nana and Paw-paw and Martha's family got there mid-afternoon on Friday.  We stayed at the same hotel.  On Saturday morning, we got up and had breakfast and went to Rock City.  It was a nice day for a hike.  Even after seeing all of the signs along the interstate growing up, some of us had never been.  Everyone enjoyed being together.  When we finished there, we went and had pizza for lunch.  Aunt Martha and Uncle Matt's family decided to head on home so that their boys could nap on the way home.  Nana and Paw-paw went with Paula, Matt, Sophie and Abbie over to Raccoon Mountain Caverns which had gotten better reviews than Ruby Falls.  We took a cave tour which was nice because it's always cool inside a cave.  After that, Sophie and Abbie enjoyed doing some geocaching for the first time where you try to look for pretty rocks among the sand.  They also rode go-carts with Matt.  Nana and Paw-paw headed on home after the cave tour.  That afternoon, our family tried Clumpy's for some delicious ice cream.  We explored a little bit around downtown Chattanooga.  On Sunday morning, we went to another state park (I can't remember the name of it) where there were some beautiful views of Chattanooga.  The girls did the Junior Park Ranger Program there (well, mostly Sophie).  Then, we headed on home.  

Abbie's Fall Program

our cute little acorn

peace man

Abbie and her friend, Molly

Abbie shows off her art work.

our family

Paw-paw and Nana with the girls.

Last week, Abbie's grade had a fall performance at school called "Nuts".  Her class was supposed to dress up like different acorns.  We borrowed a costume from our friends, the Clarks, who had used the same costume a couple of years ago.  All of the children did a wonderful job singing and acting out their parts.  Although Abbie did not get a solo this time, she sang out.  Their music teachers do a great job preparing the kids for these programs.  They sang about the circle of life.  They had kids dress as trees, acorns, rainbows, squirrels and various types of woodland creatures such as rabbits, foxes, owls, etc.  They did a wonderful job!  It was a very rainy night but we were happy that Nana and Paw-paw could come and watch Abbie's performance with us.

1st Day of School

Abbie and Mrs. Bates

Abbie and Sophie-1st day of 2nd and 5th grades!

Abbie and her best buddy from last year, Molly.

I know that I should have posted these a while back.  We got them on facebook in a timely manner but I forgot to go back and put some on here.  The school year is definitely in full swing now.  Both of the girls are having a good year in school.  Abbie likes her teacher, Mrs. Bates and she seems to have some nice kids in her class.  Her teacher told me that she likes to talk but I remember that I could be quite chatty when I was that age too.  Sophie has three different teachers this year instead of 2.  She has her first male teacher (besides P.E.) and he is a great teacher.  Sophie has a totally different group of kids in her class this year so that's a little bit of a challenge.  Academically, they definitely expect more in 5th grade but she's doing fine.

Both of the girls are involved in Girl Scouts again.  Abbie is also playing soccer.  Sophie made it into the Student Council this year and she is also involved in Colt Chorale, their singing group.  Sophie is also still taking violin lessons and enjoying it.  I'm going to try to give Abbie a few piano lessons on my own for a start because she seems interested.  

Colonial Williamsburg

50's style McDonald's in Williamsburg

Feeding chickens at Colonial Williamsburg

Sophie was excited about getting a huge pancake

Williamsburg

Abbie's favorite thing about Williamsburg was helping in the kitchen

Out and About in Richmond-Virginia trip part 2

Abbie riding her scooter across a pedestrian bridge.

The girls are ready for a fun day at Water Country!

Abbie and Aunt Leia

Go Abbie!

our family out on the rocks!

The girls love to explore!

We drove down near the river in Richmond and parked on Tuesday.  Then, we walked across the pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle (Abbie rode her scooter).  We walked around the island a little bit.  It was not too hot but it was a little bit humid, I think.  We walked out on the rocks where there were a few little rapids.  There were a bunch of people out kayaking on the river.  All of a sudden, it started to rain some so we walked back to where our car was parked.  We ate lunch at a restaurant called "The Dairy Bar".  Everyone ordered ice cream or milk shakes for dessert.  One thing that was funny is that Matt and I ordered a shake and said that we were going to share it.  They split our shake into 2 little cups when they brought it out.  =)  I thought that they would just give us two straws.

