12/12/12 Twelve special moments

Another year and the last date of this kind I will see, so I thought I would write about 12 special memories, one from each month of this year.
January began the Year of the Dragon which is my Chinese sign and I always wanted to see the Chinese New Year. It must have been in my cards as there was a festival in Deep Run so off my little honeybunnies and I went. Mike and Mel joined us there but they missed the Dragon Parade which was pretty cool.
February brought us just enough snow that Perrin and I were able to use our snowman kit to make a cute snowman outside. After we enjoyed a warm cup of hot cocoa while we watched the Polar Express for the thousandth time lol
March brought some tears to my old eyes as Perrin and Dylan found each other again in the park one day. Two little boys who were born on same day and finding each other in preschool, life changing events separating them and then suddenly finding each other and what a joyful reunion it was. Somehow the two boys were like they were never apart and the rest of this year they have been able to stay in touch at least once a month.
April sent us to the zoo with Perrin and his classmates. We made it a family day too joining the kids there and following them around. It was fun watching their little eyes light up seeing the animals but the moment that stood out the most for me was Perrins little friends seeing a peacock and all calling him to tell him Kevin was over there, knowing that Kevin was Perrin and his moms favorite bird.
The merry month of May found my honeybunnies and I at the fishing tournament for kids in Hopewell. Now I am not the fishing type at all. I do not know how to tie on a hook or anything. But they all wanted to go so we did. It was great I can tell you that much ! We were lucky that one dad there helped us with the right size sinker(mine was too heavy _ and the right size hook) The kids all were like pros casting off their lines, enjoying talking to the other families sharing a very pretty fishing day. It was time for lunch and no fish for us, when Perrin asked to try once more, so we let him and Wow he caught his first fish ever in one throw. It was a little perch and the look on his face was just happiness all over !
Midsummer in June found us at one of the best festivals of the year. We got to see smoke blowing bubble dragons, the best balloon man in town. met the Queen of the Renaissance, and best of all seen the fire throwers. My honeybunnies and I had a great time.
July brought us a few fireworks and the hottest July ever. We celebrated it with a big water balloon fight and lots of watermelons and ice cream every day !
August was a biggie for us. Not only did Mike and Mel take a trip to Africa, but Perrin turned six and he broke his arm swinging on the monkey bars just before his trip to the beach. Breaking the arm and making some cool volcanos with the honeybunnies was one of the fun things we did besides Perrins Skyrim birthday party.
My favorite memory of September  was the first day of school and Perrin missing his mom , would go outside and blow her kisses where the sun was . He was so happy when she and dad returned home.
September was also my 60th Birthday. mmm I had a wonderful celebration with my girls when they took me out to a special restaurant where the waiter did almost everything for me. It was one of those occasions where you dont want to forget anything but most of all I think of those delicious truffles mmm
October my favorite month brought an old friend to visit and celebrate my favorite holiday. Actually there were several of  my friends I had not seen in a long time come to our annual party and we had a wonderful time together casting our magick on that night. O Patty, Sandy ,Tanya and Franky how far we have come since SMP days !
November my little honeybunny got his first awards in Scouts and his uniform. He went on his camping trip with PaPa and had so much fun. He did some archery and BB shooting where he made a bullseye on the target his first time. He also caught some big fish !
The holidays approach us and Perrin was in his first parade for Christmas ! I enjoyed seeing all of his little Tiger friends decorating their float and waving to the crowd of people wishing them all a Merry Christmas !

So these are just a few of the moments of 2012 on this 12/12/12   

Day one while Mom and Dad are in Africa

August 25 Perrin and I went to see Melody and Mike off at the airport on their way to Nairobi . Poor honeybunny tried to be so brave while he still had mom and dad in his sights but after we drove off, he completely broke down. I had to pull off road and sit in the back with him to hold him and give him kisses to settle him down a bit. Once he remembered how we could blow kisses in the sky to his mom, he settled down a bit so I could drive the road home. But on the way back we hit a huge storm dropping lots of water on the roads. Once again we pulled over for 30 minutes til it calmed down enough to drive, but looking around it sure looked like we had gone thru a war zone with stuff all over highway and lot of standing water. I was glad later we were not on 95 where the water was high enough to close parts of it. Anyways we got home to no power so called Grannette to see if she wanted company to keep honeybunny mind off his mom and dad a little. He decided to spend the night once he talked to mom and was ok that she was safe.

I have been up and down all night checking the flight plan to see how their ride was. Right now they are in Amsterdam safely getting ready to fly to safari in Nairobi . Thinking of them while I stare at the wild raccoon in our yard this night. Peace out !  Pics are of Mike and Mel on the plane and up in the clouds on the airbus Mike posted during their flights just before Amsterdam.

