"Fishing" for More Family Time

Even though I'm a teacher and have my summer off, no one else I know (other than teachers!) gets to hang out Monday-Friday.  Especially Timmy.  He's still trucking 12 hours up and down to DC every day, even though I get to sleep in a little and watch HGTV when Emily says it's ok (you know, if she's reached her quota for Mickey Mouse for the day).  I spend my weekdays taking the kids to fun activities, so that the weekend is pretty much open for "family time".  Tim and I are trying to make a conscientious effort to use Saturday and Sunday for fun family adventures (budget permitting).
Our trip last weekend to George Washington's birthplace included a stop at the National Park where Emily got the chance to catch her first fish!  Garrett also reeled in a couple good ones, and Caroline was resident photographer, having opted out of fishing.

Emily's first fish!

A kiss for good luck for the first catch!

Emily's attention may have wandered off at times....

"The men"

The photographer turns the camera on herself!

It's a keeper!

"Helping" to take the hook out

Kiss it Emily!  And she did!

Round 1:  Caught driftwood

Visit to George Washington's Birthplace

Tim and I have taken the kids to Westmoreland State Park several times, and other than digging for sharks' teeth or throwing a ball in the water for the dog, it's been your basic trip out.  Every time we go, we pass a sign for George Washington's birthplace.  Tim and I finally decided that since we had no plans today, why not take the kids to go see what's out there?  It's a national park, so there is a one mile hiking loop and miles of river front.

In front of the visitor's center

J pretending to be GW, Emily just photo bombing

CW pretending to be GW

Howdy park ranger!

Garrett (the "other GW") got in on the action.

These iron gates were at the front of the Washington Monument replica when it was built in 1909 on the park's property.  The monument is 1/30th the size of the one in DC.

Enjoying the cooler than usual weather.

Such good kids, learning even when not in school!

This log cabin was a little creepy--set off the trail a little bit, no one around...we took the pic and high tailed it out of there!

You can see the monument replica across the farm fields.

These hand made benches are every where and I want one!

The original house burned to the ground, so this is the one they rebuilt.

Baby cows in the field!

Emily had the best seat in the house!

Swimming Like an Eel

Emmy loves her new crabby goggles.

 A little reference to our local pool swim team, the Eden Estate Eels! If you ask Emmy, she would tell you that she swims "like a mermaid".  Caroline swims like a seal.  Mommy swims like a drowning cat.
It seems like Emmy gets better and better at water skills every time we go to the pool.  At first, she would only go in from the steps.  Then she started to use the ladder.  Then she thought it would fun to jump in from the side.  Shortly after that, she took to the diving board and slide and never looked back!  Emmy can be quite the daredevil in the pool.

Caroline is ready to swim!

Hanging in the baby pool.

Climbing the slide with Sissy.

Jumping off the diving board