Summer VA trip

 So way back in the beginning of July we set off across the country to spend some time in good ol' Virginny.  We hadn't been out for over a year and a half and we were more than ready for a visit.  Uncle David was there while we were and uncle Ryan was able to come up for a couple days.  The boys loved playing with Grandma and Grandpa and all the fun things we were able to do.

 We were there over the 4th of July.  We didn't make it out to any fireworks (too tired to face the crowds) but my dad and I ran a 4th of July race in the morning and the boys enjoyed wearing the swag we picked up there.  The race reminded me just how hard it can be to run in about 80% humidity, yikes!

 My mom and dad were able to be off work for a good portion of the trip and we loved being able to spend lots of time with them.  Tate discovered that Papa gives a lot better under-dogs than I do (under-dog: when the person pushing the swing pushes the swing forward as he/she runs underneath it).  He even got to try some over-cats :) (over-cat: another name for under-dog)

 Luke would have been more than happy to spend the majority of the vacation right here in the swing.  He would just sit there and zone out, swinging back and forth, back and forth.  If you'd try to stop, he'd just bring his little fists together (baby sign language) and whisper "more".

 Grant and Ryan proudly scaled a large rock at a local park.

 One of our favorite activities was spending a couple of days at the beach.  I love how the beach is free, but also great non-stop entertainment for the kids.  We built an awesome moat with 1/2 a sandcastle inside, played in the water, looked for crabs, played some more in the sand, picked over seashells, and caught lots of waves with the boggie board.  I took Grant out with the board and would set him up just right for a wave and he would ride them all the way into shore.  He caught almost every one I set him up for (with only a couple wipeouts!)

 One of the days, Ryan constructed a makeshift shade out of a beach umbrella, a tent rain fly, and two pieces of PVC pipe and it was nice to get out of the sun.  A regular MacGyver he is.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of our day at Busch Gardens, but we all had a blast there.  We arrived right when they opened and enjoyed not having to wait in any lines.  In the afternoon, right when the park was getting too busy, a freak thunderstorm came through and it seems like most of the people in the park left.  We waited out the torrential rain, which stopped after ~45 minutes, and again had an almost empty park to enjoy for the evening.  It would have been even more awesome to not have been drenched and cold for a portion of the day, but luckily we brought a change of clothes and warmed up again.  The next day the boys were already asking when we could go again!

We had such a blast with our family in VA and hope we can make it out next year too!