Explanation

Wow! Only one measly post this week (prior to this one, I mean) - did you miss me? (laughing) I have a perfectly good explanation for my absence: we have been enjoying time together as a family.

Mr. Incredible had taken this week off so that we could go help our former church with Vacation Bible School. However, due to the appearance of more cancer, Pastor Daniel (that's he and his family to the left) canceled the VBS, leaving us to decide what to do with our unexpectedly free week. In the end, we determined to go ahead and use the vacation to have some fun with the girls.

We went left on Sunday afternoon and traveled to our former church, arriving in time for the evening service. While it was good to see everyone again, it was also hard in some ways. Nothing stays the same, and life is not always kind. We were glad that Pastor Daniel was able to be in the evening service, and we got to talk with him and his family for a little while.

We spent the night with my mother and then traveled to Raleigh on Monday to visit the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Having seen Night at the Museum (hilarious movie!), Pookie Bear was very reluctant to enter the building until I told her that nothing was alive inside. We viewed all of the exhibits and attended a live science program where we all touched two alligators. They feel smooth, cool, and not at all scaly or rough. Afterward, we went to McDonald's for lunch and then to a mall that features an indoor play area. The girls loved it.

Monday night, Mom took the girls to visit their cousins while Robert and I got to go out alone for a change - really nice! We slept well and left my Mom's house around 7:00 the next morning.

We headed up to King's Dominion, an amusement park near Richmond, Virginia, arriving about 11:00 a.m. We had already planned that this would be the girls' trip. I honestly didn't think they would do very well, but all three girls behaved quite well with only a few minor upsets, mostly due to fatigue and the heat. Pookie Bear, always more timid than Miss Muffet, enjoyed the rides but preferred the smaller kiddie rides. Miss Muffet, my intrepid leader, loved the roller coasters and the wilder rides (if kiddie rides can be described as wild). She even wanted to ride Tomb Raider: Firefall (see photo at right, courtesy of King's Dominion) but we informed her that she would have to wait about 10 years before she could get on it.

What trip is complete without souvenirs? Passing up the Bic pens sporting the King's Dominion logo, the girls all chose Ty Beanies: Pookie and Miss Muffet chose Dora the Explorer Beanies, and Baby Bear chose the kitty cat from Blue's Clues. We left the park at 7:00 p.m., stopped for supper, and then headed home, arriving at five minutes after midnight on Wednesday morning.

Except for having to call the air conditioner repairman and dealing with ant infestations in two different rooms of our house, we didn't do much of anything on Wednesday. Thursday (yesterday), we went to the beach. It was the best weather we have had at the beach in quite a while: a cool breeze blew the whole time we were there, and the water was perfect - cool without being cold or hot. Pookie Bear and Miss Muffet splashed in the edges of the waves, and Baby Bear fell asleep. Mr. Incredible laid her on the blanket we brought and created a beach towel canopy over her. She awoke about the time we were ready to leave, so that all worked out quite nicely.

So now we're back, and I reckon I'll be right here if you need me. Have a wonderful weekend!