Geocaching with the Boys

So I had never gone geocaching before, but Sam had earned his merit badge this week while I was out of town.  And both boys were ready to show me how the process works.  It was really fun, and we found about 6 caches.  The boys both had bags of trinkets they traded with others in the caches.  And we used my IPAD to lead us almost directly to the hiding spots.  Kind of weird, boys are taking the front seat more, and I just kind of followed along.  But I am ok with that, and will keep following as long as I can keep up.  Our favorite was the cache called "R U Thirsty" and was a water spicket screwed into a tree with the trinkets and paper scroll (to write your name when you find it) were in the actual spicket.  Really fun day!

Cub Scout Day Camp

I was out of town for most of this week, but the boys as always had a good time.  Sam helped with the cub scouts at the Archery tent.  He said it was fun to help show the boys how to shoot and give them some tips.  He also was able to work on some merit badges this week.  I was back on Friday, and we took the girls to the lake while the boys were day camping.  To close out the week, we joined the boys on the main field and watched as they shot their coke bottle rockets off.  

DC Trip

Some quick pics from around DC.  I had some time to tour a couple of the smithsonians, spending most of my time in the Wright brothers exhibit, having recently finished a book on the amazing brothers.  Unique experience this week as I had to take the metro each morning to work...and got to ride that HUGE escalator each day when returning to Bethesda.  Had some extra time on my last day to look around again...but elected for the earlier flight home.  :)  DC is pretty cool, but not as fun without my boys and girls.  

 

Quick Trip to Augusta

So how does a picture of Magan's toe make the blog, because she ripped off a large chunk of nail on that left big toe while moving away from her table at a sandwich shop in Augusta, GA.  Only her!  Anyway, I had a quick trip to Plant Vogtle, and since kids were out of school, they were able to join me.  They stayed at our hotel, while I went to work each day.  The kids enjoyed both the outdoor and indoor pool, and the girls found some steps that make them break out in Beauty and the Beast songs.  

We were able to go eat with our friends, the Cudes.  Leslie made the best lasagna in the world.  It is by now hyped up by our whole old supper club, but still lives up to the hype, and continue to live up to it on my fourth plateful of it.  It is amazing!  The stuff Italians dream of one day being able to make and serve.  Davis instantly made friends with Max, and even spent the night with the Cudes that night.  On our way out of Augusta, I was able to take the fam to my favorite restaurant in Augusta...Villa Europa.  I ordered many different German favorites, and well, I don't think the fam likes this food as much as me, but at least the Bavarian fritters (sausage, sauerkraut, pork in a ball of fried goodness) were a hit.  

And after traffic that was simply HORRIBLE, we finally made it back to sweet home Alabama!

Gatlinburg with Granny...and Granddaddy

So I have another post from this week with me and the girls going to Peavine falls, and I texted a challenge to Granny to see if they could beat that falls trip...and she sent back the falls pictures below...They won!  Sam and Davis had a great time with grandparents all to themselves.  The Abram Falls hike was about 5 miles, and I think they had no problems.  Office time was 2 hours into the falls, 10 minutes at the falls, then 1.5 hours out.  

They found a water moccasin, momma and baby bear, and some deer.  And the picture of them all on the Rock is Ogles place on the roaring fork.  Apparently a traditional picture place.  Our boys love every minute of it, and to get to go to a wood carving store...that was just icing on the cake.  New bear t-shirts and new knives...can it get any better.

Speaking of knives, Sam told me about his carving early one morning on his hiking stick where he sliced deep into his thumb.  He was able to wrap it and Granny helped him bandage it up.  Sam describes it pretty funny and he talks about how the lights almost went out and he was close to passing out.  But he is a tough one, probably needed stitches, but oh well, more scars help him remember his mistakes.  

Grandaddy also told me they had some very bad storms one night.  Power went off, and had 70 mile an hour wind.  Limbs were breaking off trees and hail falling.  Sam and Dave helped him get everything inside and awning rolled up.  Never fun when in a rolling vehicle.  I am so glad our boys get this time with grandparents...truly great memories to hold onto.