"Do you guys LOVE each other!?"

Yes!

Raking the Leaves

I went outside to check on Aaron. He was raking the leaves on the street, quite impressively while riding his rip stick at the same time. 

Mom- "Why are you raking the leaves that are in the street and not the ones that are in the front yard?"        

Aaron- "You can't ride the rip stick in the grass."

October Sky

Toward the end of August, Chuck brought home the movie October Sky. The kids loved it. This immediately spawned a new found interest in rockets. Aaron dug his NASA uniform out of the bottomless pit of his closet, the kids started doing "science projects", and then the inevitable happened. Chuck brought home a rocket kit. He didnt even say a word. He didnt have to. He walked in the door and poured the supplies out on the kitchen table. The kids immediately gravitated to the table. Why dont they do this when called for dinner, scripture study, homework? The next hour was spent building the perfect rocket. Upon completion, we all piled into the car (again, with nobody having to be told twice to do so) and drove to the closest wide open space we could find. I have to admit, it was pretty tense. Setting the rocket in position, stepping back, pushing the button, watching the object we only just assembled make a sharp twill sound as it shot off the launch pad towards the sky, leaving behind a whitish gray trail of smoke.  

Happy Birthday MaryB.!!!!!!!

Pumpkin Patch

Grandma and Grandpa Ferguson came to visit on Saturday. After soccer games, college football (must see TV), and a mandatory stop at Cracker Barrel for a late lunch, we FINALLY headed to the pumpkin patch. We squinted our eyes to pretend all the leaves were in their full red, orange, and yellow glory. We shivered a bit to pretend the air was crisp and not really eighty degrees. (though we are not complaining....we love Willaimsburg's indian summers!) We did not have to fake the anticipation we shared as we all piled out of the car and each headed off in different directions, on the hunt to claim the perfect pumpkin. 

Who knew there were so many different varieties to choose from? Aladdin, Howden Biggie, Pie, Magic Lanterns, Prizewinners, Jaredale, Lumina White, One Too Many, Peanut, Full Moon, Cinderellas, Fairytale, Mammoth Golds, Munchkin, Little Ironsides, and Long Island Cheese. Wow!!!!

College Kids!

I know, I know,  I look too young to have kids in college, but it's true!  They're having a great time. Afton says it's weird having the whole gang together again. Chuck, Afton, Andrew, Kevin, and Lauren have been hanging out since elementary school. Three years, three missions, and one wedding later, they are all back together at BYU. 

First day of school!

They go to Denny's after playing Ultimate Frisbee..

They play racquetball...or at least try to!

and of course support the school's football team! Go Cougars!!

A word is worth a thousand pictures....

Oh, wait I have that backwards, don't I?  Well, words are all I have right now. When Chuck left for Germany to pick up our son from his mission, his final instructions from me were "take LOTS of pictures".  Well guess what? Apparently the landscape in Germany is practically identical to that in Virginia, so really no need for pictures. YES! That really is what he said to me! 

 

They did have a great time. They toured around for four days before flying home. Chuck had the opportunity to meet some of the people Chuckie worked with and served as a missionary with the past two years. We know he has forged realtionships that will last throughout his life and are grateful for the opportunities he has experienced.

 

We at home were so excited to see them and knew that the 25th would be a very long day of waiting. Little did we know just how long! Their flight out of Germany was cancelled. We waited all day to hear from them and to know when and where they would fly in to. Finally at 10 pm, Chuck called from Chicago saying they would arrive in Richmond just after midnight. Only about six hours late, not bad.

 

Of course we were all thrilled to see Chuckie and enjoyed a bunch of family and friends coming and going throughout the next five days. We also squeezed in shopping for new clothes (you know, things in a few colors other than black and gray, and not ties!) dentist and doctor's appointments, a few good movies, a day at Busch Gardens, and lots of pictures and stories from the mission.  

 

Next, it was time to pack up for school. I flew to Utah with Chuckie to help get him settled in to his apartment and to visit Afton and Andrew in their new apartment as well. It was a second tearful, happy reunion at the Salt Lake airport. Not only were Afton and Andrew there to welcome us, but my brother Rob and his darling family as well. I didnt get any pictures here either, but Afton got some and has posted them on her blog (aftonicole.blogspot.com).

 

We have had a wonderful month, full of family and reunions. We are so very grateful to all those who add so much to our lives and who touch us in ways they will never fully know.  

Beach Bums

We love the beach! Love them all! We will travel near. We will travel far. Here are a few pics from three recent beach trips.....three different beaches.

Virginia Beach is a convenient one hour drive from our home. It is not our favorite, a little too crowded for us, but great for a quick fix.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina. "OBX".  2 and 1/2 hours south. We love the shells, the surf, and the seafood. 

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.  Worth every minute of the 8 hour drive. When it comes to beaches, Hilton Head is our one true love. We love the marina, the Low Country landscape, the warm water, the crabbing, the dolphins, the fireworks.....

a few more

These are a few more pictures I took with my "not as good as Afton's" camera.  Yes Chuck, when you read this, it IS a hint!!!

The first several shots are of the beach and boardwalk directly behind the shops, where  I easily kept myself entertained  while Afton and Andrew finished out their Friday afternoon of work.

This is the view from the street running along the marina in Marigot.

unloading at the outdoor market place

fresh mango.... the best!!!

The Church has it's own cute little building right in Phillipsburg.

Thank you so much to mom and Chuck for holding down the fort while I was gone! Poor Chuck got a little more than he bargained for!!!  

"between really happy and homesick"

  That is how Afton is describing her feelings this week.  I could not agree more!  This is the place I am finding myself lately.  Can you really be homesick when you are already home? I think so, when all of your kids are not there.

Afton and Andrew are spending the summer working in St Maartin, a small island in the Antilles-West Indies. Half the island is owned by the French, the other by the Dutch. Afton and Andrew are working and living on the Dutch side of the island.  They are managing two Del Sol t-shirt shops. It has been a great experience for them and an awesome way to spend the first four months of marriage!  I had the opportunity to go visit with them for a few days last week. It was so fun to see where they have been living and to see them enjoy the time there together.

hard at work   

The beach right behind their stores.  Rough job, huh???

The jungle

Andrew in the jungle, getting ready to play Tarzan

fresh spices

While Andrew was swinging in the treetops ,  Afton and I went shopping.  These are a few of    Afton's great shots. We ran  across a quaint fresh produce market in  Marigot, the capitol on the French side of the island.

the beautiful beach

I had time to go to church with them on Sunday before my flight home. These two nursery    leaders couldn't resist posing for a picture.