Quick Virginia Trip

The day after my birthday we headed to Virginia after church.  It was snowing as we left, and we hoped to get ahead of the snow.  The snow stuck to the roads quickly, and going over the mountain on I 40 (by Monteray) was interesting...glad once we made it passed that part.  Once we got to Knoxville, we were ahead of the snow.  We decided to go I 40 instead up 81 (our normal route), because the snow was supposed to be bad in that direction.  Later in the evening in began snowing again, so we decided to stop and stay the night in a hotel.  We made it to Statesville, NC.  We made it to Virginia the next afternoon...whew!!!  Long drive~Done!!!

We went to the park that afternoon.  The park is really close to my mom's house...probably 3 minutes away.

Gigi and the kids

The next day, we went to the Virginia Living Museum.  The museum has one section they change around periodically.  This time it was a Smokey the Bear section....a whole section of hands-on play...like a children's museum.  The Smokey the Bear's theme was conservation.  The kids played in that section for a LONG time, and then we still had the rest of the museum to look through.  I think the next special exhibit is a dinosaur one...but, I don't think we'll be going there, though, while it's open.

Here are the pictures~

Mercy enjoyed the kitchen.

Fishing in the boat.

The Water Cycle area

More of the Water Cycle

planting trees

Aedan and Mercy
I loved this little section.

Josiah, the fire fighter

climbing the rock wall

Mercy and Gigi

one more tree planting picture

the boys and the shark

touch tank time ~ Josiah touching the sea star

Aedan touching the sea star

Josiah likes to draw the different animals he sees.

on the turtle

the boys with the alligator

Mercy with the alligator

Here's a family shot in the outside section.

Later that day, Ryan and I headed to Richmond for Joye's funeral.  It was so good to see Ryan and Christie there.  It's funny how I felt like I knew Joye, even though I had never actually met her.  We praise God that she is with Him in heaven!  We are so thankful for our friends...so glad Ryan Russell chose to wear his Clemson shirt the day he and Ryan met years ago:)

  We left the following day, and were able to go the shorter way~up 64 to 81.   We are so glad that we were able to make the trip.

34!

Wow!  Another WARM birthday!  Last year, it was warm on my birthday...warm being in the 60's and we went to Fall Creek Falls.  This year, we went to Burgess Falls.  We had a great time being outside; walking to the falls.  Once we got to the falls we hiked down to the top of the falls, and then down the side.  The trail started getting muddy, and the trail becomes more rocky (and slippery).  Here are some pictures of our day~

at the lookout

Aedan checking out the falls

Josiah and Aedan

Josiah, Aedan, and I

The boys love exploring a the top of the falls.  They are at the age, too, where I don't have to worry about them.  They are able to maneuver well on the rocks.

the TOP!

another TOP shot

our family at the top

Here's a shot walking down along the side.

Love this picture!

Aedan resting and looking at the Falls.

Another family shot with the waterfall in the background.

The boys started climbing up the side of the trail...here's a shot with how far they had to go....

Here's a shot of how far they climbed.

Mercy and I chilling.  We took the "scenic" way back and Mercy wanted to get out her carrier and walk.

After our hike back, the kids played onthe playground for a while.  We headed home and ate lunch.  We had cake and opened presents before Mercy napped.  Later that evening, Ryan and I went out to eat.  I had a great birthday!

Happy Valentine's Day

Our Valentine's Day started with lots of heart shaped sugar cookies.  I made about 30 cookies; mostly for Josiah and his classmates.  They turned out pretty yummy!  Vivian watched Aedan and Mercy so I could go to Josiah's party.  I was in charge of the sugar cookie station.  Yum!  My most important job was to make sure that students didn't lick the knife that wsa used to spread the icing onto the cookies.

Josiah at the sugar cookie station!

This is Josiah's group that he traveled with from station to station.  We just found out, too, that Wesley (the boy in the striped shirt) is on the boys' soccer team this spring!  I'm not sure what has inspired the Kung Fu pose by Joisah...maybe, a panda bear?

For dinner, we went to Chick-fil-a.  It being a Tuesday, the kids ate free!  Also, we had a coupon...so we ended up eating for $12.52!  We have never been to Chick-fil-a on kids night (in Cookeville).  I have heard that it is a mad house, but (I guess) because it was valentines people had other plans.  The kids had balloon animals made.  Josiah~alligator, Aedan~tiger, and Mercy~a flower :)

Flowers from Ryan :)

The kids with their Valentine's gifts.  Aedan got a bear, Josiah an elephant, and Mercy a baby!

Me and my sweeties:)

quote of the day

"Mom, you already have SO many scarves.  Don't you think you should share some?"

~Aedan

Hahahaha!!!  Made me laugh!!!

delayed January highlights

Josiah went to Jackson's birthday party.  It was an army party!  Woot!

Mercy's hair can (sort of) be pulled up into a pony-tail.

Danielle and I went to Nashville one morning for some shopping.  We went to Target and to TJ Max, and then ate lunch at Chick-fil-a...fabulous!!!  The kids were so cute.  They all wanted to hold hands going in and out of stores. 

Josiah continued to enjoy nonfiction books.

Aedan continued to wear his Clemson uniform. 

 

Josiah got all check marks for the entire month of January!!!  wooooohoooooo!