On Wednesday, we drove back to Williamsburg and went to Water Country.  We got there pretty much right after it opened.  We had a wonderful time!  We rode lots of rides but we missed their diving show.  They aren't doing it this year.  Water Country got pretty busy for a weekday but it was still fun.  The girls loved the new ride-I think it was something about a nautilus or a conch shell.

Busch Gardens-Virginia trip part 1

Abbie and Sophie in the England section at Busch Gardens.

Family tradition: getting a picture by this sign.  

Matt, Abbie, Sophie and Aunt Leia riding the Elmo ride.  This was Abbie's favorite when she was little.

Abbie's enjoying the mist.

Aunt Leia, Abbie and Paula on the teacups ride.

Abbie, Matt, Sophie and Aunt Leia braved the river rapids ride.  It was a little too cool for me that morning.

Girls on the bumper cars.

Abbie and Sophie with the tourist bear.

Mimi bought Abbie this snake as a souvenir.

Usually, at least once a year, we visit Busch Gardens when we go up to visit Matt's family in Richmond, VA.  We arrived in Richmond on a Saturday night this time.  On Sunday, after church and going out for lunch, we went swimming at Aunt Leia and Uncle Rahul's swimming pool at their apartment complex.  It wasn't crowded and we all enjoyed it.  Monday morning, we headed to Busch Gardens.  We had a rainy start to the day but the weather cleared off and we had a good time!  The girls rode lots of rides and we saw a few shows.  We came back that night very tired!   After Abbie went on the raft ride pictured above, she was very upset because she had gotten a little bit wet.  She calmed down though after a few minutes.  

I Spy Franklin and 4th of July Fun

in the middle of the square in downtown Franklin doing our I Spy activity.

the girls in downtown Franklin

downtown Vanceburg, KY

Abbie's waiting to ride the little train ride.

Sophie on the train.

Uncle Gary took us into the Old Vanceburg Depot where there's a little museum.  The girls enjoyed seeing this old post office set up.

nice and cool weather before the rain moved in

The girls are all smiles.  They are ready for a ride in Uncle Gary's side by side.

Come on, mom and dad, hop in so we can go!

silly girls!

They finally both jumped and stayed up at the same time!  Abbie looks like a ballerina!

Abbie taught Aunt Jo to jump too.

Aunt Jo and Uncle Gary with the girls.

Papa Tom's marker.  We took some flowers to put by it.

The girls chillin' with cousin Drew.

Sophie, Dani, Samantha, Drew and Abbie (front)

Whee!  Here I go!

Drew's chalk drawing of a minion.

Sophie drew a sunset.

Abbie's chalk drawing (I don't remember what she drew).

Our family enjoyed an extended 4th of July weekend in eastern Kentucky with several of Matt's extended family members.  We arrived there on Thursday night and stayed with Uncle Gary and Aunt Jo.  It was kind of rainy for a couple of days but the weather was mostly sunny on the 4th of July.  The girls enjoyed going out in Uncle Gary's side by side on Friday and just hanging out.  As you can see, the girls had a great time jumping and trying to get that on camera.  I hope these pictures bring a smile to your face like they did to mine!!

Friday night, we went to a festival in downtown Vanceburg for a while.  Then, on Saturday morning, we took the girls by where Papa Tom, Matt's dad, is buried.  They did not come for his burial in Kentucky but they did come for his funeral in Virginia  (they were several weeks apart).  We were able to take a few flowers from Aunt Jo's garden to put by his marker.

We spent most of the 4th at Aunt Peg and Uncle Danny's house in Wurtland, KY, in the town where Teresa, Matt's mom, grew up.  The girls had a wonderful time playing with cousins in Danny and Peg's pool.  They had several members of the family over for a cookout.  We were thankful that the rain held off for the afternoon.  Later that evening (after dinner, etc), we headed back to Gary and Jo's house and we went to see some nearby fireworks.  I was pretty impressed with their fireworks show because Vanceburg is a really small town.  The next morning, we got up and went to church with Gary and Jo and had lunch.  Then, we headed back home.  We had a great weekend!