virginia!

The last week in June we made our annual trip out to see Grandpa on the Rappahannock.  Each trip with Ben is interesting, not knowing whether he'll sleep and how the flight will go.  This one started off with a bang- we had an early flight so we spent the night before at an airport hotel.  We had a fun family dinner, watched Disney on TV, and tried to settle in for the night.  No such luck, though, since Ben had no interest in falling asleep.  Ultimately Ben and I headed down to the lobby to play in the gym and with the pool table for most of the night. A tired Ben on flight day may be the way to go- he curled up and slept for a majority of the first flight, including the 3 hour medical emergency landing in South Dakota.

After we made it to dad's house and everyone caught up on their sleep, we had a great week.  This is the year of the boat.  Owen decided around Christmas time that he most wanted to drive the boat far enough to get to see Grandpa's house from the river.  In order to do that, the boat would have to go fast.  In order to do that, Owen would have to be brave.  Once Owen had made up his mind that he wasn't nervous about going fast they had a great time cruising the river.  They went out on the boat almost every day.  They cruised upstream to see the house and waved to Ben and me.  A school of dolphins swam right into the boat and they watched them for a long time.  Of course they went fishing.  One day they caught more than 20 spot.  Owen tried his hand at fishing, but most enjoyed being first mate, watching the instruments and looking around the river.

We also made good use of the marina pool, cooling off there daily.  We found an inner tube that fit Ben and he had pool independence for the first time- kicking around the perimeter of it (with Mom or Dad always a hand reach away- not THAT independent yet- the boy sinks).  He had a ball.  Richard and Owen would make pool float islands, and Dad would shoot all of us with water from the noodle cannon.

 One night we had loud thunderstorms- a treat for us since we don't have them in Oregon often.  Owen was a bit nervous about them- having us all stay inside- but was happy to watch the show through the windows.  Ben and I found two box turtles one day, and he was on the lookout for them the rest of the trip.  We all enjoyed the nightly sunsets on the porch, and looking for crabs on the beach.

You may notice Owen is smiling in these pictures.  He and I worked out a deal that he'd get a point for every picture he smiled in, and if he got enough points he could get a new lego kit when we got home.  It worked like a charm.  And yes, he got the legos.  Happy Owen, Happy Mommy.