While Mommy is away, the boys sure will play!

I snuck away to Richmond Friday night for an overnight with girls.  Thank you, Mom & Dad, for your house!!!  We had an awesome meal at Edo Squid's, passed on drinks at the Martini Lounge on Main (let's just say that we would not have fit in, for oh so many reasons!), decadent dessert and coffee at Mezzanine's in CaryTown and stayed up WAY too late chatting after surprise birthday and baby gifts.  I can't say I returned to Cville well rested, but I can say that the boys were having a blast!  I guess we didn't get any pics of Reese and Margaret (our Sept. 17th birthday gals....coming up on 3 and 2, respectively), but Keyes and Andrew sure did play hard in the backyard!

July 4th in the Mountains

With Michael still out of town, the power still out, and the thermostat reading 94 upstairs and climbing, I had to get packing for the mountains. Thank GOODNESS I always recharge the DVD player when we return from road trips.  Note the unsolicated love during the movie.  What you can't tell from this pic is how short-lived the peaceful hugging was!

Elk River, here we are!!!!!

The Banner Elk Parade and Festival in the park is quite a tradition on July 4th.  We only have a few shots since the camera was left at home in the dark.  Nothing too exciting was captured via cell.

Love:)

Andrew and Alex discussing exactly how the shared bag of lute is going to be divided.

Happy Dody!

Those lazy days of summer

July 4th Picnic at Elk River.  The kids LOVED the moonbounces, slides, face painting, games and duck races.  We all loved that it was NOT 100 degrees:)  Such a beautiful place in the summer! 

Grandfather Mountain with Alex and Nicholas.  The kids LOVED the animals.  No pics from the infamous swinging bridge.  though the suspension has been reinforced tremendously since I was 8 and it doesn't actually swing anymore, I still wasn't taking my hands off of Margaret to take any pictures.  Michael and Andrew climbed boulders like CO natives and got to some amazing views. 



Margaret "chasing" ducks at the Duck Pond in town.