Tumblefest

Emma finished up her second year of gymnastics Monday night. She's had a great year and looks forward to starting Level 3 in the fall. We're proud of you sweet girl.

back from the big city

Philip and I returned this week from a week away in the North East! We traveled to NYC, Providence, Boston and Philadelphia. We did a lot of really cool things.  Boston was my favorite.  This is a shot of the USS Constitution and the monument at Bunker Hill from our harbor cruise tour. 

Close behind Boston as my favorite was our tour of Ellis Island. I am glad we took the free National Park Rangers tour.  Our tour guide did a beautiful job explaining what it would have been like as an immigrant to pass through Ellis Island.  Both Philip and I have great grandparents who came to America as immigrants.  Our tour guide challenged us to remember this place and what our ancestors went through generations past as we think about immigration in todays culture.

We both loved the opportunity to read! Philip especially enjoyed his book of choice for this trip.

While in Boston, we found ourselves in the midst of a high school group on their way to a tour of Finely Park. We decided to tag along until we got kicked out. Luckily for us we either blended in well or they didn't really care.  We ended up having an amazing tour of the ballpark. I think Philip enjoyed it much more than all the high school students put together!

Of course the food was amazing. Not having to cook, clean, wash dishes, do laundry or cut other people's food was a welcomed break in itself. However, we found our selves eating some great pizza, sandwiches, Italian food, Phili steak and cheese, and of course desserts.

We couldn't have done it without the blessing of my parents standing guard of our precision young ones! I remember only one occasion when my grandparents traveled from their home in NY to care for my sister and I while my parents went to Italy. They opted to leave us with our neighbors the day my parents were due to arrive so they could get a head start on their trip home! (We had a great relationship with our neighbors so it wasn't that bad.)  I was pleasantly surprised to find that my folks didn't carry out that tradition! Since we returned to Roxboro on my birthday, my parents and kids planned a surprise party complete with decorations, a meal of my favorites, cupcakes and ice cream. It was a wonderful welcome home.

Sassafras fork farms

We had the pleasure of visiting with new friends at their home and farm. Ms. Kathleen, Mr. J. Ed and their daughter Stephanie are two years into running a naturally grown (almost organically certified) farm about 15 minutes out of Roxboro. Ms. Kathleen spoke with Philip recently and invited us to tour their farm and meet their new baby sheep. The offer was too good to refuse.

The highlight of the trip was getting to know Miss Prim. She is an orphaned lamb that is being cared for by our friends. She followed for the 3 hours we walked through the farm.

We collected eggs, saw their cows, visited the greenhouses, walked through a pasture of bulls, visited with Ms. Prim's other family members, checked out the baby birds, snacked on fresh veggies and learned all along the way. 

The farm is beautiful; so full of live and love.

Well, I guess Ms. Prim did get carried for a large portion of our farm tour!

We will be going back to check on our new favorite lamb. I can now completely relate to Mary and her little lamb.