Dunford Family Reunion

 In June, we traveled down to the Panama City area in Florida for a Dunford family reunion. We haven't been all together for four years.

Michael gave me a beautiful gift of buying me a ticket to fly down to FL and driving all the kids down by himself. It was so nice to not have to be in the car so long at this stage of pregnancy.

Since the rest of the family had to leave earlier to make it down to Florida, I had a whole day to work on things in their absence at home and the office. I prepared our summer "schedule" and chart, which helped me feel more prepared for the summer.

When we arrived in Florida, of course the kids were thrilled to see the ocean. I haven't been to the Gulf in a long time--it is so beautiful. Benjy didn't like his soggy diaper and proceeded to take it off.

Robbie enjoyed hanging out with his cousin, Will, and they played a lot of Nintendo Switch together.

We took some family pictures at the beach with the fun shirts Uncle Bryan designed.

My favorite people.

The pool at the house was a daily amusement and so helpful. It was awesome watching the kids all play outside together.

Nearly all of the cousins were there, which was pretty incredible. Everyone was so sweet with our kids and they had lots of doting cousins and aunts and uncles. 

Clara got to sleep in the teenage girls' room and was a pretty good sport throughout the trip despite not wanting to go in the first place.

Catherine brought all her cool nail polish supplies and did Benjy's toenails on one foot. He was pleased. 

She was so sweet with him, as were so many others.

Michael took a brief nap one afternoon--despite the stresses of work he had to leave behind during the reunion, he did a great job of being present with the kids and helping out, as usual.

Heading down to the ocean.

Bapa helped the kids with sandcastle making.

 

Aunt Heather planned some fun minute to win it games. Henry was a good sport during the vaseline and cotton ball game--he felt embarrassed but didn't cry when he lost, which I thought was awesome.

Pool time.

Robbie decorated two cakes under Bapa's tutelage during a cake decorating class.

Snacking at the beach. 

Reading with Uncle Bryan.

The Track was a fun place with go-karts and mini golf, arcade games, etc. Robbie rode with speed demon Aunt Tana.

Benjy was sad he couldn't do all the big kid rides, but he did enjoy this airplane ride that Robbie willingly rode with him.

Benjy got to ride with cousin Caroline.

Henry rode with Daddy.

Henry dug a massive hole at the beach one day.

Chillaxing. 

We went back to the Track another day to use up the points we had purchased.

Riding on his first carousel.

Cutie.

It was a great trip and so fun to see everyone. Other favorite memories included floating in the ocean with Henry and Robbie while Benjy took a nap on Aunt Amie and just having nice conversations with family. I was very thankful we all stayed healthy as we stayed together and for all the work my parents and Aunt Amie and Clay put into the trip. I'm not sure when we'll all get together again . . . the family just keeps growing!

End of the school year stuff

 The end of May and beginning of June were busy busy.

The peonies in the garden bloomed, which brought me so much joy and satisfaction. So much.

Robbie performed in his second piano recital and did a smashing job.

The kids finished up a six-week long horse camp in Elkton, which they all enjoyed. I don't plan on having our family become equestrians, however, and the drive was a pain, so I felt one session was good enough.

So many rainbows in the Valley--every spring!

Henry "graduated" from preschool at a cute little graduation ceremony we all attended.

My broccoli and cauliflower all produced! Success!

Michael was released as bishop on Memorial Day weekend after five years and eight months of service. We were each asked to bear our testimonies, and I was surprised at how emotional I felt. I have been thankful for the privilege of his/our service. Now he is on the high council and over the ward in Franklin, West Virginia, about an hour away.

Speaking of West Virginia, we traveled to West Virginia on Memorial Day for a trip on the Cass Scenic Railroad on the Durbin "Rocket," an old steam train that went on a ten mile trip going about nine miles an hour. 

We stopped halfway and got to check out the engine where they put the coal in.

The weather was perfect and the scenery beautiful.

This red car was a sleeper car (not currently in use) with fun beds and a little loft area the kids loved climbing in and out of.

The trip was great, but I shouldn't have used the words "fun and memorable" in my morning prayer that morning. It was definitely fun, but it was certainly unexpectedly memorable when on the way home, Clara and I both got car sick and threw up in various containers in the car. I was wiped out that night and the next day, but mercifully Clara felt better immediately. Those WV "country roads" are killer.

