Nuala's Fall Road Trip.

Sue has had it in her mind for sometime now that Nuala would enjoy a trip to the beach. I'm not so sure that it wasn't Sue channeling her desires through Nuala.
In any event, Nuala got her wish and we traveled down to Sandbridge, VA for the day.

Clockwise from bottom right: "are we there yet", "are we there yet", "are we there yet", "are we there yet"...

"Finally"!!!

Nuala's introduction to the ocean went well right up until she was pummeled by a  decent sized wave. After that she was content to spend the rest of the afternoon at the beach chairs with Poppy.

King William's annual lawn aeration, & Krispy Kreme festival.

The end of September saw the annual neighborhood lawn aerating get together. Mike and I picked up the machine and with the help of those able to pitch in, knocked out approx 13 lawns in around four hours. Kids of all ages entertained themselves during the process at the Krispy Kreme, coffee, and juice bar.

Bobby does Virginia

Anyone who's heard the stories of the Garden Gnome swiped from a garden and turning up in pictures all over the world, can appreciate the story behind Bobby.

It seems Vickie, (Baseball player Thomas Neal's mom), was at her brothers visiting and he had these plastic wrestling figures that he's painted black and set up along the driveway, (Sounds like quite the character). Vickie thought it'd be great fun to steal one and see what her brother did when he found out it was missing.
Bobby was the figure Vickie absconded with after leaving a ransom note.
Vickie then decided to taunt her brother by sending him pictures of Bobby at  locations Vickie visited in her travels.
After telling the story to Sue the girls decided to expand Bobby's travels in a most unusual way... Bobby was cloned.
Sue found a Bobby figure out here in VA at one of those Big Box dime stores, took it home, and painted it black. The rest, as they say, is history.

Clockwise from top left: Bobby in his fresh coat of paint, behind home plate, with the vendor King, on a Flying Squirrels helmet, and with a sack of Vickie's favorite ballpark snacks.

With Nutsy, the team mascot, the nut vendors, riding in Sue's purse, with Thomas Neal, and at the beer kiosk.
To be continued.... I'm sure!

Bird Theater Double Feature

Our Last Moonlight Movies turned into a double feature. We started off with the Jenkins boys pick Endless Summer II, a surfing extravaganza.
When that was over and nobody seemed to want to leave I ran a couple of Shorts to entertain the kids. When it became evident that the party was not over I gave up and ran the movie Monsters Inc.
We dispersed just shy of midnight.

Third Annual Ride for Jim (2010)

The local Ride for Jim Block Party and Final Ride have become a fun if not grueling annual event. This was my third year and it was nice to see it grow from the 13 final riders in 2008, to the 80 plus riders this year.
Jim's Story

2008 Final Ride Video


King Williams Dare Devil Nora does the tree climb, while Susu and Mike discuss what really is under those Kilts at the block party.

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

Clockwise from top left...
King William Crew Riders: Perry Des Jardins, Dave (Doc) Salley, Me, Chris Ekland, Pete Gilbert...
Pete's eagle is like the traveling gnome.. there's a story there, I'm just not sure what it is.

Clockwise from top left:
At the end of the ride in Yorktown VA it was time to cool off.
Jack Salley learns sand isn't for eating. The riders wives: Lisa, Ann, Kari, Kelsey. Riders Dr Haar 2008 - Howard Smith '10- Charlie Nottingham '09 - Doug Gardner '10 & Dave Jenkins (Block Party '08, '09, '10) Jack Jack is introduced to the water by dad Dave. Fashion Diva Klara Salley likes to Splish Splash in the water.

Samore....

Big Al's Big Adventure continues...

Clockwise... Alex and the Belde girls..... Al, Lucas, and Big Dave Belde....King William Crew.... Al and Her Royal Highness Mia.....Al and Pammy wave to trains down at Bottoms Up Pizza....Al and Payton Randolph before the Patrick Henry "Give me liberty or give me death" reenactment.

All good things must come to an end.... Alex heads back to Phoenix.
See you next summer!!
XOXOXO
Love you.
Poppy & Grandma Susu

No Virginia, we didn"t drop off the face of the earth!

Just trying to catch up before this news becomes ready for the Smithsonian archives.


Alex enjoys an evening of "Music in the Park", and then becomes the entertainment. Go Al Go... shake that booty!

 

Al also took in some Flying Squirrels games, thanks to one of the players Thomas Neal. (Clockwise above) Some of the King William crew, Alex, and Vickie, (Thomas' Mom) at a game.... Al meets players Darren Ford who is now with the Giants up in the Bigs.....Nick Noonan.... and Thomas Neal. Al picked up a souvenir bat from Thomas after the game.

How to stay cool during the heat of summer...
Big Al's science project, a remote controlled tank he built. Bowling, Ice Cream, chillin in the house, and playing in the sprinkler with Nuala.

