Water Gun Battle 2019

This was the bucket list item that had Benji most excited, and he had been pleading to do it:

Abby decided that her regular gun was not working and she should shift to bubbles

We ended the fight after about 20 minutes, but the kids were not quite ready to be done:

This will be the last post for a few weeks, as we start our vacation tonight. Tons of updates when we return!

Scout Pick-Up

We missed Benji terribly while he was gone and were super excited to head out to Family Night (and pick-up) at Camp Shenandoah on Friday. Abby even made a sign to welcome him home:

As part of family night, we got to observe the last flag ceremony:

At attention for the bugler

 In the end, Benji was tired and decided he did not want to stay for the closing campfire, so we headed home while it was still daylight. He was *very* relieved to be back:

Rainbow

It was a rainy week (typical summer showers) and we caught this rainbow as we stopped for ice cream after errands on Wednesday:

Scout Camp Drop-off

We tailgated in our car at the McDonalds while the other scouts ate burgers and then said a quick goodbye at the camp because Benji was ready for us to leave:

Early Father's Day/Tom Sox Game

Since we had to bring Benji to camp on Sunday, we decided to celebrate Father's Day on Saturday. Kevin requested a trip to the arcade followed by the Tom Sox game. Valley League baseball is fun, partly because of all the small town shenanigans of the mascots (the official mascot is Praireweather Lewis, but the old retired mascot Cosmo the sheep dog was out making mischief):

Benji was amused by Cosmo's antics in the stands

Both kids were concerned by how fast Cosmo was driving in his ATV

PBS Kids Day/BACON

On Saturday, Abby's BACON team volunteered to help out at the PBS Kids Day at Ix Park. Abby initially thought she might skip it because we were also volunteering at Loaves and Fishes that morning, but we finished up early and she hated to leave her friends to do it without her, so we headed straight from the food pantry to the festival. This also meant that we could casually check out the festival and that Benji could take a turn driving the robot:

At the Drive-In

We've been wanting to try out the drive-in movie theater in Goochland forever, but we never seem to get to it (and Benji has been resistant), so I decided to stick it on the bucket list this month. Benji was still resistant, but once we went he had a great time and is eager to return. The theater had a double feature of Secret Life of Pets 2 and a Dog's Journey last Friday, but we only stayed for the first show:

Bubble Gun

Benji got this in the goodie bag from Sophia's party and wanted to try it out. Both kids were amazed by how well the bubbles stayed:

First Swim Meet 2019

It was a cool and rainy first meet, and CITY Swordfish were pitted against the league champs (who swim in a higher division, but the first match is unscored exhibition), but they perservered. Benji swam in a medley relay (freestyle leg), 50 free, 50 breast and long free (100):

On his 50 free

He happened to know one of the timers for his breast stroke race

Cheering section

Blueberry Picking/LeWinter Visit 2019

Our friends the LeWinters came to visit last weekend, and we took them to our favorite berry patch to pick blueberries (last week before the season ends!):

Sophia's 10th Birthday Party: Go Ape

For Sophia's birthday, she wanted to do a ropes adventure course with some of her friends. Because of a few last minute cancellations, Abby and Julia got to join as well for a fun day:

Ready to climb

On the first course

I was able to capture all the kids in one frame as they were waiting for part of the course to clear.

First time down the zip line

Course #2 - moderate

Zip line #2

Course #3 - extreme

Ready for cake

Benji and the birthday girl