It began at the Bistro

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

July 17, 2026 Harvest

Working on our wonderful harvest of green beans.

July 11, 2026 Ohio and Michigan Part 5

On our way home we stopped in Dayton, Ohio. We had plans to do one adventure, but due to the high chance of rain we changed our plans and went to the Wright Brothers Museum (which also happens to be a National Monument). It was such a fun museum and a nice break from driving. Since it was a National Monument, the kids got yet another junior ranger badge.

While we were at the museum there was about a group of about 50 people that were dressed in clothing from around the 1900's. Turns out that they were a club gathering of people who collect, restore, and ride antique bikes from the time period of the Wright Brothers. It was fun to talk to them, and even more amazing to see them all get on their bikes and ride down the road like a small parade.

July 9, 2026 Ohio and Michigan Part 4

Today we moved west a bit and visited Petoskey State Park. It is a beautiful state park on Lake Michigan. Also this location is known for Petoskey stones. Those stones are unique fossilized coral rocks. We did not find any, but we did find a lot of pretty rocks.

Here everyone is looking for pretty stones.

Showing off their finds.

Next we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. Here the kids are at the bottom of the small dunes.

And here they are after running up to the top of the first rise of the small dunes.

They ran up, they ran down, and had a blast on the dunes. This was not what we expected to see in Michigan but it was a wonderful surprise!

And since it also is a National Park they got sworn in and got their junior ranger badge.

July 8, 2026 Ohio and Michigan Part 3

Today we went to Mackinac Island. This island does not allow cars on the island, so to look at the sights you need to walk, bike, or ride in a horse drawn carriage.

We got the ferry to go from Mackinaw City to the Island.

Then we rented our bikes. The ride was beautiful and easy (for the most part).

We did hike up 208 steps to see Arch Rock which is one of the most popular sight seeing locations on the island.

Grace took a similar picture of this (her gazing over Lake Huron) when we went to Jordan Lake in Acadia National park. She wanted to try to recreate it.

One of the first things we biked by was a large park that had lots of chairs, a gazebo, and TONS of Canadian Geese!

It was a fun day and a very unusual beautiful town.

July 7, 2026 Ohio and Michigan Part 2

It was a long drive from Ohio to Mackinaw City, Michigan. We got to the hotel and were ready to just collapse, however I convinced Grace and Glen to walk across the street to see the lake.

They were both amazed that this was a LAKE! It is HUGE. So we spent the first night exploring the beach of Lake Huron that was near our hotel.

Grace decided that she wanted to see the sun rise over the lake. So we got up VERY early the next morning and sat to watch the sun slowly rise. It was amazing to watch and fun to spend some time with her.

July 6, 2026 Ohio and Michigan Part 1

This summer we decided to explore two states that we have never been to. So we chose to go to Ohio and Michigan.

On the first day we traveled to Ohio to visit Cuyahoga National Park.

This park was beautiful and had such a fun junior ranger packet. In the packet they had a scavenger hunt that took place around the visitors center.

It required us to go to places, see things, and have experiences in the park that we might not have otherwise.

They finished the packet and got sworn in as junior rangers.

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

June 30, 2026 Home From Spain

After 8 days in Spain, she is home!

I know she had a fabulous time,

But it is so good to have her home again.

June 18, 2026 K-POP

On the day that was my birthday, our local movie theater had a free movie playing that I wanted to see. So I grabbed Glen and brought him with me. We wend and got to see K-Pop Demon Hunters. It was a fun activity to share with him.

May 26, 2026 National School Color Guard Award

In the beginning of May Mrs. Leaper told me that Grace was going to get an award and she wanted me to get her to the final band concert so that they could present it to her. That is great, but she did not want me to tell her that she was getting an award.

So I got Grace to the concert.

At the end of the concert they started talking about the Color Guard award. As they were talking about the wonderful attributes of the recipient, Grace had determined that numerous of her friends would probably be called for it. When they called her name she was SHOCKED!

This is an award that goes to one Color Guard participant per school per year. It is the National School Color Guard Award and she got a personal little plaque, and her name is added to a larger plaque at the school. Usually it is given to a senior or maybe a junior, so for her to get it as a sophomore is amazing!

May 22, 2026 Brother and Sisterly Love

May 15, 2026 Kings Dominion

At our school, 8th graders who are in orchestra, band or chorus can go to Kings Dominion for a day. The students go and perform their music and then they have the rest of the day to ride rides and have fun with their friends. Glen was able to spend most of the time with Nick (who is in band). This was his first time at an amusement park and he had a great time!

June 3, 2026 8th Grade Graduation

8th grade promotion. Now he is off to the high school!

The 8th grace orchestra played a few songs at the beginning of the ceremony.

Glen and Isaac

Glen, Nick, Isaac, Jackson

May 29, 2026 Driving Alone

Grace is now an officially licensed driver!

April 5, 2026 Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

April 1, 2026 Work!

Grace has officially finished her first day of work!

April 1, 2026 Biking with Glen

Nice bike ride to the river with Glen

March 20, 2026 Concert with a Sibling

Hanging out behind the scenes during a concert. They look like they have fun together.

March 11, 2026 Violin

It does not happen very often, but every once in a while I get the chance to see both of my kids perform at the same event. Yesterday was one of those days!

*and yes, I do know that when they are at the same school it will happen a lot. I am looking forward to that.

March 8, 2026 Tickets Please!

We are so excited to share the success of the Harrisonburg City Combined Schools Winterguard this season!

This is only the second year of the program, and the growth we have seen has been remarkable. The team is made up of 7th–12th graders from Harrisonburg City Public Schools, including Rocktown High School, Harrisonburg High School, Skyline Middle School, and Thomas Harrison Middle School.

We opened the season in Scholastic Regional A2 (SRA2) at AIA Forest Park on February 7, earning a score of 70.76 and placing first, finishing six points ahead of second place. Because of that performance, we were reclassified up to Scholastic Regional A1 (SRA1).

Two weeks later, the team competed at AIA Woodgrove in SRA1 and earned an 80.24, nearly a ten point jump in just two weeks. Once again, we placed first and finished six points ahead of second place.

At AIA South County, we competed in Scholastic A3 on a new set of scoring sheets and earned a score of 77.61, placing first out of 16 groups and finishing about five points ahead of second place.

Because of a previously scheduled band trip to Universal, we will unfortunately not be able to attend AIA Championships this season. If given the opportunity, these students would likely have been competing at AIA Championships in their new class, Scholastic A2, with a strong possibility of medaling.

Winning first place at every competition while being reclassified, or “bumped,” into a new class each time is a huge achievement. Being bumped three times in a single season is rare, and to do that in just our second year says so much about the commitment these students have made to each other and to this program. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and the way they have supported one another all season!!

Thank you!!