My Photos from the Weekend

B is busy this evening, planning his TDY to the US Air Force Academy Wednesday.  His presence was "requested" (if that's what you want to call it) and he didn't find out until he received an email saying as much some time last week.  Oh my!

So, this evening's endeavors are devoted to homework and planning.  Hopefully I'll get those photos before he leaves...;o)

Although I carry my camera with me in the van wherever we go, I find it's about impossible to get out with the Bean around, especially if I'm wearing her.  So, photographic duties are relegated to the phone.  These were the best I got this weekend.

The top one is from the game.  Aren't they cute?  :o) Lil really was a trouper and hung in there until the end of the game.  Of course, it helps that she made friends with the couple in front of us and they in turn shared their funnel cake with her.  I suppose it's because she's so stinkin' cute. ;o)

We were meeting Kat, Troy and Greyson at the Duck Pond for dinner (carry-out from Mike's thankyouverymuch) and had some time to kill (the kiddos needed a chance to move as well), so we headed to the Caboose Park.  Oh, the memories I have there.  The only thing that remains from my childhood is the balance beam.  Even the caboose isn't original, the one from my childhood having been torched. :o(

But, it was still LOADS of fun.  It's funny the things that have changed so that our children are "safer".  No more merry-go-rounds.  No more straight, metal slides. No more turn-around swings.  No more teeter totters.  Instead the equipment is plastic and on mulch.  Yes, I had a number of scrapes and scratches and bumps and bruises from the merry-go-round (man, that was an AWESOME piece of equipment!) and such, but it was a part of being a kid.  In fact, it was such a part of childhood that unless there were copious amounts of blood, I would just emit a quick "YOW!", pick myself up, and move on.

Thank goodness there was no blood Saturday. ;oP

While Lil played, the Bean and I lounged in the grass.  She had been held and carried all day, and she needed to move.   As you can see, she's now getting up on her knees to crawl.  And, boy howdy can that baby move!

And, boy is her little personality really starting to come through.  She is quite serious, and yet, she's always willing to play.  She has a ready grin for family and friends, and her laugh is no longer rusty from disuse.  We can actually get some chuckles and giggles out of her. :o) I will admit I miss my teeny Bean of a baby, but this bigger Beanie is loads of fun.  (Now to work on that sleep thing...)

I was overjoyed to see some signs of autumn while we were there.  I had feared the hot, dry summer would lead to brown, crunchy leaves.  There were pops of colorful brilliance here and there, usually in the form of a maple.  Have I mentioned recently how much I adore maples? ;o)

The weather, however, was definitely NOT autumnal.  It was at least mid-80's, which is not that common in October in Blacksburg.  But, the sky was gorgeous and in spite of the unseasonable warmth, it was lovely--if you weren't sitting in the sun...

I took that photo up there because it had the balance beam.  When I was little, it was silver, and NOT in the mulch.  The high end seemed as if it was three feet off the ground, lol!  The "old" caboose was gutted, it had a pole to slide down on one side and a slide on the other.  It was hollow and kids could play on it.  This one? Yeah, it's rather disappointing with it's locked doors.  The kids can climb the end stairs and that's about it. 

Ah, remember the intense sun I mentioned?  Brien, Lil and I were all burned on our right sides.  That was the only burn she got, but boy what a doozie.  I mean, who else can claim to have a VT on their face? :oP

Her burn was gone by yesterday, although B and I are still a bit red.  Ellie had no issues, as I was sure to keep her covered.

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  Does anything smell better than a freshly bathed baby?
2.  Lily continues to be such a wonderful helper with her sister.  I'm SO blessed!
3.  I'm enamored of the TV show "American Pickers"!  I can't get enough.  They are so knowledgeable and it's wonderful social history (which I ADORE!!).  I love the show so much it took me an hour to type this post, lol!
4.  Waylen is still plugging along.  When we discovered just how ill he is, I never in a million years would have predicted that.

No milestones.