Incense Cedar

A Stroll Through The Park

We stopped on our way to Manassas for a lovely afternoon in Richmond.  I strolled through the Virginia Museum of Art, very inspiring I might add, while Matt relaxed with a beer in the cafe watching soccer on his kindle.  A match made in heaven...a museum with wifi and beer.  Afterwords we stopped over at Maymont for a walk through the park.  Lots of people were out enjoying a hot but beautiful day.

A Little Walk

We decided to focus on relaxation while in Virginia Beach.  As a result I didn't take many photos.  But we did take an extremely hot walk after lunch around Pleasure House Point.

A Bit of Orange

Breaking Waves

Bootcamp is out for the week.  Now I have three short days to recover from last week's vacation and this week's teaching and get my life together, so to speak.  Images from last week in Virginia Beach, after a nice dinner, while the sun set.

Virginia Beach

Matt and I spent two days camping at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.  But now it's back to work. 

Range at the Arlington Arts Center

Great Falls Virginia

This morning we had a really beautiful day after Christmas hike.  I got to test out my new hiking boots stomping around Great Falls Park in Virginia.  Such a great day and such a wonderful site.  Olivia is a big fan of bouldering and there were just enough rocks around to satisfy her desire to climb on stuff.

Battlefields

Our Labor Day weekend was fun filled.  We drove down to Virginia for my nephew's 12th birthday and stayed out by my parents in their new location in Manassas.  This was my first visit to Manassas National Battlefield Park.  Very beautiful and an important birding location.  I'd really like to come back and find a red headed woodpecker.  On a day that wasn't so hot...or so humid!!!  It definitely brought back visions of my teen years, hazy, hot, & humid=bad hair and bad skin!!  

The real battles this weekend took place out in Front Royal, VA.  My first ever experience playing paintball.  Note the above comment about the weather and our sweatshirts.  Yes we were dying of heat stroke.  But we were all more afraid of pain then heat.  Ha ha.  I should have taken off my sweatshirt because I took all of my shots to the head. 

My dad, who won a sharp shooting medal in the army, got to show off his "mad accuracy skills."  My nephew's friends were very impressed.

I was also impressed with my dad's "mad accuracy." 

It all ended with cake as every good battle should!