New Shoes

New Shoes.....Thanks Mima. Can you guess who's feet are who's?

Carnival

Our church had it's last carnival at its old building before they moved to the new campus. The kids look forward to it every year they get to see their friend they have like 5 different moon bounces plus they have pony rides and food. The two older girls found some friends and ran off so there are no pictures of them but as you can see the two little ones (it was hard to take pictures of them as well - having to keep two hands on them both and they wanted to go in two different directions).

He loved the pony ride and actually rode it three times. It doesn't look like it in his face but he though it was a big dog and kept calling it doggie. I had to explain that it was a horse not a dog and he was so excited to ride, his first time on a horse. Maybe a future equestrian.

He was actually talking to the lady and she was telling him the horses name. So cute.

The caged Ferris wheel, which I didn't think he would like (he's not a big fan of heights) but he actually enjoyed it, maybe because he was in a cage. There were so many cute pictures I could have taken in moon bounces, throwing the ball toward the dunk tank and of course shaved ice cones, but alas they were having too much fun and I was really busy keeping them going.

Field Trip to Gunston Hall

We went on a field trip to Gunston Hall home of George Mason with our friends. Living in VA you hear a lot about George Mason but I never new a lot about the man until now. He was an interesting person and I'm glad we got the chance to learn about him. I have put some information on George Mason at the end of my blog if you are interested.

Again it was really HOT but it was very interesting. The girls always love things on history and of course going to learn new things with friends.

The girls in front of the bust of George Mason.

The front of the house, it was beautiful inside and the woman who gave us the tour was wonderful, she really geared it toward the kids and didn't make them feel like second class citizens.
Like all the plantations in VA there are people dressed in period costumes, I felt bad for them because it was like I said it was HOT. This was a picture on the way to the out door kitchen. The reason it was out doors was because they had no ventilation and you could burn the whole house down and the smoke so they had it separate from the house.



This is the table of the school house, most kids of that time period were home schooled and their teacher slept in a room above the classroom.

Below is some information about George Mason.

"That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural Rights… among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursueing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.” -- George Mason. Virginia Declaration of Rights, May, 1776.

The words of George Mason (1725-1792) have inspired generations of Americans and others throughout the world. Mason was among the first to call for such basic American liberties as freedom of the press, religious tolerance and the right to a trial by jury.

George Mason was born in 1725 to George and Ann Thomson Mason. Their first son and a fourth generation Virginian, Mason lived with his family on a Fairfax County Plantation. His father tragically drowned in a boating accident when Mason was ten, and his mother was left to raise George and his two siblings alone.

After studying with tutors and attending a private academy in Maryland, at age 21 Mason took over his inheritance of approximately 20,000 acres spread across several counties in Virginia and Maryland. Four years later, in 1750, Mason married 16 year old Ann Eilbeck with whom he had nine surviving children. Mason adored Ann and was devastated when she died in 1773 at the age of 39. Relying on his eldest daughter to help run the domestic side of the plantation’s operation, Mason remained a widower until 1780 when he married Sarah Brent.

Although highly respected by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Mason did not aspire to join his peers in public office. When he was asked to take Washington’s seat in the Virginia legislature, a slot vacated when Washington was named Chief of the Continental Army, Mason reluctantly agreed. In 1776 he was Fairfax County’s representative to the Virginia Convention and was appointed to the committee to draft a “Declaration of Rights” and a constitution to allow Virginia to act as an independent political body.

Complaining about the “useless Members” of the committee, Mason soon found himself authoring the first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Drawing from the Enlightenment philosopher John Locke, among others, Mason asserted, “That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights….among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.” This document was the first in America to call for freedom of the press, tolerance of religion, proscription of unreasonable searches, and the right to a fair and speedy trial.

In 1787, Mason was chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he was one of the most vocal debaters. Distressed over the amount of power being given to the federal government and the Convention’s unwillingness to abolish the slave trade, Mason refused to sign the Constitution. One of three dissenters, Mason’s refusal to support the new Constitution made him unpopular and destroyed his friendship with Washington, who later referred to Mason as his former friend.