Henry turned six and had his first official friends birthday party! He had a great time making Lego cars and racing them with his buddies, eating cake and ice cream and pizza, and blowing giant bubbles in the back yard. We are so proud of this boy and are grateful Heavenly Father sent him to us.

Clara sang with the Spotswood Singers at the high school this semester. They were troopers, even performing through their masks. She did a great job and I was grateful she had the opportunity to participate despite COVID.

Two days later, Clara performed with her ballet class at an outdoor recital the whole family could come see (Henry looks thrilled). She is growing in confidence on stage.

And then school ended, phew! What a year this has been--virtual, hybrid, four days a week . . . the kids have handled it all admirably and I am deeply thankful for all the teachers and administrators who worked through all the craziness with the students. Hopefully next year will be more normal. However, I confess I won't miss the extra germs that we haven't gotten since the kids have been wearing masks . . . :-)

A brief getaway

Grandma and Grandpa graciously agreed to come out and watch the kids for a couple of nights while Michael and I took a last weekend away before the baby comes. It was great to see them and they were awesome as always. 

The boys went out a couple of times with them on bike rides, although we discovered that Benjy is now too big for his bike seat. We are working on him learning the balance bike but he isn't super interested at this point.

They ferried the kids around to various activities, like to Henry's soccer game (his first season, which he really enjoyed) and to Robbie's golf lesson.

They went to a couple of parks, too.

And enjoyed outside time.

What a trooper Grandpa is, getting on the trampoline!

And thanks to their visit, I was able to attend Henry's special early birthday celebration at preschool. We brought in doughnuts to celebrate with his class buddies. Note the COVID arrangement of tables--each of the 15 children get their own 6-foot table to eat at (!).

On Sunday the kids played a tough game of Go Fish with Grandma and Grandpa.

And we came home on Saturday night from our getaway to find them playing Hiss with Clara, one of her favorites.

Meanwhile, Michael and I drove up to western Pennsylvania to Nemacolin, a ginormous resort in the middle of nowhere, basically. We read some of the book Atomic Habits in the car on our way, which got us thinking about our identity and who we wanted to be and how we envisioned spending our retirement years. This season of life is a full and often stressful time, albeit filled with many, many sweet moments, and we see the potential for drifting apart--me to the kids and him to work--which we are diligently working on avoiding. 

Despite the fact that the "cigar bar" at the hotel was suffering from a ventilation malfunction (and therefore we were suffering in our room a few floors up), it was a nice stay. I think we both decided that the resort experience is just not our favorite. I hate all the stressful tipping and the expectations. (We made a helpful list of key ingredients for a successful getaway for the future.) But our room was lovely and we enjoyed finishing up watching Crash Landing on You, our first experience with a "K-drama" that we really liked. Okay, loved.

A major highlight of the whole weekend was the brief drive over to see Fallingwater, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's designed houses. The tour was fascinating and the house inspiring.

Check out this waterfall that the house is designed over. 

The view from the porch.

I loved how the house was built into the land. For example, the rock that Michael is standing on is part of the existing rock, and Wright just had them build the foundation around it. So many other cool and thoughtful features. It inspired Michael to listen to a biography about Wright afterwards--too bad he was not the best family guy, but an architectural genius to be sure.

We stopped by the Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle state park (what great names) and enjoyed the scenery as well as some delicious lunch before heading back to Virginia. I am thankful to be married to this great man and so grateful we could have his parents come out, too. 

Mother's Day

I had to remember these sweet images of the nest that robins built on our front wreath. Several times before, birds have tried to build a nest here, but we haven't allowed it and have gotten rid of the nest. 

However, this year we did and it was exciting to discover four eggs in the nest one morning.

                                         

The eggs gradually hatched. Look at those naked babies!

It wasn't long before they got their flight feathers and left the nest. A week or so later I saw one of these adolescent robins fly a short distance from the porch up to the roof. It's pretty remarkable.

My own little nest of birds helped me feel loved on Mother's Day. Henry drew me this sweet card and gave me a painting from preschool.

Robbie drew me this great mech and also made me a book at school. 

It was fun to display a smattering of the gifts the kids have given me through the years. Michael and the boys brought me breakfast in bed and Michael gave me a cookbook and a thoughtful note.

The boys and Daddy also gave me these beautiful roses. I am grateful to be a mother despite my inadequacies and grow more grateful each year for my own mom.