Pirate Adventure

As usual, Anne Van put on quite a production for the boys today - she found a Pirate Adventure and it involved tattoos, costumes, ships, water fights against mean Pirate Pete (who does not like children - "Why doesn't mean, scary Pirate Pete like children?" Jacob asked me about 100 times, followed by "Well, I'll probably be in your room later tonight." Awesome.) and buried treasures.

 Sword Tattoo

 Special Request: Scuba Diver Tattoo please

Anderson was chosen to help hoist the flag!

 Anne squared

 Just an aside: Doesn't Owen look so old?

 Aunt Nancy & Anderson

 The whole pirate crew.

Ice Cream after of course.

Buzz Buzz Buzz

A month ago Jacob was at camp and a little girl got stung by a bee or...something.  That was a defining moment for him that week.  Every morning after that we discussed bees, stings, why they sting(?), what he could do to not get stung, etc.  There were tears, there were threats to stay inside forever and not have any fun.  Which is why today when we visited one of my old C-SPAN buddies who was having a honey extraction party, I downplayed the whole bee part of the equation.  But I learned that "costumes" trump everything in the mind of that kid - my friend had him at "beesuit".  Within minutes Jacob was wearing full (mini) beekeeper regalia, standing a foot away from an active hive, bees flying all around him, calmly asking his myriad of questions as if he was sitting in the comfort of his living room watching the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics. 

3- (almost 4) year-old problems solved.

 

Curiosity

In honor of our little Mars Rover landing, we spent the day at the Goddard Space Flight Center with our friends Sarah & Henry.   

 

 Owen & Henry were big fans of the bucket seats.

 And, any place that provides costumes for role play is tops in our book.

Next stop Mars.

Enlightenment

We got to spend the weekend with Anderson and he introduced Jacob and Owen to one of the joys of summer - SLURPEES at 7Eleven!

Playing Hookie

Mike took a day off this week for our first annual July Family Fun Day.  

I don't remember having any fun last July.  

Only keeding.  

Spent the day playing, hiking, rock climbing, and swimming at Cunningham Falls State Park near Frederick.  Started at a recycled tire playground where Jacob didn't make any friends running around claiming he was a super hero and everyone else was a bad guy.  Nice.  Then the boys did a fair showing as we hiked a half mile to see a waterfall, climbed some rocks, then they hitched rides back claiming they were toooooo tired.  Not too tired, however, to swim almost three hours straight in the lake nearby afterwards.  Perhaps we'll manage to fit in a first annual August Family Fun Day too?

 

Little Ditty

Summer Days

It's been an memorable July so far.  In case you hadn't heard, we lost power for the weekend after a freak storm along with a million or so others in the area.  We camped out at a house on the one block I know of that didn't lose power -- Aunt Nancy's!  Sleepover!  Even though conditions weren't ideal, we had such a fun weekend together.  Then, Jacob started summer camp which lasts through July, so Owen and I have had fun together doing different things around town each morning.  

 Not off to a promising start

 Nancy NEVER loses power. 

I wonder who lives on her street who has an "in" with the power company.

Did you notice the haircut?  I asked Owen which he wanted to do first, get his haircut or go to a new playground and he said: "Barbershop first, lollipop.  Then playground."  Once he got about 2 pounds of hair chopped off, he went on his first carousel ride and LOVED it.

 Throwing rocks in Glen Echo's stream.

  Yum, raw corn on the cob from the farm stand.

THEN, for Mike's birthday present this year he and Mark spent the weekend at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH, and rode all the roller coasters they could fit into a day and a half.  Memaw and Nana came in to keep me company and help with the boys.  It was Memaw's actual birthday so we got to celebrate together.  Happy Birthday Memaw!  Jacob is now just waiting for Uncle Dave's birthday to hurry up and get here so his will be next. HA!  Always thinking of others, that Jacob.