August 26, 2023 Lunch

I don't know what the celebration was, or if there even was a celebration.  However, a fun lunch of nachos with some great neighbor friends is always a good time.
 

August 22, 2023 A New School Year

 It is the start of a new school year.  Also, once again both Grace and Glen (and I) are in the same school!  Grace is in 8th grade and Glen is in 6th grade.  I hope for a great year for both.

August 16, 2023 The Fair

The kids always love going to the county fair every summer.  We try to go on a night were we can buy a wristband and they can ride as many rides as they want.

They were on so many rides this night, but I only got pictures of both Grace and Glen doing the slide.

This was also the time when Grace and Glen's cousin was living with us as they transitioned to their new home.  She was able to join us with the fun at the fair too.

 

August 13, 2023 Order of the Arrow

Well, she has done it.

She now knows how to make her sleeping items into a horseshoe.

She now knows about the ordeal.

She now knows about the wonders of the feast.

She is now part of the Order of the Arrow!

 

July 29, 2023 Neighbor Friends

It is great to have friends who are also neighbors.

It is even better when you can sit on top of their car and watch the sunset.

 

July 10, 2023 Scout Friends

 Grace's third time at scout camp.  Glen's first time at scout camp.  But a great time together along with some friends from their troop.  I am glad that they are enjoying this scouting adventure together so far.

June 7th, 2023 Graduation

Glen graduated 5th grade!  Off to middle school he goes.  Well, it is just off to the next building that is connected to his elementary school.  But, he will now be in middle school.

 As we walked toward the building to go to the graduation there were sticks with pictures on them all over the grassy areas between the parking lot and the school.   Each of the 5th graders had their pictures out there.  Here is Glen with his picture that welcomed us on our way into his graduation.

Happy Graduation Glen!  I am so glad that you will be joining Grace and I in the middle school next door.

May 21, 2023 Bike Ride

Grace has been practicing and training for this day (Matt, probably not as much as he should have).  But this day came where Grace and Matt rode 52 miles on the capital trail in Virginia.  Grace did this accomplishment in order to get her biking merit badge.  Matt went along as an adult leader to help.  Those two finished the bike ride in less than six and a half hours.  I am so impressed! 

April 25, 2023 Crossing Over

On this day Glen crossed over the bridge at the local church where our BSA troop meets.  By crossing over he officially became a BSA scout.

 Grace was the MC of the ceremony where he was officially welcomed into the troop.

I am so excited to see where the scouts will take them both.

April 16, 2023 A Highland Retreat

While being a board member of Highland Retreat Camp, we had the chance to spend one weekend at the camp per year for free.

It is always a nice time to get out and spend some time in nature.  It was cold, but Grace was very happy to get into the creek and sit in the water.

Glen was a bit more hesitant and just walked and waded in the water.  But a fun time was had by all as we hiked, cooked over a fire, and played games.

It was a great time away from the busyness of life.

 

April 9, 2023 Easter

Happy Easter to all! 

March 18, 2023 Climbing

We got information that there was another scout troop that was wanting to rent out a climbing location to get the climbing merit badge and they asked if anyone from another nearby troop would like to join.

Before I could even get the question out, Grace had stated that she wanted to go and do it.

So Grace and I drove over an hour to get to the location.  Then she climbed and climbed and climbed!  She had so much fun.

Oh, and she also got the merit badge.

March 17, 2023 Violin

The music room looks a little crowded with two people practicing at the same time, but that is the way I like it.  I love when both kids willingly practice their violin and it is an added bonus when they play TOGETHER!

It is a rare event when they decide to play together on the same song, or play a duet where they play different parts.  So I am glad that I was able to capture this moment.

 

February 26, 2023 STEM DAY

 Each year our school district hosts a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) day at the Mall.  They usually take up about half of the open commons and walkways with displays and demonstrations of what they have been learning and working on for the past few months.

Grace had worked on a experiment of what would happen if you add coffee grounds to plants.  So she had her plants at the mall, her write up of the experiment, and she gave the presentation to anyone who came by and asked about her board.

Glen had been working on building a solar race car.  The solar race car also had a battery that was built in so that it could run inside the mall.

When it got to the mall, it had to have a few adjustments made to it to make it so that it could run.

He was so very focused on it, and determined to get it to run.  I loved to see him working so hard on it.  This was actually built by him and a few friends, but his friends could not make it to the event, so he was doing all of the final work by himself.

I love to see my kids coming up with ideas, experimenting, and finding ways to make things work.

December 30, 2022 Happy Birthday Glen!

 

I guess this is what 11 looks like.  Happy birthday Glen!

December 19, 2022 Happy Birthday Grace!

I guess this is what 13 looks like.  Happy birthday to Grace!

 

December 12, 2022 Frozen!

Grace was in the musical again this year.  This year it was the musical Frozen!

She was snow/ice

She also was a summer time dancer when Olaf sang his song.

She had a couple of other parts in the play that we did not get pictured.  She also helped to paint the set and get people ready behind the scenes.

This year, I had the joy of creating almost all of the costumes that were used in this show.  It was a lot of work, but I love how it turned out.

 I am really glad that she is part of these amazing shows.

December 15, 2022 First Ice Skating of the Season

I love where we live.  We have a local ice skating rink that we can use for free.

Usually I try to get the family out to stake once every week or two when the ice skating rink is open for the season.

Today was the first time that we were able to get out for the season.

The kids really enjoy their time on the ice.

 

December 4, 2022 Merry Christmas!

Ginger wants to send his Christmas greetings to all, in his own special way.

 

November 30, 2022 National Junior Honors Society

 After filling out an application, getting references, writing essays, and getting good grades in general, Grace was inducted into the National Junior Honors Society.  

From the picture, it looks like she might be more proud of her cupcake then the medal that she received during the ceremony.

October 31, 2022 Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from a magical creature with a cape (Grace), and Bruno from the Encanto movie (Glen).  They really enjoyed seeing the kitty Jack-O-Lantern at Grandpa Steve's and Grandma Sue's house. 

 

October 16, 2022 Back Home On The Farm

Ever since Grace was a baby Matt said that he wanted to have a tradition with our children.

He wanted to go to a pumpkin patch with them each fall.

So we have made it a priority to go to a pumpkin patch each fall, Our current favorite is Back Home On The Farm.

We have a great time visiting.