40 and 1

41 years ago, my parents got married and started our happy, loving family. We celebrated with them in Chicago last year. 40 years ago, one year to the day after my parents, in the same church and at the same reception hall, my Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim got married and started their happy family. Last year, my Cousin Andy married his wife Amy and they now have a little one of their own named Joseph. We loaded the kids into the car with plenty of snacks, and books and toys, and movies and drove to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley region of Virgina to celebrate my Aunt and Uncle, and cousins.

We took two days to get there, stopping for a swim at Mount Airy, NC. This trip had proved to be a good opportunity to get Drew in the water with swimming pools in both the hotels we stayed at. He's made great progress in the water over the weekend, including multiple "races" verse Grammy across the pool (i.e., dragged by Dad).

Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim live in a gorgeous area surrounded by mountains in the middle of a Mennonite community outside of Harrisonburg, Virginia. While we had a few adventures visiting nearby attractions (more to come on those), we spent our evenings at their farm. Drew and Ollie got to see plenty of horses and cows up close, Mom even got the opportunity to stroke a horse, which I know made the trip worth it for her just for that. During the drive from town to the farm, Mom would point out every cow pasture along the route, and Drew would ask, "my side?" meaning the right side of car because that's the window he can see out of. He would follow up after seeing the cows in his best Forest Gump voice, "I like Cows," stressing the "ow" part.

It was good to see all the Pattersons, Millers and Chilsons in attendance, and we got to catch up with some relatives that I just don't see very often. Very few had ever met Drew, and even fewer had ever met Ollie. The kids had a ball hanging out with Grammy and Pa, and Ella, their only first cousin to attend.

In addition to checking off one more state visited, both boys had a few "firsts". First campfire in the rain (just a light drizzle), first hot dog cooked over an open fire (though Drew didn't eat one), first s'mores (I'm sure there will be s'more to come of those), first cow, horse and turkey sightings (up close), first roll downhill in the grass (I taught Drew that one), first corn-hole game (bean toss, or whatever you might call it in your neck of the woods), first poop in the woods (see previous blog on that one, I'm so proud), first peach ice cream (yet to come in a future blog), first time sleeping in a sleeping bag. I'm sure there were a ton more first that I'm just not thinking of right now.

Drew found a croquet mallet in the lawn, and began "cutting the grass." I'm always surprise by the imagination this kid has.

Drew rolling down the hill. He loved doing it almost as much as me.

Drew really had us puzzled on this one, when he kept insisting on moving his chair closer within the line of fire of our game of corn hole. It was an "ah-ha" moment when we figured out he just wanted to play, but was just too tired to stand up. He actually was a pretty good shot from the sitting position.

Ollie loved dangling his hands and feet in the water. This picture was taken moments before Ollie took a nose-dive into the water. Luckily Mom was able to hold onto the pants, and I was already in the water right next to him. He went under, but was unfazed, dare I say amused.

Ollie and Great Uncle Bill got along together great. They have very similar personalities...crazy.

Drew and Ollie's first s'mores. It was a bit of a mouth full for Ollie, and Drew couldn't get past the stickiness. We'll have to try those again soon.

Mom, Drew, Ollie, Grammy and Bear sitting by the fire in the rain.

This is Drew and Ollie's Cousin Ella. Her Mom and Dad couldn't make it, so she hitched a ride with Grammy and Pa. We had a ball hanging out with Ella and glad she made the trip.

It's picnic time on the hotel bed. Are you going to share with Bear, Drew?

The boys did a lot of this in the car, we had a few late nights on the farm. Despite the late nights and missed naps though, both boys kept up very good spirits.

Pa, Drew Grammy and Ollie enjoying a swing and cookies together.

Good Night.