Summer Fun on the Chesapeake Bay

We enjoyed a great time with friends at First Landing on the Bay.  The perfect beginning of summer.

CHINCOTEAGUE 2010...

Hello stamping friends. We just got back from a wonderful trip to Chincoteague. This year we actually walked up to see the lighthouse and took a boat tour of the island. We were able to see the ponies up close, even though they were a little skiddish since the Pony Penning was the week prior. We also enjoyed a beach campfire hosted by the Island Refuge staff. They told us about some amazing animals that come out at night on the island.

Hopefully tomorrow, I will have a card to share with you.

ON THE RIVAH...

I am enjoying some time with my parents. We went out on the 'rivah' to fish on Tuesday, and went to the Air & Space Museum and watched an IMAX movie today. We are having a wonderful time....

I'll have some wonderful crafty goodies to share this weekend!

CHINCOTEAGUE 2009..

Here are a few highlights from our trip to Chincoteague & Assateague Islands. First we stopped at my parents house. They live in Gloucester, VA which borders the York River and Chesapeake Bay. The kids helped Grandma snap some string beans before we left.
We had another wonderful time at the "little red house." (You can see our trip from last year on the bottom of this post).
This year, Dad took his boat and we were able to enjoy a day of fishing on Chincoteague Bay. We saw a pod of dolphin, a stingray, and a ginormous horseshoe crab. The beach was great and the kids enjoyed digging in the sand and playing in the surf. A couple of days the ocean had a lime green tint (which I had never seen). The lifeguard sad it was an algae bloom from the north. I don't know if this is the same thing as a green tide or not, but it was accompanied by a funky smell that permeated our suits. However, being the ocean lovers that we are, it did not deter us from riding the waves and swimming like fish.
This year we visited the Chincoteague Pony Centre. We attended one of their nightly shows and were very impressed. Allison was excited to see a "living" Breyer horse. I didn't think we would make it out of the centre (she could probably live there - LOL). I definitely think she will participate in a day camp next year.

Thanks for looking.. and I hope you are having a wonderful summer...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello friends! Well, I'm back after two wonderful weeks of family and friends, Christmas, birthday, and ringing in the new year! We just returned from a great week spent with 3 other families. We rented a cabin in Deep Creek, MD. 18 people in one house!! I would encourage you to make the trip. It is worth it. David and I decided it is a place that we would love to visit again, and New Years was the perfect time. We have never taken a Winter vacation with the kids, and normally opt for warmer climates. But we enjoyed the snow almost as much as we enjoy warm water and sand... who knew! ...and this place recieves double the snowfall of Fairbanks, Alaska. There are many activities to take advantage of in this part of Maryland. With 7 state parks, there is plenty to do. Here are a few things we did: sledding right outside the cabin, snow tubing at Wisp Mtn Resort (our kids had the most fun here), dogsledding with Husky Power Dogsledding (we froze to death, but what a wonderful presentation by Linda and her crew, Allison even earned a girl scout badge), Laura and I also took our kids to the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center one day where the kids had fun locating items on a scavenger hunt. David and I took the kids to Simon Pearce Glass Factory where we enjoyed watching a glass blower make a blue bird and christmas tree. What an incredible skill, talent, and craft. I just love and appreciate anything made by hand. So, here are a few pictures to share. The rest of the time we played games, cards, and read books by the warm, cozy fire. As with most times like this, I wish I had picked up my camera more often, the scenery is beautiful at Deep Creek. It was a wonderful time and I am so glad we were able to ring in 2009 with our closest friends!

CONGRATS TO JULIA, SATURDAY SHOEBOX SWAP & PICTURES OF CHICOTEAGUE...

I am totally thrilled that my friend and fellow SCSer was chosen as today's featured stamper. Julia aka Artystamper has a God-given talent for creating... Be sure to check out her blog for some inspiration. Here is the card that I made for the Featured Stamper challenge for today.

Well... last Saturday I spent the entire day with my SU! upline and sidelines. We are know as the "Little Debbies"... I think I am the nutty bar.. anyhoo... Our upline, Debbie, organized a showbox swap along with yummy food and a gift swap. We had sooo much fun. Here are some of the creations I made from the shoeboxes... awesome layouts and cards designed by my fellow demos.

Last but not least.. the kids and I went to Chincoteague Island with my folks for a fun get-away. We stayed in a super-cute cottage owned by Carl & Barbie, friend of my folks. It was so relaxing and fun. We went to Assateague Island National Wildlife Refuge and Seashore every day. I love that it is NOT commercial. The weather was perfect and the water refreshing. There was that hurricane off of the coast which made for some strong undertow, so we had to hold on to the kids so that they wouldn't get swept away. The loved feeling the force of the water. What a fabulous place. Allison loved the ponies, Sarah love the shopping, and Andrew loved the sand. I think I brought back at least 5lbs of sand in my van... my wonderful hubby has already vacuumed it out! Enjoy these photos....

...this is a real oyster bar... cool huh!