Biking with Dad

He has been waiting for this bike to officially fit him.  While I think its still a bit big - he was willing to 'stretch'.  

Especially if that means taking a ride with Dad!

Love that they cycled off together.  Chris said Nike had no problem sticking up with him.  Not surprised ironmini!

 

Out on the boat

Thrilled by an invite out on the May's boat for the day.  Love how different the boating experience can be.  They have a building where they dock that you can use the bathrooms and get ready.  The area they boat in feels like a nice long river.

Lots of water sports oppurtunity

Signs of the perfect summer day

 

Babysitting here we come

Party at my parents house!!  How long since I have said that?!?!  With them in CO for my cousin's wedding and me house sitting - of course right?  Water volleyball and some delicious summer food with some wonderful folks!.

Drew took FULL advantage of babysitting time.  I love how he stayed with me - this was his special treat after earning the game ball at tonight's game.  He has taken to baseball quite well.

He does make it a challenge to sleep with.

Pond exploration - parental favorite and one beautiful pond!

 

Baseball boys

Baseball Season hit us HARD this year.  On the heels of COVID we debating signing up.  However Baseball is such a great sport to 'give this a shot'.  The kids are spread out.  The coaches wore masks and enforced the hand sanitizing.  I teared up many times during games reflecting on how resilient the kids really are.  

I snagged a photo shoot with my favorite players.

We are often thankful for the one more.  Even the camp counselors assumed these boys were part of the same family.  

3 different leagues, 3 different teams, 3 different schedules.  AND parents who had settled into a quarantined life.  Chris was even coaching Nick's league!  He got a HUGE promotion from Little league to Juniors.  Now to find time for all of this.

Don't these smiles just make it?!?!

Impossible to pick a favorite!

 

Black Raspberries!

We have been patient and even covered the bush!  We were afraid the bird would get to them first.  Shane got out for there for quite the bounty!

Drew played clean up for the final round.

    

 Nature's dessert!

Back to reality

This is me, almost everyday.

Ms. Belle is still learning her curfew time with the new automatic door.

In crazy COVID we are super thankful for Roaring brook camp.  The kids could bike to camp from the Briggs and have counselors that they truly enjoyed! 

More importantly its the first 3 hours of separation we have really had SINCE March 13!  That is the crazy part!

 

Wisneski River Retreat

I sure how these photos do this wonderful weekend away justice.  Looking back months to blog this is a treasure allowing me to relive it all.  

The Wisneskis bought this house just a few weeks ago and we are the FIRST visitors INSIDE the home (Wayne's brother came down for Father's day weekend and slept in the pavilion) so we are the first INDOOR guests.  

The drive through WVA is gorgeous.  Rolling green hills.  The last turn into their neighborhood is a sharp one.  They can literally HEAR folks driving in.  They run out to greet you.  This is us greeting the McCullough's the next day.  

Love this gaggle of kids running behind.

The home was filled with 80s/90s nostalgia - from the dishware, VHS players and stacks of VHSs so much of it is truly timeless.  The sports equipment, boating/fishing paraphernalia!

It is the ideal hosting home and so welcoming.  It landed with the PERFECT family that will carry the tradition.  There are plenty of spaces to sleep - these brothers even managed to stay together.  See what I mean about the sheets -  I adore the old time classis sheets!  

Paddle boat came with the house - kids sold separately (but best enjoyed together)

The weekend was filled with good old fashioned together time.  Kids filled up their bodies with tattoos.

Our little fisherman ran out there and snagged this guy within minutes.

Love my time with this lady - just relaxing

This is how you defrosting dinner in WVA

On the 4th of July Rick and Amy joined us.  Upon arriving they 'switched gears' and headed to the trails for a mountainlike ride that was quite striking and not shy of hills.

Loved out time hanging out in the pavilion.  Its a extension of their home located close to the river.  There were several sets of rocking seats and the perfect table to serve all.

Here is our special guest.  Quarantining straight from Indonesia.  So good to see these 2 together and hate that is feels a little temporary for them.

Look at these gracious hosts - enjoying seeing their home in action!

Kids are happily eating together outside.  We have TRULY made it!

Dinner outside all together.  These favorite people  all in one wonderful spot.  I cannot thank them enough for hosting us all so seamlessly.

Breakfast anyone?

Lazy time with a light saber

Epic kickball game!  Kids can't beat us yet!

Indian Drew off to find more fish for his family.

Hamilton was a HUGE hit this weekend as its on DISNEY + for the month.  Farrah did a little history class for the kids and they loved all the songs.  The WIFI isn't the strongest so they happily watched it in stages.

The adults, adulting together.

We even managed to schedule some times for naps here and there.  The chair vibrates!

Family style dinners.

Towel drying in full effect

love all this space for game time.

love all this time to just connect

We loved it and were thankful for it all.  The tubing, floating the river, river boogers, meals, friends, tattoos, Hamilton, and mostly the treasure of being all together.  Each morning we took long walk around the neighborhood - changing the world (or our perspectives) one step at a time.