Party People

Sunday night we had a little gathering of friends from the Mission Community and new friends from our neighborhood.  It was our first time to really use our outdoor space, and I really enjoyed it.  I've got lots of patio improvement ideas now.

While we were in the midst of setting up the tent the sky clouded up and the wind started blowing.  We were so thankful for the Lord's kindness in this way.  I think we would have been miserable with the sun burning down on us.

I'm glad pictures freeze happy moments in time...about an hour later the hammock swing fell with Ella in it.  She suffered no worse than a scraped toe and a knock on the head from the top of the swing, but still...she had this happy moment.

We spent the day with my family yesterday at my brother and sister-in-law's house.  It's always so good for us all to be together.

 The kids had lots of fun with darts and water guns.  How many pictures will I take this summer of James shooting people with water guns?  My favorite yesterday was this one of him cutting his eyes and seriously contemplating spraying his great grandmother in the face.

Yum.

SCRUMPTIOUS cake my mom made

(with the best icing I've ever had)

 my favorite law enforcer

 my favorite kids

 I think they look alike.

We had a really pleasant day, though of course we were tired when we got home.  We had a few other adventures...like stopping in the bad part of town because both kids had to go to the bathroom AT ONCE, and then of course the place we stopped, well, their bathroom was out of order.  After that we loaded a crying James back in the car and drove across the street.  

On the way back home James was completely wired.  That 4th of July baby drank way too much sweet tea, and we all felt the effects.  He wasn't really unpleasant...just extremely talkative.  

We played around with sparklers before bed, and then I walked up the street to take pictures of our neighbors' fireworks since we decided not to venture out with James after bedtime.  Maybe next year.

James Hits it Out of the Park

He makes contact.

And he popped it right over the back fence.

We all cheered.

And Uncle Kameron did a celebratory dance.

I love that little slugger.

Monday's Memories: Lacock

We loaded up our car and got an early start Sunday morning for the village of Lacock, an old village left virtually unchanged by time.  I think this is due in part to the fact that the land was owned by the Talbot family until just after WWII.  Matilda Talbot, who never married, gave the estate to the National Trust in 1944.  A lot of period films and television series are filmed here because there's not much that has to be done to make Lacock look 200 years older again.

The church was filled with happy people celebrating a baptism, and there was already a guide leading a group of tourists through the streets.  We explored several little shops that were narrow with winding staircases that kept going up and up.  I was trying to make careful purchases, but now I wish I'd bought everything.  There were a lot of antiques and handcrafted items.  KJ took charge of the camera while I shopped.

I'm not sure if KJ was photographing the spiderwebs

or the sign, but I really like the webs in the morning light.

Have you seen Cranford?  If not, you obviously should.  The village of Lacock is Cranford.  Those characters...and those actresses...are brilliant.

a look at how they transformed the town

Lacock was also used as the village of Meryton in Pride and Prejudice as the location of the ball.

 

You can also see it in the background of the Bennet girls meeting Wickham in Meryton.

It's been such fun recognizing these places in our favorite movies.

O.

Make a Memory Today

I stumbled upon a blog post this morning encouraging fathers to be purposeful in planning family vacations.  

Family vacations provide a unique opportunity each year for fathers to create memories their children will never forget. Memories that will last a lifetime. 

Memories that will be recreated by your children with your grandchildren. Memories that will outlive a father.

(excerpt from post linked above)

It reminded me of all the wonderful vacation memories my own father created for my brothers and I.  Looking back at old family pictures I came up with a list of things that are worth the trouble when you're on a trip or plan a trip.

{ Skip School }

I remember this day so vividly, getting checked out of school for a spur-of-the-moment trip just to drive up north a bit and enjoy the fall color.  Take advantage of the moment.  Be spontaneous.

  

{ Expect Delays and Set-backs }

I think every single bicycle on this camping trip busted a tube.  I'm sure it was frustrating for my dad, spending so much time on bike repair, but I don't remember him getting overly frustrated.  I think you just have to try to stay calm and take care of the problem.  It didn't catch God by surprise.

  

{ Swim with your clothes on }

Didn't pack a bathing suit?  Don't sweat it.  The clothes will dry.  Natural rock slides don't appear every day.

  

{ Don't let a blizzard keep you indoors }

Enough said.  Get out there and enjoy it.  Wear your mom's coat and your dad's cap, a poncho from Guatemala, whatever you can find to keep warm.

  

{ Eat Lunchables } 

I just love how tough Jesse looks eating a Lunchable.  That's impressive.

{ Take your dog on a hike }

It might make a Barney Fife park ranger mad.

  

{ Go on 11-mile bike rides }

I can still conjure up every hill and curve of that ride in my mind we rode it so many times.  

  

{ Take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities }

How often do the Olympics happen just a short drive away from your hometown?

  

{ Go big }

Two week road trips?  You should take one.

 

{ Swing off a rope }

Don't worry about it if the water feels like it's 40 degrees.

  

{ Take your shirt off and carry a whip }

You know, if you're a boy, I guess.

  

{ Know you'll be tired at the end }

But if you do even one of these things with your family this summer you won't regret it, and you'll definitely make memories your kids will one day recreate with their spouses and children.  I promise.