I normally would have broken this post down into 4 or 5 separate posts but since all of these pics were taken while G&G L were visiting I wanted to get them all up and call it good.
So I am giving you fair warning that this post is long.
And I had a hard time cutting out pictures...
So there are a lot of pictures.
Wait 'til you get to the bridge-tunnel part.
You probably never knew a person could take so many pictures of the same water, bridge and tunnels and find the need to actually share them with others.
Rather ridiculous remarkable, really.
I really like this picture despite the fact that Fisher looks a little special in it. I have another one later of just him with G&G.
My parents went on a month long marathon of visiting all the kids/grandkids in Vegas, Seattle, Charlotte and then us in Virginia. Of course, they saved the best for last. :) Ha ha.
They were kind enough to watch the kids so Todd and I could make a trip up to D.C. to go to the temple. Then we stayed the night in Williamsburg and went to Busch Gardens the next morning.
I have been working on this post for almost two weeks now and can't come up with anything to say.
Grandpa helped Tucker learn how to climb the rock wall. He conquered it after a few tries.
Grandma spent time with Fisher on the swings. I love it that Fisher has the confidence to wear an outfit like this one out in public. Shame on me for allowing it. :)
All my favorite boys.
Weeee!!!
More time at the park.
See. I really can't come up with anything to say.
I guess I can say that my mom & dad look really cute sitting on the bench together.
Every one of the grandkids loves their turn on Grandpa's shoulders.
While we were out of town, Tucker wasn't feeling very good. I was worried about leaving him when he was sick but in the end it turned out good because he was crazy once he had his energy back up.
Fisher is really into card games right now. Grandpa taught Cooper how to play UNO and the boys had a lot of fun.
Cooper looks so cute holding his cards. This was a match that occurred on Mother's Day at about 7:30 in the morning.
Mother's Day was special this year since I was able to spend it with my mom.
Fisher made me a lot of fun things.
My Mother's Day medal from Fisher.
My dad has a problem with always talking during pictures so this was the best picture I have.
I love my parents and was so happy they came to visit. Sometimes it is hard being so far away from them even if we have spent 9 of our 11 years of marriage across the country from them so you would think I would be used to it by now.
A much better picture of Fisher with G&G.
This was another "Stop talking while I take pictures, Dad!"
Later that day I took them out on a drive to show them around where we live. First stop was on base where Todd works.
The boys followed Grandpa around while he went around taking pics of all the planes.
After this stop I took them to show them all the F-22s. I am not going to put a picture up of that but there were around 20 sitting around this day. The sequestration has made it a lot quieter around here since the jets are flying a lot less.
I like this picture and the next one. The boys ran circles for a long time.
Cooper on the right.
Now Fisher's on the right.
Next stop was proving to Grandpa that we do live near the Atlantic. They had been stuck around the house for a few days and hadn't had a chance to see the water. It was starting to warm up and I have heard that Virginia Beach is miserable once the season starts since there are so many people. We heard about another beach 15 mins further between VB and the Outer Banks and decided to check it out.
I could live in a location similar to this one right on the ocean.
This beach is more of a local one with houses instead of high rise hotels like VB. We will definitely be returning.
The boys have been begging me to take them back. We are waiting for Fisher's soccer season to end so that we have our Saturdays all open for beach days.
Cooper was wary of the water at first and was beating it with a stick.
See Grandpa. We DO live pretty close to the Atlantic.
Running from the waves.
One can never have too many pictures of kids playing on the beach.
It was a beautiful day to spend outdoors.
I was having a really bad hair day.
Happy Mother's Day!
The boys started to gather up courage about the same time I realized letting them wear sweats to the beach was a stupid idea.
Cooper continued to dodge the water.
Fisher wanted to dive right in.
So happy in the water.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture of Fisher. :)
After they soaked themselves, the boys came up with a brilliant idea to roll in the sand.
Only to realize that maybe it wasn't the smartest idea they had ever had.
Actually, they could have cared less they were soaked and covered in sand. They were just sad to be leaving.
But we had one more journey to make that day and that was to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The Bridge Tunnel was named one of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the modern world.
