Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Summer-it's a wrap!

Labor Day weekend is the official end of summer, I suppose. Oh, and what a summer it's been! It began with a wedding that led to a courtship that has led to a certain member of our family moving into a different Time Zone. (Not nationally recognized, but philosophically termed "Lovers' Time") This makes coordinating the simplest events rather difficult because this certain member doesn't need food or drink when he has the conversation of his "belovedid," to quote Ernest T. Bass. I am half-jesting. It has been such a blessing to see Daniel and Abigail's courtship flourishing. :)


The summer continued with a visit to the harbor to see a fleet of tall-ships and an unexpected departure to Georgia which took up five weeks! I turned 20 while down in Georgia and came back just in time to see baby saying his first words and celebrating his first birthday, and Sarah and Leah to turn 18 and 15, respectively. Life waltzed along in a at a comparatively slow pace to that I'd learned to cope with during the campaign.
Levi took his first official steps, and the girls were introduced to Smash-booking. We attended a surprise party for a dear friend, and we lived through many a day of rain for--contrary to the rest of the nation--it's been an exceptionally wet summer.


We planted berry  bushes and played volleyball. I worked on my books and lived the Cossack Uprising vicariously through With Fire and Sword. We made matches and discussed hopes and dreams. There's been laughter and joy and heartache all mingled together into the goblet of this summertime. Old ways we were fond of have gradually been effaced by a new regime of blessings that will prove to be sweeter than we'd ever have dreamed. At present they may rub now and again like a new pair of boots, but we'd never trade them back.
We've sent letters and received letters, we've sung songs and watched movies. We've danced to Ella Fitzgerald and memorized songs from Wicked and Les Miserables. We've even gained a taste for country music!


We've fallen in love with Sherlock and reminded ourselves that our tastes have grown much more refined since the days of Spy Kids and Inspector Gadget. We've made birthday cakes and eaten them, we've walked in the historic towns nearby and had a picnic or two to boot.


It's been a long, full, summer, and one I can truly say I'll never forget. So many memories, so many lessons learned...so much life. I can only look forward with breathless, eager anticipation to see what the fall will bring.
Autumn! Fire of my heart and love of my being...I come alive when the trees kindle and the breeze carries that gypsy-chill on its breath. When the blood rushes with spices and the very leaves are blushing with pure exhilaration...


I can see some of the adventures that might be lurking around the corner, and I know there will be some that take me by surprise. Graduations, dances, birthdays, camp, visiting missionaries and plots for Romania. Campaigns and bonfires and more!


 I don't know which things will come to pass and which will be replaced by something better. But I can say with full assurance that it will not be a dull autumn by any stretch of the imagination!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

LONDON 2012


Much to our family's chagrin, the London 2012 Olympics ended on Sunday. We always enjoy watching the various sports after dinner most days during the endurance of these games, and definitely miss them once they're over! :D Here are some of our favorite athletes from London: 

Carrie Walsh 
Gabby Douglas on the balance beam

it's a gold for gabby!
(this one ^ we're especially proud of, seeing as she grew up in our hometown! :)
Megan Hodge womens' volleyball
I was really impressed by Megan Hodge's spikes! She was crazy talented and was a great asset for Team USA. 
Lochte and Phelps 
It was very interesting to watch the rivalry/team dynamics during these games between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. Which one were you all rooting for? ;)

Teammates, and rivals at the same time

Allyson Felix track and field
We had a fun time watching the track and field relays this year! :) 

Missy Franklin
Also, Missy Franklin, a 17 year old gold medalist, did a fabulous job in her first Olympics. :)

Phelps becomes the most decorated Olympian ever!
And props to Phelps for breaking the record of the most decorated athlete in the Olympics on the record!
Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers
I know they didn't do too well this time around, but we've always loved the duo of Dalhausser and Rogers. ;P
Johnston and Bryant synchronized divers
Synchronized diving just about blows my mind! It was so cool to watch these two girls compete and we all cheered when they got second! :) 

BMX!!! ;) 
One evening Mens' and Womens' BMX was on, so we had a good time watching that since it doesn't get much coverage during these events.

Harry and Kate during the closing ceremony
Rach and I loved seeing the Royal family up in the stands in the various games, and got to see Kate and William get into it. ;)
The only part of this year's games I didn't care for was the opening and closing ceremonies. I actually missed the first part both times, which was a bummer, but from what everyone said, they seemed to be kind of strange and confusing......what did you all think? Oh, and the very random appearance of Willy Wonka guy was odd. :P

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

beaches are the bomb

A couple of weeks ago, our family took an evening to check out this historical property nearby. :) Fort Boykins is right on the James river and was built to protect the Jamestown colonists from Indians. Anyways, we heard the beach there is beautiful, so we headed over to see for ourselves.

And the first stop, of course, had to be 7-11 to pick up the traditional summer treat of Slurpees. ;)

Leah, Anna, and I. :)

You have to walk through some woodsy trails before getting to the beach access, but it was really an awesome thing to come upon such a gorgeous beach through an arch of vines! It really reminded me of a beach from Five Children and It, or some other English beach movie. ;)







We were there just in time to watch the sun make it's way down. :) Wasn't it pretty?





Scoping out the depth....hehe


Levi's first time at a beach! :)

I loved my nautical toes. <3




I'm thinking he approved!

We brought a picnic dinner of fried chicken, rolls, veggies, and the delicious red cherries!





 GAHHH!!! Levi's *so* huggable!

  Checking out the water. :)


We had to kind of scurry out of the park, seeing as it closed at dusk. Which brought up the debatable topic:
What is considered "dusk"?
Is it the time where the sky goes from blue to a series of different colors?
Is it right when you can't see the sun anymore?
Or is it more like when the sun's down, but it's not dark out?
;)
Anyhow, I think we all really enjoyed getting out of the house, and doing something very summery to end our week with. :) Oh, and I don't know about you guys, but I'm loving this new look!!!

Next post: A re-cap of the the Girl's Retreat. :)