Mason’s defense of individual liberties reverberated throughout the colonies, however, and a public outcry ensued. As a result, at the first session of the First Congress, Madison took up the cause and introduced a bill of rights that echoed Mason’s Declaration of Rights. The resultant first 10 amendments to the Constitution, also called the Bill of Rights, pleased Mason, who said, “I have received much Satisfaction from the Amendments to the federal Constitution, which have lately passed…” Invited to become one of Virginia’s senators in the First US Senate, Mason declined and finally was able to retire to Gunston Hall, where he remained until his death on October 7, 1792.

Garage Sale

We had a garage sale this summer and needless to say it wasn't very good. We missed the community one that happened in June because we were away. When we finally got everything de-cluttered and cleaned out it rained two week ends in a row so we had to have it on one of the hottest days of the year. I think it was 100 degrees with 100% humidity. Needless to say we didn't sell much but the kids had a great time trying to keep cool in the sprinkles and in the house.

Watering the plants, Jaden Style.

This was his water source a Dora sprinkle mat.

These two lasted the longest, the other two were inside staying cool and Madison was hiding with me in the garage out of the sun.

VBS

It wouldn't be summer without a VBS and since the two churches we normally attend VBS had to cancel a friend suggested we try one at their church. The girls loved it and it was so close to our house, I was a little nervous that they wouldn't know anyone except the one friend each but they had a great time and couldn't wait to go every day. They wanted to know if they could go again next year.

The theme was galactic blast so everything was decorated like they were in space

and all the skits were supposed to take place on a space ship.

Lots of kids, lots of fun.

Good Bye Karly... We Are Going to Miss YOU

Karly has been one of our babysitters for the last 3 years. I started using her because someone I knew from church knew her parents. She was 15 at the time and Madison was a baby, it was a big step for me to trust someone with my little ones, but after a long meeting with her mom (she wanted to make sure the family she babysat for was OK to trust her child with as well...I really like Kris), it was because of Karly I was able to leave her with anyone else other than family. She has been a great babysitter (the girls love her) and a great friend.

Well now she is leaving for college in two weeks, and we are so sad. She is going to Eastern Tennesse University to study to be an elementary school teacher, we know she will be great a teacher she is so good with kids.

We had her come over to play one day just so we could see her before she leaves and she let the

girls do a make over to her face and a mani/pedi to her hands and feet.

She's a sweet heart and she will be missed.

The Best Muffins Ever

While the big girls were at VBS we made delicious cinnamon chip muffins.

OOOPPS we dropped an egg.

The longest 30 minutes ever.

But OH was the wait ever worth it.

Library Date

While the girls were at VBS I took the little ones to a free program at the library called art and story time.

He loves coloring, but it doesn't hold his attention for more than 2 minutes, but that's OK

because at least he's willing to do it.

This was the nice librarian who read three stories before we got to color.

My Sister

My sister came for a visit for a long weekend, we welcomed her to the chaos of our house...our house is not for the weak..LOL, we had a great time though. We got to watch a couple of movies, went shopping and to the pool. My kids love her.

We had some HOT days this summer so one way we kept cool was water balloons, the kids loved it and now they keep asking when can we do it again.

Dance Camp and Parade

The girls did their dance camp this year with Children of the Light, they are a wonderful dance company in Fairfax and they do a great job with the kids during the year. Unfortunately our schedule being what it is makes it very hard to commit to a whole year so we just do the camp and the girls love it.

Rehearsing for the 4th of July parade.

He loves his sisters and misses them when they are not around.

Getting the speech about the proper use of the flag.

Parade day.

It was HOT!

Watching the parade and waiting for the girls to march by.

A nice family let Madison squeeze her stroller in between so she could see better.
She wanted to wear red so she could match like her sisters, it was too cute.

I love my dog but I thought this was a bit much, I felt pretty bad for that dog, but he didn't seem to mind.

I felt for these people it was hot and they were dressed in these costumes, but I thought it was cool.

Finally after about 45 minutes the girls finally came.

Some water after a job well done.

A picture of almost all of the kids who danced, finally in the shade.

I took a lot of pictures from the rest of the parade but my picasa was giving me some issues and Picnik was taking me forever to edit so this is all I have for now.