Baden Lake

Once again we had an awesome time at Baden Lake with the Shepperds! The girls click so well with each other. The big hit this summer was taking a WILD ride on the inner tube. Scott threw Harper and Mallory off and about did them in. Then he threw me off. I had to immediately go again for a good example of "If you fall off the horse, get up and ride it again."

Picking Blueberries at Littlejohn's

Ok, the day that it is the hottest day of the summer, I decide that I want to go pick blueberries. I can always count on Mallory to want to go. We did go in the morning, but it was so hot!! Mallory said, "Mom, have you ever been so hot you felt like you were going to puke?" She was so sweet though. We were needing to fill up two gallon baskets and she wasn't complaining at all. She would just say things like," I can fill sweat dripping down my back, or that breeze feels so good." I asked her if she wanted to go to the car and I could put the air on and I would pick the rest? She thought for a minute and then said, "but I don't want you to pick alone." That is my sweet girl Malaboo!!!
The blueberries are delicious!!!! They were plentiful on the bushes, but you could tell that it was getting towards the end of the picking season.

Maddie and Nathan's play date

Today Maddie and Nathan Hamel came over for a play date. We had so much fun. We went swimming, played in the front yard doing wheel barrel races, played with Elmo, drank smoothies, etc... Nathan saw his friend "Freddie" the ant. Also it was fun to watch he and Taylor Grace swim around the pool chasing the "cleaning man", which was the aqua bot, and splashing each other with the water hose.

And more photos

Pictures of the Martha Washington Inn

Virgina Creeper Trail and Martha Washington Inn

We had so much fun today!! We got up early and drove up to Damascus, Virginia with Kay Kay. When we got there, we got fitted for our bikes and helmets. That was so funny seeing everyone with the silly looking helmets on. We then were taken up to the top of the mountain in a van and were able to coast/ride our bikes down the trail for 14 miles. It was so beautiful. At first Taylor Grace didn't want to stop and take in the scenery, but once we saw a lady that had an old country store that had to have our business to make a living, she started to relax and enjoy the ride. Before that she just wanted to get on her bike and get it "over with". We stopped at waterfalls, got in the creek, boy was that cold, and on the rocks. We saw a beautiful valley that was called Taylor's Valley. We had lunch at the cafe' there in Taylor's Valley, which was a nice break and good food. We counted 29 bridges that we crossed, and just enjoyed the stream that followed the trail the whole way down. It was beautiful!! We then ended the perfect day at the GRAND Martha Washington Inn! Wow was it magnificent! The girls said that it was the best place they had ever been their whole life. Taylor Grace said that she felt like a princess when she had to use a hand towel to dry her hands in the spa. They also took showers in the spa after they went swimming in the salt water pool and hot tub. We are so thankful that we were able to go and share this experience with Kay Kay!!

Mallory's Birthday Party "Luau and Minute to win it"

Mallory and her friends had a super time at her birthday party. Those that were there were Camryn Guest, Maddie Hamel, Kate Partlow, Skylyn Stevens, Katie Jane Sweat, Sadie Dibrell, Taylor Grace, Maya Danetinne, Ashley Motz, Patrick Brown, and the grandparents. We had it from 6:30-9:00 because Mallory wanted to be able to eat pizza and swim at night. It turned out to make things a lot different then when she has had swim parties in the past. The light in the pool was a big hit! We played "Minute to Win It" games. The Oreo game and the cotton ball game. It was so funny once everyone got the hang of the cotton ball game that they would get as much Vaseline on their faces and then their teammates would push their heads in the bowl so they could get as many on their faces as possible. Another game that was hilarious we the water balloon game. They had to put the water balloon in their bathing suit and then run to the end and pop it. They got very "creative" as to how they would pop it. So funny!!

I think that the best part of the whole party for me was when Mallory was opening her presents. She was so excited about each and every gift and made a huge deal thanking each person. It showed me how much she has grown up! In the past opening presents was the tough part because she wouldn't stop to thank people. My sweet little girl is 7!!!