Hike Fueled by Mike and Ike's on Wednesday, August 9, 2012

Our Internet is spotty, so these entries are a bit short.  I will go back and fill in more details later but wanted to post some pictures while I have a connection.  On Wednesday, we enjoyed a great hike to Grotto Falls.  It is just over three miles round trip, and we had a great trek.  It is a fun hike with lots of streams to cross, and Jack and I made record time as we received boosters along the way (in the form of Mike and Ike's--yum).  At the falls, which you can walk behind, we enjoyed picnic.  On the climb down, we saw a bear high up in a tree.  We finished the day with a round of Hillbilly Golf (for the record, my mom won) and a trip to downtown Gatlinburg for dinner and more souvenir shopping. And, to top off our victorious day, we enjoyed watching the final game of women's beach volleyball, USA vs. USA.

That is us under the waterfall!

Two tired boys at the end of the hike!

Wet/Dry Day on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Luckily Gatlinburg has a few options for rainy day activities.  This morning we went to the Aquarium, featuring penguins and a great shark display among lots of other creatures.  By the time we left the aquarium it dried out leaving us to enjoy the pool and more of downtown Gatlinburg, including the arcade.

Heading for the Hills on Monday, August 6, 2012

It was wonderful to wake up to the Smoky Mountains, and they looked particularly smoky this morning with some clouds and peeking sunshine. Today we enjoyed a morning hike to Laurel Falls.  The hike was only round trip of three miles. However, it took us just about three hours complete, but you need to throw in there are a picnic, lots of stops, attempted short cuts, and some rock climbing.  We spent the afternoon with a bit of relaxing/resting/napping followed by some pool time.  And, the most exciting was a bear siting--just ambling along the cabins, looking for food (trash bags).  He seemed completely unaffected by our presence, but we will still keep an eye out when we do our scooting around the neighborhood.  This evening we headed to downtown Gatlinburg.  Souvenir money has been burning a hole in our pockets and mind.  It didn't take long for Jack and me to find a treasure each amongst the plethora of shops and stores.  We also had a blast in the Mirror Maze.  When asked our highlight of the day, I replied, "My souvenir (a Harley miniature motorcycle) and time at the pool."  Jack's highlights were the Mirror Maze and the pool.

Let Vacation Begin! on Sunday, August 5, 2012

We are excited to return to Gatlinburg this year. I have such fond memories from last year, and I would often bring up vacation recollections throughout the year. So, it was an easy decision to return, and what makes it even more special is that cousin Jack is with us. This morning we got and up and headed out when we were ready. Jack and I were great car riders, enjoying our iPads, snacks, and car tunes though my mom couldn't talk us into car bingo. We went through a bit of rain but arrived in Gatlinburg to a downpour. Fine by us! There was so much to explore in the cabin, including the hot tub.

Picking up Jack (meeting at National Harbor);
whose idea was it to give two excited boys balloon swords??

Check out some videos, including our trip to a trampoline arena on Saturday morning to release some pre-vacation wiggles:  http://youtu.be/iABFLlshHwo, http://youtu.be/6vlOMMEbfnA, http://youtu.be/pRqfueQlxrU, http://youtu.be/Rj0U9-gLs4c, and http://youtu.be/3Db0xCxcpFQ.

Olympic Fever on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Loving the Olympics!  My favorite Olympic events so far include beach volleyball and swimming. To celebrate, yesterday, we hosted friends (16 of them! who would have thought they would all be in town!) and attempted our own backyard Olympics.  We started with an opening ceremony and parade of flags.  We moved on to some field events...  and though well-planned, my mom should have known that using water balloons as shot puts would only erupt into chaos.  Also fun was seeing how many friends I could fit in my little room and play cars.  Above all, my own glory simply came from hanging out with a houseful of friends who talk just as loudly as me, have just as much energy as me, have my same condensed attention span, and who find extreme joy in smashing water balloons against the ground. Needless to say, my mom was only able to snap a few pictures as these favorite friends were the last to leave (though I tried hide them so they wouldn't go).

I Love New York on Monday, July 30, 2012

Upstate New York, that is!  This past weekend we traveled to Rochester to celebrate my great-grandfather's 90th birthday.  He turned 90 back in April, but we delayed our celebration so all cousins and second cousins could gather.  Along the way, we stopped at Letchworth State Park, the grand canyon of the east--great waterfalls and a bit of hiking.  We also enjoyed some time on Lake Ontario, including burgers at legendary Vic and Irv's (a bit of nostalgia for Moppy and Pop).  Rochester is also home to the coolest children's museum.  The best part was spending time with family--new and old.  My Uncle Fred and Aunt Val hosted a wonderful dinner and then a great picnic, and I got to meet the newest member of this family Carly and reacquaint myself with cousin Lily, who is also four.  Happy Birthday, Gramps!

