4th of July At The Shafers!!

Since we were not doing our annual "Summered" beach trip this year, we all decided to get the families together for the 4th of July holiday.  The Shafers hosted a big BBQ, and we headed over there for the afternoon/evening.  The kids picked right up playing and the grownups had a nice time relaxing and hanging out.  It is always a good time when we get together.

Prior to the holiday, Lauren and Charlie even helped me to make tie dyed tshirts for all of the kids.  It was quite a process and I was worried about the mess, but they both did a great job!

           

Once it started to get dark, and it cooled off a tiny bit, we headed outside to play.  The kids had a lot of fun with balls and hulu hoops.  When we tried to get the "summered" kids together for one last photo, most of them complied.  Charlie had other plans, and felt it was more important to play in the bushes.  Little stinker!!   Thankfully, the grownups were better sports.  =)

That evening, after the kids were sufficiently worn out, we drove back home to Va.  Lauren had hockey camp the next morning and Chad had to go to work (BOO)!  On the way home, we caught small firework displays at all of the towns we passed.  We even saw some of Washington DC's massive fireworks display as we crossed the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.  People were stopped in the right lane to watch, but we hurried through.  We were all ready to be home and in bed.

It was a good day, and we are so thankful that our families are able to spend time together each year.  But I think we are all looking forward to getting our beach vacation back next year!!

Father's Day 2018!

This year, we spent Father's Day up at Deep Creek Lake, so we scheduled another weekend to celebrate with all of our family.  On July 1st, we met up at the Old Stein Inn (shocker, I know) and enjoyed a nice early lunch inside.  It was WAY too hot to eat outside. 

The inside of the restaurant is very dark, so I could not get any good pictures.  However, I got a shadowy photo of Charlie and all 4 dads did pose outside after lunch.  Quinnie and Lauren cooperated.  Charlie was throwing a fit in the car.  Oh well, maybe we will get all of the grandkids in the pictures next year. 

We couldn't let the holiday go by without saying thanks to these wonderful dads.  All 4 of them have been such good dads to their kids and grandkids.  The Falicroft clan is certainly lucky to have such unique and amazing dads!!!

The Lake 2018!!!

Every summer, one of the weekends we always look forward to is the lake weekend.  We head to Deep Creek lake, and stay at the Blough's cabin for a few days.  We have been going since before the kids were born and it is a highlight!!  This year was no different.

We arrived Friday afternoon, on June 15th.  As we unpacked the cars and settled in, the kids ran down to the dock to see the newest addition...Bruce the Unicorn!  He was huge and amazing.  We all fell in love with him. 

That evening, Lauren got a ride on the jet ski (or as she calls it, the water motorcycle), we had snacks on the boat, hung out, watched the sun set, and went back inside for dinner, a few games, and bedtime.

           

The next day, we woke up, hung out for a bit around the house, and then headed out for a boat ride to the Honi Honi, our favorite bar/restaurant on the lake.  Lucy fell asleep on the boat.  It was adorable!!  Once we docked at the restaurant, the kids played on the amazing boat playground, the grownups had fun listening to live music and watching the kids, and we had a great lunch.

                               

           

           

Once we got back to the cabin, the kids all took a little nap, while the adults hung out down on the dock.  Chad and Blough never got out of Bruce.  It was quite funny to see those two guys in that unicorn.  They loved every minute of it. 

Then, the kids woke up and went swimming in the lake.  The water was too cold for me to join in, but the kids had a blast!

We enjoyed another sunset down on the dock.  The weather was perfect and it is hard to give up those gorgeous moments at the end of the day!!

That evening, we had a big dinner back at the cabin, put the kids to bed, and hung out some more. 

The next morning was Father's Day.  We had a delicious brunch and posed for some more photos before the trip was over! 

It was a great weekend, full of friends and wonderful memories.  Everyone was sad to pack up the car and head home, but we are all looking forward to the next weekend at the Lake next summer.  We will even have a new member of our group joining us...Lucy will have a little sister in a few weeks!!  We all cannot wait to meet her and show her all of the fun things at the Blough cabin!!

The Levy Invasion 2018

On the same day as the Capitals Stanley Cup Parade, we all (including the Shafers) headed to the National Zoo to meet up with the Levy Family.  They had driving east from Arizona and this was the first time we had seen them since last summer.  We took the Metro a few stops, switched trains, and walked the few blocks to the entrance.  Everyone was very excited.

When they got there, we spent the rest of the afternoon walking around.  We were not able to see the entire Zoo, but we got to see quite a few exhibits.

 

           

On the way home, the kids crashed on the Metro ride back to Vienna.  It had been a long day, they both were such troopers, but it finally caught up to them.  Chad even had to carry Charlie to the car.  

                           

                                   

                                                  

After the Zoo, the Levys came to our house to spend a few days.  Since our crew was doing an adults-only vacation later this fall, we decided not to do our usual week long beach vacation.  The grownups were really excited but we still wanted to make sure the kiddos got to spend plenty of time together this summer.

While the Levys were here, we played around the house, splashed on the waterslide we recently bought, went to the Air and Space Museum, and played around the house.  It was good for them to spend some time together.

The next day, the kids made medals for their amazing performance at ball toss on the water slide.  As the kids came down the slide, we would throw balls, and they would try to catch them.  Lauren and Ella did a great job!!  

 After crafts, it was time to go to the Air and Space Museum.  We went to the museum by Dulles Airport.  It was much closer and had a NASA shuttle.  Ella is very interested in space and we figured this would be fun for her to see.  She and Lauren both loved it quite a bit.

                               

The kids also watched movies (nice quiet time) and Lauren took Ella out to the garage to shoot hockey pucks.  Ella did a great job and Lauren had fun sharing her favorite sport with her friend.  

While the kids had a lot of fun, the grownups did as well.  Every night, Chad would come home from work, we would have dinner, and then head down to the King Charles to hang around the bar.  We even had a Keggy!!

           

It was only a few days, but we tried to pack in as much fun time together as possible.  Lauren and Charlie were bummed when Ella, Skylar, and Adrian left.  We are all looking forward to our usual beach vacation again next summer!!