Foxfield!

Always a great family fun day at Foxfield with even better friends.  

Extra fun this year to connect Lynchburg and Greystone worlds 

with Allison and Celeste!

 

Little Miss is 7:-) Matthew teaches himself...

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Margaret's 7th birthday - how did our Sweatpea get here??

 

Then we went outside to play and Matthew hopped on his pedal bike and started spinning around the driveway.  This kid has been bolting down the street with lightening speed on his balance bike since the January he turned two.  We last tried the pedal bike a year ago when his feet still couldn't fully reach the pedals.  And the next thing you know, he's announcing to us that he's mastered his pedal bike.  When?!?  Who knows?!?!  

#third child 

#taughthimselftorideabike

Lake Anna Book Club Retreat

My Book Club has been going strong for nearly 7 years now.  My sweet friend Ashley cast her net as wide as she could for the first one and nearly 30 showed up for our discussion on The Help.  But as life happens, we quickly dwindled to a faithful 12...perfect because we each select a book and host once/year.  We celebrate birthdays and babies along the way and always take time to remember the reason for the season at Christmas.  We're also good at meal trains and excel at text support since we all run in different circles around town.  And icing on the cake?  We actually do read the books and enjoy fruitful, lively, respectful discussions on topics ALL over the map.  

So we decided to go away for the weekend and NOT read a word, except our Bibles:-) Lake Anna, just an hour away, was the perfect choice for relaxation and we were blessed with divine weather.  Even our own published author, Rachel Gerber, that has since moved to Indiana came back to visit and play with us! 

 

Thanks, Gram Gram!

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Many thanks to Susan, so kept the kids so that we could go to the VT-WVA game at FedEx field in DC over Labor Day.  They were busy!

 Crab from the "back yard"...it's what's for dinner!

 

Colts & Colts, VT-WV

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Michael, Aaron and Mike have known each other 35 years and the Vogel's annual Colts and Crabs party dates back almost as long.  Pretty cool to get this crew together----only Julie and baby boy Vogel missing.  The generation that started this was all watching on, but next year, we get all 3 generations and the final installment in the shot....and hopefully on hurricane:-) 

Last jump in the river of the season....precious cheerleader encouraging the boys into the chilly waters. 

Successful crabbing on Susan's dock....

Huge sucker!  And THAT's why they call them Maryland blue crabs.

#21 and #22 Virginia Tech and West Virginia were scheduled to play at FedEx Stadium, which has not become any easier to get to since we tackled it in June for U2.  But we did discover the most sophisticated tailgate we've ever seen.   The RV was converted into a full bar, complete with two TV's showing various games. 

The two grills were each about as big as my car and the chef was cranking out every imaginable meat one can grill.

And then the microphone was used to get the crowd on the same page.  "Alright, y'all.  We've had a great day, but we're walkin' at 6:40.  So get your last drink and finish your food because we're walkin' at 6:40.  These guys have worked SO hard for 6 weeks and they deserve to have us in there when they take the field.  Alright, now let's bow our heads.  Heavenly Father, thank you for everything we've enjoyed today, our friendships and help us get home safely.  And Lord, be with the folks in Texas, and hug my Daddy.  We miss him and I can't wait to hug him again myself.  Alright, Amen.  Go Hokies!".  It was awesome in oh so many ways.   

  The bet was JIM's idea!  Silly WV fan.

Charles - Michael's current client in Arlington, COO of Virginia Hospital Center. 

Post Game Rituals

 

"Enter Sandman" and Exit Sandman

Thanks, Susan, for making it possible!  The kids had a ball with you:-)