When we first got on the bridge you could see a strip of land off to the right which is the First Landing State Park. We plan on visiting eventually. This is what the state
website has to say about it:
The park is the site of the first landing of the Jamestown colonists in 1607. Native American canoes, colonial settlers, 20th century schooners and modern cargo ships have navigated the park's waterways. During the War of 1812, its Cypress swamps were a source of fresh water for merchant mariners, pirates and military ships. According to local legend, Blackbeard hid in the Narrows area of the park, and interior waterways served as landing sites for Union and Confederate patrols and blockade-runners during the Civil War. Built, in part by an all African-American Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933-1940, the park is a National Natural Landmark and National Historic Landmark. Now, as Virginia's most-visited state park, it's a natural oasis in Virginia Beach's urban oceanfront area.
There are so many big ships in the water. One can see why it was easier to create a Bridge-Tunnel where the boats can pass through without interference from a bridge.
A good comparison to show you how BIG the big boats are.
The CBBT is 20 miles long consisting of bridge and two underwater tunnels that runs where the Chesapeake Bay (off to the left) intersects with the Atlantic Ocean. (To the right.) It connects the mainland of Virginia to the Eastern shore of Virginia/Maryland/Delaware.
I was glad to see that there were turn offs in case of emergency. There is a $12 toll to cross.
Entering the first tunnel.
I know this is probably so boring to most of you so feel free to skip the next ridiculous amounts of pictures of bridge, water and tunnel.
Going down.
I liked this tunnel even less than the longer one heading to to Norfolk from where we live since this tunnel is two lanes with opposite directions. The other tunnels are two lanes headed the same. It felt a little claustrophobic. At least they were short tunnels. Only about a mile for each one.
Driving over the ocean.
Steve had asked me how high up out of the water the bridge was- and wouldn't you know that I have a picture for the question! :)
Approaching the second tunnel. Now you see the bridge....
And now you don't.
The Atlantic.
By this time I think we had made our point to Grandpa.
Since Fisher had been driving in his underwear after the beach incident of water-meets-sweatpants-meets-sand, when it came time to make a potty break we had to improvise on clothing. I have never been so proud. :)
Cruising in the car with Mom & Dad. I let my dad drive on the way back.
The Eastern Shore.
Headed back towards the bridge.
And here we go again.
I do understand that I could have tossed a lot of these pictures but I keep them to remember stuff. I seldom go through my old picture folders but I will scroll back through the blog every now and then.
Beautiful day.
My dad liked the birds. I was telling them how we have seagulls instead of pigeons in our Walmart parking lot.
I love sailboats although I don't know if I would ever want to go on one. I am not a huge fan of big open water, especially ocean water infested with sharks.
So a funny thing- we saw this blimp floating up in the air as we were crossing the bridge and then a couple of days later I was watching the Today Show and saw that it was the
Despicablimp making it's way up to NYC and then back across the country to San Francisco. We just happened to be lucky to see it pass over when it did.
This is a random picture but they were tearing down our water towers while my parents were in town. We kept hearing these loud metal grating noises and couldn't figure out what it was. Then we drove by on our way home and it all made sense. The boys thought it was pretty cool.
We had a great time with the parents and look forward to seeing them again. It is fun having visitors especially living in a cool place like we do. Although I will say my legs beg to differ about liking it here. I am COVERED in mosquito bites on my lower legs from when I go out to water my yard in the evenings. I am used to KY and NE where you see swarms of mosquitoes and avoid going outside. The mosquitoes here are stealth and vicious. They are like ninja mosquitoes and I HATE them. Nothing is worse than smelling like bug spray every night. Well, I guess there are things that are worse but I can't think of them right now as I look down at my red, splotchy legs. Oh- I can think of something worse. Apparently there are a lot of black widows and copperhead snakes in the area. Seriously. My friend had to chop of the head of a snake in her back yard and Todd found some big black widows in our yard right where the boys play. Hopefully now that the yard has been sprayed it won't be such a problem. Now my legs and body are itching thinking of all the gross creepy crawling things lurking outside waiting to bite me. I guess I will call it a night and go douse myself in anti-bug/snake spray. What is worse- being eaten by a shark or being bit by a black widow and copperhead snake...I am going to have to ponder that one.
