New activity

Perler beads & plastic peg boards are a new activity I got for the girls.  It provided me with a lot of quiet time while the made their design :)

 During quiet time Sienna decided to get dressed up & then draw herself.

Pirate Adventure

Thursday we went on a Pirate Adventure on the Chesapeake Bay.  Sienna has been a kinda into pirates recently.  First, the kids that wanted to, got to dress up as pirates and got tattoos painted on.  Sienna asked for a scar on her face too "like a real pirate has." Rylie wanted tatoos, but did not want to get dressed up.

 They did a great job separating the kids from adults so that the kids go the best seats.  Rylie was nervous enough about it that she was willing to hold a strangers hand.

 Riptide Rylie & Scallywag Sienna getting ready to set sail.

 Taking the pirate pledge, which involves covering one eye.

 The treasure map has landmarks that are things in the bay.

 On the lookout for the treasure.

 A couple kids got to raise the battle flag when Pirate Pete stole the keys that open the treasure chest.

 The kids tried to defeat Pirate Pete with their water cannons.

 Riptide Rylie wasn't too fond of Pirate Pete ;)

 The kids finally found the X in the bay and are now hauling up the treasure chest while yelling "heave, ho, heave, ho"

 Three kids were given the keys they got back from Pirate Pete and they got to open the locks.

 All the little pirates.  And Rylie with a big "RRRRR!"

Brookfield Zoo in Chicago with cousins

 Makenna was glued to Sienna the whole day.

 From this...

 to this in a matter of seconds.  We are still working on using our words instead of yelling when we are upset.

 Showing the girls that baby grizzly bears as tall as Rylie grown into bears taller than Sienna on Daddy's shoulders.

 Tiring day. Crashed out on uncle Garnett.

Friends from Hawaii

A few days ago my friend Terri and her family arrived in the DC area.  We follow each other around in our military life.  We were in California, China, and Hawaii together before this.  Here are her kids with ours making their own pizzas.

 The girls started swim lessons this week.  Rylie is a level below Sienna, but I am so happy that their lessons are at the same time :)

Old Man's Cave

We visited Sienna's godmother, Mary in Ohio and hiked at Old Man's Cave, which is part of Hocking Hills State Park.  It was a beautiful place and great to visit Mary after 3 years!  Hopefully we'll be seeing her a little more frequently now that we're back on the mainland.

 Not sure what she got scared of???

 She really launched this rock pretty far considering how heavy it was.

 This is called Devil's Bathtub.  It is an area in the sandstone that has been cemented together more tightly than the other nearby rock layers.  Because of the constriction of the stream, it has forced the water to carve in the only direction it can, straight down.  Over time the swirling action has carved out a "bathtub" shape in the rock. 

Legend says the swirling drains goes all the way down to hades itself.  The reality is the tub is several feet deep and then comes out downstream under the bridge and on towards Old Man Cave. 

The tub can be very dangerous and climbing out is virtually impossible. 

 Joy on her face at the anticipation having the branches touch her head.