While the weekend wasn't what we had planned, it is always refreshing to be in the mountains in the fall. Marion and Lucy were in from Beeville, TX, Emily from Vail, Ernest and Shirley came up for the day from Asheville and we got to be with Laura some, too. It was a true testament to what family is all about.
While the leaves had not even begun to think about changing colors, the view from "Sunset Park" at the top of the mountain did not fail.
Hi, Tennessee!
Emily!!!!!
Dad's cousin, Marion, and Lucy are so wonderful about coming back East to see everyone else.
Margaret's buddy.
The Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Valle Crucis----
an awesome tradition when we're there in October!
We have much to learn from Pumpkins!
We got 5/6 map pieces this year, more than ever before, but we still didn't finish properly. This is one serious corn maze!
When the older grown ups nap, we escape
(to keep the house quiet) and play golf!
...and raid the snacks in the locker rooms:-)
We brought one carving pumpkin each for almost finishing the maze and the funkiest gourds we could find. Thanks, Lucy, for being part of this adventure!
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Because dancing on the blocks is WAY more fun than dancing anywhere else:-)
Thank goodness Mommy pursued her Greystone dream at the pool - Tetherball with the Cors!
Even when it's thundering, there is always some fun to be created a Fairview---why not help the guards clean the mats?!?
Bennett! Baby Ben joined big brother Jack next door very quickly one fun Monday night:-) We were thrilled to have Jack with us so Mom and Dad could go to the hospital!
Ah, our first orthodontic treatments. Sigh. Likely due to long-term thumb sucking, Margaret has a palette expander preceding her first round of braces. For three weeks she was a champ at the twice daily turning, but I will tell you that turning that key is NOT for the weak.
Finally, on his first field sport team! Matthew is loving every single play of flag football. When his coaches tell him it's his turn, he dashes from the side-line to the center with such eagerness and pride one can't help but smile. And then this reaction after every touchdown and to conclude each game----what joy.
Hysterical play = longest "start" of play EVER.
"Just the way we drew that play up!"
QB'g his first touchdown---funny kid at the end, "Am I supposed to be blocking you??"
Shortly after we left Baltimore on Labor Day, Susan fell ill. But Wednesday, she was in emergency colon surgery due to a tear. The bright side is seeing the kids' response as we send notes, homemade cards, and video messages daily.
Too. Much. Hair! And I don't need it. Someone else does.
And off it goes in an envelope!
Labor Day in Baltimore and then bag again 10 days later----wanted to help around the house since Susan didn't know she was going to be hospitalized when she last left her house. Then back again two weeks later---she was discharged after a week and has been at dear friend Carol's house. Wanted to give Carol a break, take Susan home to sleep in her own bed, enjoy her view, etc. Took the kiddos this time since Michael was in a City of Arlington meeting from 8:00-5:00pm Saturday anyway. Watching "The Greatest Showman" with M and M and just being home seemed to do her soul some good.
It finally stopped raining for a day, so we enjoyed our regularly scheduled mental health meeting at Pippin Hill instead of at home. What a blessing. We laughed, we cried, we worked through our book, and we "Enneagrammed". Yep.
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We'd celebrated Margaret's birthday with her friends a few weeks ago with movie night at the pool, but we still had her little family celebration to go. I video'd her presents so that those who love her could also enjoy the way an 8-yr-old delights in even the smallest things.
She will love her James Avery charm, "With God, All Things are Possible" more once it's on her bracelet:-)
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Since last year's Camp-Out at Fairview was such a fun success, I planned it again with a few more activities in mind to encourage folks to bring guests. But massive Hurricane Florence side-lined any hopes of camping in the grass. But all week the teenagers had been asking JJ if we could still hang, so I shifted our effort to a Hurricane Party. As always, whereever two or more are gathered at Fairview, fun just happens.
The teenage boys had an awesome volleyball match.
But "everything gets hotter when the sun goes down..."
Slip n slide on the pool mats - why not???
The only logical thing to do next is to add soap and a whole train
of 5-15 year olds.
And, of course, it would have made no sense at all
not to ultimately end up in the pool!
Never a dull moment.
While the girls played Hurricane at the pool, the boys enjoyed the Redskins' game with the Bronson boys...in the owner's suite. Yeah. Not kidding. That's how Aaron roles. Matthew, of course, was elated since his flag football team is the Redskins:-)
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The team is patient from Champs (end of July) to Labor Day for their Awards Banquet, but they always find it's well worth the wait. JJ is so detailed about his selections and puts so very much thought into who he recognizes and for what.
Andrew is simply in his element with swim team, so it's never a surprise that he does well. But what's so neat is that he has won the Most Improved and Coaches' Award multiple times. Newly created this year were his Effort Award (for exactly that---his immense effort---and in three, sometimes four practices a day.). The UVA breast stroke coach observed him during the last week of the season...above water and under water...and said he wouldn't change a single thing about his stroke. Simply said that the child had mastered it:-)
Participation
Meet Attendance
Most Improved 9-10 Boy
(Achieved 5th place in the entire league in breast stroke---probably would have been higher had he been given the opportunity at Champs, but did not compete because his points were needed elsewhere. Best race of the season was a home meet in which 4 of the top 5 ranked breast strokers competed and to the naked eye, it appeared to be a 4-way tie. Hundreds were captivated during this race and the coach/crowd reaction was priceless!)
Effort Award
Coaches' Award
Leadership Award
These three awards go hand-in-hand for Andrew. He voluntarily does 2-4 practices/day and focuses the entire time, giving everything he's got. He's also an amazing supporter to his teammates and gives them every ounce of encouragement he can muster.
Participation
Meet Attendance
Most Improved 7-8 Girl
(blitzing down in free and fly, also started doing 25 no-breathers!)
Most Valuable Swimmer
(high point scorer for the season)
Meet Performance Award
(as a 7-yr-old, placed 2nd among all 7-8 girls in butterfly)
Matthew was bouncing all over the place and they don't do all of these various categories for 6 and under, but he was sufficiently proud for being the fastest 5-yr-old in the entire league - what a joy to see him compete this summer, finally!
Too many to count = too many memories to recount.
Personalized water bottles, certificates, medals and ribbons galore.
Pros and Cons.
They are PROUD, and should be.
They work seriously hard all summer long.
As if he hadn't accomplished enough during the season, the end of the summer was Matthew's time to master his front flip. Nope, the others haven't even tried (despite several professional helpers), but Little Man has it down.