Another Moonlight Movie and Pammy's Birthday!

Early birds may get the worm... But early Nualas and Poppys...well....

They get the luscious sunrise...

Resplendent!!!



Or perhaps an up close encounter with some of the local fauna, a Great Blue Heron for example.

Guess Nuala got just a little to close to the fauna... The Great Blue Heron and a Mallard decide it was time to vacate this spot on the river.

Then the topper... a visit from another denizen of the forest.... Mr. Beaver. This guy walked right up like he hadn't a care in the world and for a moment stopped not three feet away and closed his eyes. I suspect he was heading home after an exhausting all-nighter.

Just another day in paradise!

MOONLIGHT MOVIES.... Surfs Up!!!

The inaugural Movie Night for the 2010 season was this last Saturday, and kids of all ages enjoyed the movie Surfs Up.

Cowabunga Dude!!

Some more of nothing to do.....

More of the Fourth of July Parade..... who's making all the racket?

Nuala waits.... waits some more.... waits a little more.... and patiently waits, for the fisherman to come home.

So what do you do when the fish aren't biting ???

GOLF of course!!!

Mike Schwartz, Alex, and Poppy play 18 at the Chesterfield First Tee. Alex makes the rounds only birdie!!!

The Beldie girls Sophie and Lilly, or is it Lilly and Sophie....whatever.... celebrate a birthday prior to the 2010 inaugural Bird Theater Moonlight Movies.

I'm bored... there's nothing to do....except ----

Watch TV with Nuala, Go fishing at the lake, watch a movie with Nuala, practice tricks on the yo yo, watch another movie.

Practice riding the skateboard, dejavu, practice some more, and practice, practice, practice.... must be some cute girls he's going to try to impress at the Fourth of July parade.

The really BIG Westover Hills, they close down the streets for the morning, Parade!!!

Susu, Poppy, & Nula decked out for the occasion... The Reavey/Gilbert gang joins the fray. Mia and Ian pose for the press. Nuala in her star spangled collar tries to decide who to love up first.

Among the thousands of floats, bands and dignitaries marching down the parade route were some really cute kids! Throw in some of the beautiful people like Dr's Dave and Kelsey Salley... just can't get any better than this!

...and ya don't stop!!!

The rest of June played out in similar fashion.... lots and lots to do!

Saturdays the crew assembles for a trip to Blanchard's, the Farmers Market, or both. Hadley and Papa Mike stay cool on the front porch, Alex finds the sprinkler to be his cup of tea.

The Robin's next and it's occupants were right outside Alex's bedroom window so he had roommates until they fledged and left the nest.

Alex points out the Red Sonic Rooster Tail he used to haul in his bass.

The Crew enjoys another great evening of entertainment at Forest Hills Music in the Park series.

Alex and Nuala have become best buds!

Susu and Alex found a Polka broadcast that must have been great entertainment... they talked about it for days!

As is usually the case, the breakfast was great at Paradise Cafe.

Alex heads out for day one of Golf Camp.

Alex lost a tooth on his visit... Chah Ching $$

...and takes a bath on his visit to DC for the Beatle's Concert up at Wolf Trap.

A trip to DC wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Air and Space museum.

Susu and Alex made the trip via train from Richmond... as you can see Alex made himself feel right at home. The beautiful Union Station.

Part of the crew took in a Squirrels game.... it was an exciting game but alas, the Squirrels came up short.... sniffle! In attendance were Alex, Susu, Poppy, Mike House, Mike and Pam Schwartz, Lindsay and John Farner, and the irrepressible John and Ruth Ann Coski.


Bring on July!!!

Nothing much to report.. All quiet on the eastern front... yeah right !

Well it's about time....

I'm not to concerned about the fact I haven't kept this update like I might have liked... I'm sure the two followers won't mind.

* Early June *

Susu's pop Walt came to town for a visit and short stay. They took in a Squirrels game and Walt met the west coast connection and left fielder Thomas Neal. The art museum was also visited and Sue took her Dad to Rockets Landing for dinner.

Sue took a trip up to PA to visit with her Mom and Pop and relatives galore!


Back in Richmond, Sue and the girls got together for a "Girls Night Out" and took in the latest Sex in the City, Chick Flick.

The girls all met before the movie in our front yard and were served Dr. Dave's Famous Cosmopolitans by Dr. Dave himself no less. Note the Doc in Tux shirt and bow tie displaying his usual aplomb.

The children all spent the evening with the dads over at Derek's... I suspect Beer and Pizza was the choice at that venue. Mike and I, having no little ones, took in a Squirrels game at the Diamond.



Grandson Alex has joined us for the summer and took in an impromptu King William Crew get together down at O'Toole's, visited the Rivah with Nuala, was smooched by Nuala, and went to the Saturday morning Farmers Market.

More to Follow...