Local Travels

I wanted to get out of the house so badly this past weekend, but we just couldn't pull off a camping trip.  It was my fault, really, because I let the laundry get hopelessly behind and I had a few last minute things to get before we started school yesterday.  But we were at least able to get out for a drive over to Peaks of Otter to look at their nature center and walk on their trails a bit. 

Touch-me-nots by the stream

hmmm....the picture is of the moth, but I see a spot of bleach on his shirt, too....

Spitting apple chunks to the fish in the lake (?!)

One of the things I love about this area is that there are so many natural things to see....just being outside in a different setting calmed the girls who were being especially naughty on the trip over there.  We had a little "hike" which would have been longer had Abbo not been beset with blisters from wearing her sandals on the wrong feet the day before. 

Exploring an inviting climbing tree in front of the Peaks of Otter Lodge

The tunnel under the Blue Ridge Parkway and a lesson in erosion

Lincoln Logs in the Lodge

It was a good time together, nonetheless.  Again, though, many of our pictures didn't turn out well....

but some did!

delectable

There are simply no words -

First Day of School Pictures

 "Mama, I in KINDAHgarten this year.  Not preschool!"  "How about Junior Kindergarten?"  "OK."
 

Here at the Morris Homeschool Academy, shoes are optional.

Sister love, however, is not!

Spotted in the Highlands

Wings & Wheels Festival at Ingalls Field up in Bath County last weekend

Andy & Hannah riding the "train" at Wings & Wheels

VBS....out of This World!

Canebrake Rattler on the forest service road over on Dolly Ann Drive

Snake, rattle and ... RUN!

Look at the size of them 'maters from our garden!

All's well that ends well -

We spent 3 hours in the local emergency room last night - I guess we're overprotective parents or something, but (thankfully) we always end up "needing" emergency services for the girls when the emergency does not indeed turn out to be an emergency.
Andy noticed early in the evening that Abigail had dug out her purple ruffled socks and was twirling with them.  Now, Abigail is all about fluff and puff and had pulled up these organza-tipped polyester socks to her knees and dubbed them "ballerina socks."  So she plied and blased and schwalayed around the kitchen while Andy and I were putting the finishing touches on supper, and suddenly, mid-spin she slipped and fell on the floor, breaking the fall with her chin and her two front teeth.
WAHHHHHHHH!
She was inconsolable, even for a supper of chicken and rice.  And she wouldn't let me touch her teeth more than once or twice.  They didn't seem loose, but I couldn't really tell.
One bite of rice and she set off howling again, saying her teeth hurt.  Andy and I looked at each other with dread - and Abigail fussed that she wanted some warm milk and to lay down.  Well, she hadn't had a nap so that seemed reasonable.  I gave her some Tylenol, lay her down and she was asleep in five minutes.
An hour later she woke up, fussing and crying again.  She said her teeth hurt.  This time we got a flashlight and looked in but she was madder than before.  She said she was hungry, but when I tried to feed her she said she couldn't eat.
So, off to Low Moor it was.
Thankfully, the waiting room was just about empty and we were able to see the doctor after about an hour.
The doctor (who had an excellent bedside manner and a good sense of humor) examined her head thoroughly, pressing gently on her jawline, her cheekbones, the top of her head....

(Doctor:) "Where does it hurt?"
(Abigail, baring her teeth:) "My teef."
(Doctor examines mouth)
(Doctor, pressing forehead)  "Does this hurt?"
"No, my teef hurt."
(pressing back of neck) "Does this hurt?"
"My teef."
(pressing cheekbones) "Does this hurt? Say yes or no."
"Its my teef hurt."
(pressing chin) "Does this hurt?"
"My teef hurt."
(pressing jaw joints) "Does this hurt?  Say yes or no."
"I SAID my TEEF hurt."
Sigh.

After 3 X-rays, and another hour of waiting for results, she was discharged with instructions to see the dentist in the morning.  It was just a bang, her teeth aren't loose and she was eating fine this morning.  No emergency is a good emergency.