Summer in Virginia

Summer 2007





We couldn't imagine a summer that didn't include swimming with the Walden Glen Wahoos, Boy Scout summer camp, band, and spending time with our friends; so we flew back to Virginia in June for the entire summer!



We had a great time and packed as much as possible into our time there. Aunt Sue and Uncle Chuck jetted to Alaska for a month which included a cruise and traveling with my folks. We house/dog/cat sat for them in exchange for free lodging and use of their cars. What a bonus!



Another treat was that our good friends, the Gordys, moved to Virginia and rented a house in our old neighborhood. We were able to visit with them a lot over the summer and catch up. It is hard to believe how much the kids have grown, but they all picked up where they left off so many years ago.







Sean and Will at Divisionals, between events













































Sean and Molly...BFF



































The Wahoo Phillharmonic





































We had a party at Sue and Chuck's to introduce the Gordys to their neighbors. It was great fun and everyone loved the pool.



Molly, Sean and Ryan lunching in the sun...


































Will, John and John...they were quite the trio over the summer!






























The Girls...still sitting separately :-)



































Poolside popscicles
































Hot tub hotties :-)






























The annual Wahoo Hop. The boys were so reluctant to go....but all ended up having a great time.



























































































Maryn and Dave Watt...two peas in a pod!










































The Wahoo end of the season award ceremony. Sean was selected as Wahoo of the Year. What an honor!











































After summer camp Will was awarded with the Honor Patrol ribbon, as he was the 'New Scout' Patrol Leader. He worked very hard with a tough crowd.


































King's Dominion











































































Sean and Meghan taking Maryn on the Lazy River



































We splurged and Mike, Sean and Meghan did the bungee jump...brave ones!



































They survived!!













































Our last days spending time with the Gordy kids....





Will and John...still Frick and Frack!


















































































Sean and Meghan, looking very grown up!

Scouting wrap up

Spring, 2007
Camporee with the local Dutch Scout Troop

One of our Boy Scout Asst. Scoutmasters is Dutch and was approached by the Dutch Scouts about doing a camporee with our Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack. I'm not sure how we pulled it all together, but we did. We have over 100 scouts attend. The kids participated in traditional Dutch games, knot tying and first aid booths, frisbee golf and a huge campfire program. It was loads of fun.


Chris is the interim Cubmaster while the Cubmaster is in Iraq for 6 months. Here, Chris begins the program/opening ceremonies. Notice the crutches....Chris had achilles heel surgery about a month ago. What a trooper!






















We split the scout groups up so there was a mix of both Dutch and American scouts in each group. I was with Will's group. It was challenging since there was a little language barrier, but very fun.

















During the campfire, our Webelo den taught the group The Buffalo Song (shhhh...don't tell them it is one of my all time Girl Scout favorites!).
















My den consisted of 12 boys...a challenge most days. Six were Webelo II's ready to move on to Boy Scouting. We had to complete a few more camping requirements to finish their Arrow of Light requirements. Here I am supervising (very closely) the boys cooking breakfast.

















Arrow of Light and Crossover Ceremony
May 21, 2007

We did it!! Our Cub Scouting years are over. Will earned his Arrow of Light and also earned every one of the Webelo Achievement Pins. Quite an achievement, and lots of work! Tonight Will (and the other Webelo IIs) crossed over to Boy Scouts as well.

















Chris made the plaques for all the boys who earned their AoL.


















Intercamp
Gundershoffen, France
May 25-28

The Boy Scout troop headed to France for Intercamp, an annual Scouting event that includes scouts from all over Europe. This is Will's first campout as a Boy Scout!


Lining up for a hike
















Sean, Mac and Paul (R to L) atop the hill before going in the castle.


















Waving Old Glory and the troop flag out of a castle window
















The group ready to head back down the mountain





















At the archery range.....







































They woke up Sunday to rainy, muddy conditions. Time to break camp and head out.

Tulips and Windmills

April 26-29, 2007

The kids get a long weekend for Queen's Day in the Netherlands. We thought it was the perfect time to head up to Leiden, NL, for a weekend of tulip tiptoeing and windmill watching.

The Keukenhof Gardens in Leiden are only open about 8 weeks a year in the spring. It was definitely worth the trip to see the beautiful flowers, fountains, gardens and walking paths.

We brought along the son of one of Chris' German co-workers, Christian. Christian's family wants his English to improve and we want Sean and Will's German to improve. This weekend was Christian's English Immersion weekend. Sean will travel with his family next month for a German Immersion weekend.


Chrsitian, Sean, Maryn and Will near the Garden's entrance.

Beautiful scenery all around and plenty of photo ops.

Maryn decided she liked Christian and didn't leave his side the rest of the day.

The Andre Rieu tulip. Sean's trumpet instructor is in Andre Rieu's orchestra.

Will poses near the wooden shoe maker, Maryn and I pose by a statue that I can relate to!

The next day we drove over to the Zaanse Schans, an area of the Netherlands where you can explore working windmills and see what life near the canals and on the River Zaan was like. At one time, over 200 windmills peppered the banks of the river helping to industrialize northern Holland.

Cheezy photo op outside the klompen (wooden shoe) museum and the wall of wooden shoes for sale inside.

A canal house
















In the background, you can see a windmill under construction. The goal is to restore and/or rebuild many of the windmills in this area.

Cheese shop girls dressed in traditional Holland clothes.

Before dinner, we drove down the coast and dipped our toes in the North Sea. It was FREEZING! We collected shells and had a look around before heading to a pannekeuken house for dinner. Yummy!