Our Virginia Trip - Pt 2 Arlington National Cemetery.

I seem to be so lost without the kids.  Whenever they are around they become so distracting and getting anything done around the house is nearly impossible.  I always think how much easier it is when they aren't around but then when they aren't home I go out of my mind.  It's too quiet.  I'm not being pulled in one direction from another.  It drives me insane.  After spending one night with my parents they are having a fun filled day with them and will possibly be spending another night.  I look around the house and can name a billion things that need done and I have accomplished a few but then I find myself sitting on the couch doing nothing.  Part of me wants to enjoy the peace and quiet and just sit and catch up on some television but then another part of me knows things around here must get done.  Decisions, decisions.  Well, maybe I can dedicate a few more minutes updating this blog even though I've already posted twice today.  Once the kids are back I don't know when I'll be one here again and there is so much about this summer I want to share. 

I'll continue with our trip to Virginia last weekend.  After spending the night in a hotel and having breakfast at IHOP we drove to Arlington.  Thanks to our brand new GPS (because the old one stopped working) we arrived there on time.  My husband had to carry the large wreath, made by his mother, from the entrance of the cemetery to the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.  There were a lot of people passing by staring at him and that annoyed me for some reason.  The weather was hot and humid and the walk was long.  Very long.  Too long for a four year old.  Hey, too long for this thirty-seven year old.  But we got there and we made it exactly when we were supposed to. 

Just like last year, it was an amazing experience.  Aside from my son there were two other scouts that came along.  Unfortunately, not everyone was able to attend.  My husband was asked to join in because they wanted four to present the wreath.  It was extremely hot and I could feel the sweat running down my leg.  However, the pride I felt for my son being able to experience this moment made it all worth it.  I also realized that as hot as I was I can't imagine how hot the guards were.  I am so thankful to all the military for their service.  The honor guard at the Tomb are amazing and dedicated people. 

I'm not sure if this is an experience we'll do again.  My son is so lucky to have been able to take part in this, not just once but twice.  Most people do not even get to do this at all.  Also, a big thank you to my mother-in-law for doing such a beautiful job on the wreath. 

When the ceremony was over we found a park nearby to have lunch in and then went home.  I slept most of the way home.  I had too.  I've had issues with anxiety in the last few years and it seems the one thing that causes my anxiety is when I'm in a situation that's out of my control.  Being stuck in traffic is one of those times.  On the way to and from Virginia my anxiety seemed to have gone crazy but I took a few deep breaths, closed my eyes and tried my best to talk myself out of it.  What a pain.  The trip was great and I love Virginia but I'm glad to be home too. 

Our Trip To Virginia - Pt 1 Roers Zoo

Like last year my son and the cub scouts were scheduled to do the wreath ceremony at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldiers at the Arlington National Cemetery.  My husband was in charge of putting together the event.  The ceremony was last Saturday and we made the decision to head to Virginia a day early and stay over in a hotel.  We stayed at the Comfort Inn in Alexandria.  We've stayed at the hotel a few times before and really like it.  What we especially love is the IHOP that's attached to the hotel and the free breakfast.  Since we headed to Virginia the day before we had to think of something to do to keep the kids busy.

My husband came up with the perfect idea.  The zoo.  My husband and I had visited the Reston Zoo in Vienna Virginia years ago and we decided to head there again.  It's now under new ownership and they changed the name to Roer's Zoo.  It was a surprise to the kids.  They thought we were heading directly to the hotel so as we walked into the zoo entrance they were a big confused.  Then excited.

We started by eating a picnic lunch of Capri Suns, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chips.  Then we checked out all the animals.

 

There was a petting zoo with goats, rabbits, sheep and pigs.  

 

 

 These animals were so cute.  Well, except the snakes.  I am not a fan of snakes at all.  Although I'll admit this guy is pretty ... but we'll keep him on the other side of that glass, thank you.

There were a lot of animals to see but it's not as huge as a typical zoo.

Oh my goodness, there was a building you could enter that was filled with budgies (parakeets).  I loved it.  We found some sticks with food on it and some of the people had parakeets landing on them.  I had one land on me and he looked just like the parakeet we used to have named Sprite.  It was so cool.  I love birds!

We also went on a safari ride and saw many animals along the fields.  Some came right up to the wagon and we were able to pet them and then some kept their distance.

 

The best part of the zoo was seeing my daughter's favorite animals - zebras.  She loves zebras so it was exciting to all of us that there were two.  The tractor driver warned us to not pet the zebras because they do tend to nibble on fingers.  They didn't get close enough anyway.  My daughter is right, they are a beautiful animal.

I do give Roer's Zoo a two thumbs up.  We had a blast. 

Beginner Swimmers

My summer has been busy and it's hard to believe that school starts in exactly one month.  I haven't had a chance to sit here and update the blog.  There is so much to update.  The kids spent the night at my parents house and they may spend another night.  They have been keeping me busy and although I miss them when they are gone it's nice to have the quiet time to catch up on things.  Right now we are in the middle of renovating the main bathroom but I will update more on that another time.  I think for this particular post I'll concentrate on swim lessons.

Summer vacation started with four weeks of swimming lessons.  My kids had never had swim lessons before and it was time.  They are four and eight and neither could swim so enough was enough.  We signed them up for lessons at the middle school pool.  The instructors are currently or have once been on the high school swim team.  My children both had a fear of the water and hated getting their faces wet.  The first few days of swim lessons were rough.  The kids refused to do anything.  After talking to them and being stern with them about the importance of trying and doing what they are told to do while in the water the rest of the lessons went better.  Well, let's just say they gained a little more confidence.

 

By the end of the four weeks my son can swim without any help.  My daughter still requires some kind of flotation device but her confidence in the water is a lot better and she loves being in the pool.  The most important thing for me was to see my children have that confidence and learn the basics.  Learning how to swim is so important.

We don't have a pool of our own but we have been invited to my uncle-in-law's pool, a friend's pool, a local community pool and my parents' community pool.  Since these lessons my kids have become little fish.  They love it.  I always enjoyed swimming so I'm glad the kids now do as well. 

Summer Hiking

One of our favorite summer activities is going on hikes.  There is a group in our county that has joined with the library's summer reading club that offers thirty scavenger hunts at different parks all over the county.  We get a booklet that has directions to each park and then directions on where we need to go in order to find the rubbing, which is a post that has a rubbing on it.  We take a sheet of paper that comes with the booklet and hold it over the rubbing and rub the picture through the paper.  Once it's all complete we hand it in to the library so the kids can get a prize and then go into a drawing for another prize.  We have done this for the last three years but have yet to complete all thirty.  I'm not sure if we'll get to all thirty this year but we are sure trying. 

Last week my husband took off of work to do our bathroom renovation.  After a week of hard labor he wanted to do something fun so on Monday, which was also Independence Day, he joined us on one of the hikes.  It was the first hike he did with us this summer.  It was at a place I had never heard of before - which is why I love doing these hikes.  I learn about places we didn't know existed before.  This particular hike was labeled "hard" since the path went up hill for over a mile.  There were some waterfalls along the way.  In the midst of our hike came some rain but we were in the woods covered with several trees and barely got wet.  It was a nice way to spend the day but after the hike was complete my four year old became exhausted and the plan to do another hike didn't happen.  She had a few scratches on her leg from brushing up against some sticks and even though she handled it like a tough girl over time it started bothering her.  I think the whining and tears mostly came from being tired. 

The hike was located at an Indian Museum.  Someday we'll have to go back to do the tour.