Summer Vacation Pt. 1

We drove to the shore this year - a 16 hour haul each way. We stopped in Lexington, VA on the way and stayed at a Howard Johnson's.  Old school!  Here are the kids goofing on the old-timey television.

Checking out the fancy balcony and mountain view.

We ended up loving this little town!  We got some tacos to go and ate them in the park and before long some local kids asked Phoebe and Frank to play with them.  A rousing game of sharks-n-minnows ensued:

Then on the way back to the HoJo's we drove past a great old drive-in.  The perfect way to unwind after a long day in the car.

4th of July in Arkansas

We cut out to the cabin right after the neighborhood parade. After a dip in the river, it was off to "THUNDER ON LAKE THUNDERBIRD."

There is a patriotic boat show and a helicopter show before the fireworks.

Fireworks!

The next morning, we talked T-Bone into making his famous bacon gravy that we've been sorely missing.

Snuck a couple shots through the screen window of the kids quietly lounging.

Shrimp boil!

The chef.

Sparklers.

4th of July Parade

The kids came up with a great last minute parade idea that worked in Phoebe's injury - the Hillbilly Ambulance!

A second line band playing patriotic numbers.

A little bit of the parade.

In the spirit.

After the judges did all their fancy tallying and conferring, they announced the winners and - wouldn't you know it - the Hillbilly Ambulance won first place in whatever category they were in and second place overall!

Two ribbons, a cast and some watermelon.

T-Bone Visit

Our old buddy Sam and his fiancé Erin came to town for a long visit. We hadn't seen him since he moved back home to Boise almost 5 years ago. When Phoebe was little, she spent a lot of time with Sam and remembered him well. Frank was still really little back then. He was just starting to talk and used to call him "Cheeto" instead of T-Bone. Sam and Erin took Phoebe along with them to Graceland, which will eventually get it's own treatment here.

Lunch at the Metal Museum with Bruce and Jeanie.

Chicken fights!

Backyard parties.

Summer watermelon!

Old buddies.

Fishing

Dad's normal routine is to leave the cabin very early and then come back shortly after everyone is waking up. The kids have been curious about these early morning trips, so we had a family jaunt to one of the fishing spots. This is the easiest of the spots to get to - it's upriver from the cabin, just south of the cold spring that feeds the Spring River.  It's swift and COLD, not good for swimming, but great for trout.

The occasional freight train to break the silence.

Nice little rainbow.

Broken Arm

Phoebe returned from camp unscathed and then promptly broke her arm rollerskating around the neighborhood. The first week was tough, but then she got a waterproof cast and now she's pretty much back to normal and swimming every day.

Matching popsicle at hospital.

Perfect for holding a sandwich.

Getting signatures.

Much better!

Picking Phoebe up from Summer Camp Pt. 2

After Phoebe showed us all around, she had to get with the girls from her group to do their part in the musical they put on the the families.

Then the sad part - time to say goodbye to new friends.

And to mob their counselor.

Then it was back home with a stop in Nashville for dinner.  Pizza party in the dragon park!