First Fish

What a fine day it was to take my honeybunnies fishing at the Hopewell Optimist Fishing Tournament for  kids on May 19th. I dont know much about fishing and the thoughts of worms ugh or taking a fish off the hook doesnt do it for me but when it comes to children well the heart overrules the head thoughts and off you go.. We had to make a stop at the bait shop to pick up hooks, sinkers and bait before arriving on the banks of the Appomatox River in Hopewell to register our place there. Upon arriving they gave us gift certificates for McDs and a nice green Tshirt for each of the kids, told us where to go fish and what time to be back for other festivities. So off we went early on that Saturday morning, thru the dew on the grass which made for soggy shoes and down the big hill to the rivah. Perrin was so excited that he was going to do some fishing and he knew he was gonna catch his first fish on this day.
I am so thankful that we met up with Mr Rodney and his daughter Madison cuz I like I said know nothing about fishing. He helped the kids get their poles straight and gave us the correct size hooks, and sinkers and fixed the line correctly. It was soon apparent that I was not the only one who thought fishing was a great idea for the kids and knew nothing as Mr Rodney was busy with many kids fixing their poles etc . 
We shared our snacks and drinks with everyone and enjoyed making new friends on a nice day at the river, watching birds and seeing other kids catch fish and eels ewwww. I would have died on the spot if we had one of them on the end of the pole !!!
It was time to get ready to go up the hill for lunch but Perrin asked to throw his line in one more time please Nana please. So I told him he could while I gathered up the equipment and things we had brought along. 
Suddenly I hear him shout I got one Nana I got one !!! and he is reeling in his line like a pro with the pole bent and lo there is his first fish and a proud excited little boy showing everyone his first fish..
It was a 5 inch Perch with spiky fins and had a golden look, but it was honeybunnys best day ever he said. He carried that fish on its hook all the way up the hill and across the lot til he seen our neighbor and running to him to show him his first fish with his little eyes twinkling and his chest thrown out like he had grown up in just a few minutes. 
We took the fish off the hook and placed him in our bag in the car. Off to eat our lunch on the grass of the National Park there that the Optimist had bbqd for us, then came the prize moments !

Perrin won a skateboard, Hallie and Alyssa won basketballs but some boy asked to trade Alyssa her basketball for a fishing pole so they were happy. Perrin though really wanted a fishing pole so that was a heartbreaking moment for him. But it was ok after awhile and he really had a great time and now wants to fish forever..   

Pirate Day at the Library

I love our new library here in Prince George and all the librarians. They are doing so many fun things for the kids. This day was for International Talk Like a Pirate Day and the librarians were all dressed like pirates. One of them, in the photos, showed Perrin his booty and loot and his swords he had in his car. we had arrived late after the event as honeybunny was in school but they still did what they could to make it fun for us.
Another event there was with the Canine Therapy Dogs and Perrin fell in love with the Great Dane. The kids read to the dogs and can pet them and learn how they help people with all sorts of things even anxiety in children.
Things sure have changed since I was a kid and went to the library. Now they have so many fun things to do and see and learn. I hope Perrin always remembers these days and will always have a love for books like we do.

Publix Days at Henricus Park

Off we went to the free Publix Days at Henricus Park this Septmeber weekend. I have always wanted to see what was behind those wooden fences and this was a special weekend to go . I was sorry Perrin couldnt come with us but he was away for the weekend so he missed getting on board the ship Godspeed.
I picked Alyssa and Hallie up that morning and off we went. We learned a lot how Henricus was settled and how they had a community set up behind this fence to protect them from the mm savage Indians . they grow a nice garden there, had a church and a hospital. The reenactors were very nice and explained the story to us as we moved along thru the area. But the first thing we wanted to see was the ship Godspeed that had sailed from Jamestown up the river and docked at Henricus. We walked the plank aboard the ship and were allowed to wander around and touch the ropes and wheel and someone would tell us about how they lived on the ship and life aboard it.
There were Indians inside the fort and they also told us about their life. They had their long houses set up and we were amazed at what was inside. I cannot wait to go back on the next Publix Days in September and hope honeybunny will be here so he can see the ship too !

Taking that first step into the World

Irene postponed the first day of school for Perrin for two weeks due to damage to the schools and also with the power outages. But the little man was ready when the time came. The day before school started was the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and I wanted to take him and Hallie to see something of 9/11 so that we would remember. Ft Lee had just what I wanted them to see with their display of a piece of the Pentagon that was part of where one of the planes that hit on that day. We learned a lot of history and things we didnt know. And we also went on to a part of the base that we had not seen before.
The next day was September 12th, the first day of school and for Perrin to ride on that long anticipated yellow school bus he has been waiting his whole 5 years for. Up early and dressed in his new clothes and book bag he was over the top excited. Grandma Sherry, Grannette, Nana were there to see him off on his first adventure on his own along with mom and dad. He had a great day and had a nice teacher Ms Moon, but his best was riding that yellow school bus with Ms Kay every day !

Irene

I find myself excited and scared when a hurricane comes thru and this week we met Irene in our own backyard ! How lucky we were though that the trees that blew down fell away from the house and we were only inconvienced by no power for a week. We were also lucky that our friends Tim and Danielle offered us their home for showers and to cool off from Irenes humidity when their power came back on.
Irene left us with a lot of downed trees, high winds and teaching Perrin to play board games during that time. She also left us with some beautiful mushrooms that grew in our yard after she left.

Summertime Fun

There are lots of fun things to do with my honeybunny that are free and the kids enjoy them so much. Swaders had a fun birthday event just a few days after Perrins birthday. We really enjoyed the face painting and the balloon animals by Cuddles the Clown. Spongebob and Dora also made an appearance there along with PG Fire Dept with games for the kids and Perrin loved getting to sit in the fire truck with a real fireman hat on. Lots of games for kids this day and a most delicious cake that the girls made sure Perrin got the big red flower to eat LOL

Here we go go go on an adventure

Perrins 5th birthday

Honeybunny turned 5 with lots of family and friends gathered at our home for a Shark Party. Ms Mary made an awesome Jaws cake which we all loved. We had sprinklers and a pool for them to play in along with some cool blowup sea creatures. Found these little sea animals that when you put them in water they grow. They had sting rays, crabs sharks and octopus for each of the kids. We also gave them a little fish to take home in a bowl (most of them didnt survive though) Perrin got lots of gifts and enjoyed just having his favorite people around him to celebrate his big day.