Last Weekday of Summer

That's it. It is over. It honestly feels like it just began. I can't believe I haven't posted here since the beginning of August. We have had a great summer packed with tons of fun and time together. I'm feeling good about it. I always worry that because I work outside the home, my boys won't have those fantastic carefree summers. So I try really really hard to make that happen and squeeze in all we can.

Today Connor and I capped it off with our first ever visit to Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont, Maryland. It was so fantastic...its hard to keep from gushing. I'm annoyed we have this great place an hour away and that we haven't been there before. There are hiking trails, a beach, boat rentals, a fabulous mountain lake, an amazing waterfall (better in the spring, I bet!), and fishing galore.  We spent the whole day there.  Just me and by biggest.  Joy.

Fishing from the paddle boat.  We couldn't get a canoe because the lifeguards didn't show up!  Hungover, no doubt!  What are they going to do, fire them?  Its the last day of summer!

Look carefully.  He's out on an outcropping.  Beautiful stone (metabasalt?).  Likely the oldest in the world.  Older than the Himalayas. 

Chillin' at the base of the falls.

In the spring that whole rock face behind him is a waterfall.  Not just that trickle there on the left.

So happy when he's exploring new things and on the move.

My feet.  As usual.

Falls portrait

Just love this shot.  Is that happiness or what?

His spot.

Totally Tubular

After hearing many times about how fabulous the Watermelon Park tubing experience is, we finally headed there on a late summer Sunday morning. All reports were correct! At $10 bucks a tube and a ride upriver the price can't be beat.

Waiting on the shuttle upriver.

All you need is water.  And a flotilla with a cooler. 

Redneck.  Literally. 

These three...Connor, Paige, and Palmer...barely let a tube hit their asses.  They swam or walked their way down the river.

Quick break for a drink!

Bring it on, old Shenandoah!  Bring it on!

Water slide in the rocks.

What a view.

The Annual Crape Shot

Here they are!

Young Anglers Fishing Camp

In between those two beach weekends Connor went to Young Anglers Fishing Camp for a week.  Its a day camp run by the folks at Fish and Explore.   For five days he and four other boys traipsed all over Northern Virginia fishing with an expert.  They fished Goose Creek, the Shenandoah river, the Chesapeake bay and a few "secret" spots.  He had a great time and I got some great pics this week from his counselor.  Its a definitely on the list for another week or two next summer. 

Beach Impromptu II

I love it that my babies love the beach like I do.  It's a gift.  I could be out here with them from dawn until dusk.  It rained a bit today for about 15 minutes and most people skedaddled.  Ahhhh.  Tomorrow we hit Ron Jon and either get a new leash or a new board.  The waves are too gnarly to do without.

Breakfast on the beach

A new friend - Victoria - that took about  5 seconds... and then they were inseparable.  Tough chick.  I was sad to see her go.  :)   Though it did seem odd to keep hearing another female voice yell "Connor"!

The diggers

Hoagie fest!

Impromptu Beach Weekend

Looked at the calendar and realized there was no other weekend we'd be able to go to the beach. So, I took two days of vacation on Monday and Tuesday and the boys and I drove up today. There was a chewing gum prank in the car and for the 3 hours we were at the beach Connor's feet never hit dry land. He is what the call a "waterman"--totally at home in the sea. I wish we lived closer to it.

Great afternoon with my best dates.

Beach To Creek

The boys and I snuck up to Nana's for a long weekend at the beach and the creek. Fabulous!