This was to be a wonderful week in Virginia for me because I would have all my children and grandchildren together! Chuck, Lisa and Kirk were coming on July 1 and we would all be celebrating as a family three things: Andy's birthday (6/12), Kirk's graduation (6/13), and Gayle's birthday (6/27)--even though it was July!
Upon the arrival of the Chuck Butlers on July 1, Lynda had a delicious celebratory dinner prepared--followed by three desserts, each the favorite of the person being celebrated.....
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| Andy with his blueberry pie.... |
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| ...and Kirk with his chocolate peanut butter ice cream cake... |
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...and Gayle with her Pepperidge Farm coconut cake;
while Christina watches Grandmom blow out her candle |
Need I say that some of us tried all three! --and boy were they all good!!!!
The next day, July 2, there was a swim meet for Andy and Christina at a swim club in Williamsburg--so off we went. Since it was held late afternoon/early evening, we had dinner poolside--their snack bar offered some pretty yummy treats!
Christina's first race was the Individual Medley--here she is swimming a length of the pool four times and each time using a different stroke....
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| Beautiful butterfly stroke! |
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| Christina's backstroke... |
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| Coming up for air during her breast stroke... |
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| ...and a breath of air during her freestyle! |
In another race, Christina just did breast stroke, one of her favorites---and does she ever look happy as she comes up for air between strokes!!
Now it was Andy's turn...
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Off Andy goes as soon as he hears
the whistle--diving into his lane to
swim the freestyle |
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Having made the turn, he's now doing
the freestyle back |
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Listening for the whistle to start his
backstroke |
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| Andy's off doing the backstroke! |
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Andy's just at the turn--
so I can take his picture!
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And back he goes...
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And Andy reaches the finish!
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The next day, July 3, we all headed to
the pool in Lynda's community. Since Kirk had to be able to swim the length and back of the pool at Johns Hopkins in order to participate in the kayak trip at the end of August, he needed some instruction from the Sabochicks as well as just getting in more pool time.
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| Uncle Chuck playing in the pool with Christina... |
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| ...and Andy |
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Kirk taking a rest before hopping in
the pool.... |
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| ..and getting some instruction from Lisa |
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One of Chuck's favorite things:
reading a book while lying in the sun! |
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| ...and Lynda?? texting, of course!! |
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| While Lisa is in the pool helping Kirk and playing with Andy and Christina... |
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| Rest and sun for the adult children--Chuck, Lisa, Kirk and Lynda... |
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| ...Christina and Andy play in the pool--exactly as they did all afternoon! |
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| Back in the pool, Aunt Lynda gives Kirk some instruction |
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Kirk keeps trying and is able to swim the full length
and back again in the pool |
By late afternoon, everyone is ready to head back to the house to clean up to go out to dinner. While we're all waiting, Christina on her clarinet and Uncle Chuck on piano play a few duets....
On July 4, we all went to the beach down on Chesapeake Bay so Kirk and John could fish from the pier while the rest of us could relax on the sand near the pier and play in the water...
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| Kirk's first fish--with a proud Dad looking on... |
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Uncle John gets the fish off the hook
while Kirk and Chuck look on |
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Kirk happily holding his fish--before
he throws it back in the water |
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| The entire family is on the pier to witness Kirk's catching his first fish here: Andy, Kirk, Christina, Chuck, Lisa, Lynda, and John |
But it was so hot, we all couldn't wait to get into the water!
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| Christina and Andy are the first ones in... |
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With my telephoto lens, I could still see Kirk and John
on the pier--fishing away! |
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| ...while Lynda is happily sitting on the beach... |
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...and Chuck, as always, happy to be on the beach and
reading |
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| Christina is busy catching crabs |
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But Lisa is happy to be in the water--
where it's cool! |
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| And she can play with Andy... |
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| Chuck--guess he, too, got hot--also is in the water |
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| Lisa, Chuck, Andy and Christina--all at water's edge |
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Kirk finally had enough of the fishing and came
into the water |
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| Kirk, Lisa, Christina, and Andy--hunting for fish |
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| Fun in the Bay for Christina, Kirk and Andy |
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Christina, Andy and Kirk checking out the barnacles
on the pilings |
Afternoon ended much to quickly! Soon it was time to head back to Lynda's to clean up for the fireworks in Williamsburg....
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Back row: John, Kirk, Gayle and Chuck
Front row: Lisa, Christina and Andy
What a fantastic Fourth of July!! Here we all are seated on the lawn in front of the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg listening to the Virginia Symphony play many, many patriotic musical numbers. As soon as it was dark, the fireworks started--exploding over the roof of the Palace--and lasted for a full half hour. I can't imagine a better place to be!!
Meantime, Jim is out in San Diego--and thanks to his daughter, Joan, I was able to get a couple of pictures! They were attending a Padres baseball game....
Jim is pictured here with Joan...
.....and here with Joan and Granddaughter Lauren..
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