Letchworth State Park, NY

Vic and Irv's on the Lake

At the Strong Museum of Play

Happy Birthday, Gramps!

Fun Times on Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Have I said how much I love summertime.  Carefree days--parks to pools, popsicles to ice cream, and friends to family.  Here are some fun times of the past few days.

Went to National Cathedral with Nanny and Grandpa

Hanging out with all of the trucks at Chestnut Hills Park

On putting green and at driving range at Haines Point Golf Course

Fun little roller coaster ride at Big Walnut Park

Momentary Calmness on Thursday, July 19, 2012

Just when I see my mom go for her second cup of coffee, I treat her to rare down moment and independently pick up a book to read.  This was after we emptied all of my car bins and basket and had mega-derbies.  "Did you even know that I have 20 hundred cars." Then, I had to bring the tea trolley up from the basement, to pass out snacks. I returned to the basement to bring up even more cars. We ate some breakfast, though I got up multiple times to bring cars to the table even though we have a no toy at the table rule. After breakfast I returned to my car piles and added some wedgits, tossing (okay, really throwing) them around to mix it all up.  And, it is only 8:00 am!

Waterlogged on Sunday, July 15, 2012

I had another great summertime weekend--time at the beach and time with the family to celebrate Eva's 12th birthday. At the beach, my dad and I spent most of Saturday morning in the waves. We just loved to jump them or let them crash on us. It was the perfect beach day! Of course, I did all of my other favorite beach activities and added a trip to the Bethany Beach Firehouse. We enjoyed a fundraiser breakfast and an opportunity to visit all of the vehicles. On Sunday on our way home, we joined the family in Annapolis for a pool party. It was pure crazy fun! Though, when I had enough of the pool, Jack and I found a little, quiet hiding place where we played video games. Happy Birthday, Eva!  Thank you, all!

(Leaving my signature on the beach.)

Bountiful on Sunday, July 8, 2012

Our garden has been a bit neglected this past week with the storm aftermath, clean up of our yard, and then the weekend heat keeping us mostly indoors. So imagine my surprise, when we wandered over to our garden this evening. Zucchini the size of my leg! The tomatoes are coming along, and my pumpkin vines are everywhere. Our poor pepper plants are lost somewhere in the middle of all of this. Zucchini anyone?

Aaargh! on Sunday, July 8, 2012

Today we took the a pirate cruise down the Potomac River.  Mom and Dad enjoyed the narration (from the Scottish-accented shipmate) while I enjoyed styrofoam sword fights with my fellow kid passengers. I was named William Sparrow of the Potomac River Pirates.  At one point, we all yelled out to a passing boat; they were so scared that they changed their course. I must say that I had much sympathy for our pirate captain as he wore full pirate regalia on this sweltering hot day. Even along the river there was not much breeze.  Good news is that we are to expect a break in the weather this week.

Weather Woes on Friday, July 6, 2012

It has been a crazy week, starting with a freak storm last Friday night.  I slept right through it but the whipping wind knocked down branches and tree limbs, threw our patio furniture around, and finished off by taking out our power for five days.  We attempted to make the most of it--ate out lots, spent one night in a hotel, and spent a lot of time in the basement.  On the afternoon of July 4, the power was restored.  We spent the day in anticipation!  We also enjoyed our neighborhood's parade and picnic, some time at the pool, and our own fireworks display in the backyard.  You will see from the video below that I led the parade.  Though, someone forgot to tell me that it was a parade not a race.  I got to the end and declared, "I won." By the end of the day, we all fell asleep exhausted in our almost-cool home, listening to the big fireworks in the distance.

Change of Scenery on Tuesday, June 26, 2012

I said good bye to my cousins after joining them on a mission into DC--to travel by Metro to the Spy Museum. I left them in the good hands of Moppy and Pop to continue their DC stopover while we left town and headed for the mountains. My dad usually has some days off at the end of each fiscal quarter, so we decided to rent a cabin in Luray, along the Shenandoah River and set against the Shenandoah Mountains. In addition to enjoying the views, canoeing, and other cabin activities (relaxing on the hammocks, building campfires and s'mores, putting together a puzzle, playing horseshoes and darts, and climbing up and down the ladder to the loft AKA "my apartment"), we also took in some of Luray's sites, foremost being Luray Caverns. And, how lucky we are; the weather is pitch perfect.