Little Fish

I signed Grady up for swim lessons again this year.  He is getting better about putting his face in the water and actually trying to swim.  Although, if you ask him he can swim, no problem.  After two weeks with Ms Kitty he has gotten really comfortable with going under.  We are going to do one more round of lessons and see if he will be a true swimmer! 

Grady and Lilyanne, the two little fish

Ready to dive in

 Off he goes

As most of you know, Grady just has to talk.....all the time.  Here he is trying to strike up a conversation with a little girl as the teacher is teaching. Pay attention, Grady!

"Chipmunk Cheeks"

Camping Party

Yesterday was Grady's best friend, Lilyanne's, birthday party.  She asked her parents for a camping  party.  What a great idea!  We headed up to Montreat Campground and set up camp.  The kids had a blast playing the the creek and running around in the woods.  They all got along so well.  You never know when you get a group of 4 year olds together.... but it was a success.  Thanks for the good times, Bobilya Clan!

Grady and Lilyanne

The birthday girl and her Dad, Andrew

Blowing out the candles.

Myles, Eli and Grady climbing the trees.  They were like little monkeys.

Lilyanne and Haley

 Eli and Grady, waiting for some cupcakes

The fabulous, Kirsten Bobilya.  Kirsten, I put this one in just for you.  I know you want to be immortalized in the Scala blog.

Aunt Jen and Anika

The kids spent a lot of time poking the fire with sticks.  The joys of the outdoors.

Garden of Eatin'

Those of ya'll who follow our blog might remember that we started a garden in late March.  Boy, has it blown up lately!  The boys are always excited to get down there and see what has popped up.  They enjoying eating the veggies right off the plants.  We think it's pretty important for G and M to know where their food comes from.  Plus, has been fun for the entire family and a lot less work than I thought it would be. 

Grady likes the green beans the best.  I'm not a fan of raw green beans but he can't get enough.

Our little plot.  We planted squash, zucchini, peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon, lettuce and green beans.

Myles like to chew the beans then spit them out.  Gross!

A cucumber is more like it



Josh harvesting some beans

Our take home crop of the day, minus the cucumbers, beans and banana peppers the boys ate while we were there.

Yum!  Some lettuce and zucchini. 

The first of many loaves of zucchini bread. 



Father's Day Weekend

When I asked Josh what he wanted to do for Father's Day he said he wanted to get out of town.  We decided to check out Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN.  The park that I work for has passes for several attractions in the area.  Nothing like a free vacation! 

Now, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are two of the tackiest towns in the world.  Like Myrtle Beach on crack.  There is mini golf on every corner, crazy attractions and the best people watching.  Mullets, pot bellies, rat tails, air brushed t-shirts and unhealthy people everywhere you turned.  Josh and I had some good laughs.  It's a place everyone should check out.  The funny thing is is that these nasty towns are boardered by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the nation.  Talk about night and day.

 We were all ready to go camping and then the weather didn't look like it would cooperate.  We ended up getting this little cabin in a campground.  The boys loved it.

Our first attraction was Dollywood.  For those of you who have never heard of Dollywood, it's a theme park owned by the one and only, Dolly Parton.  Guess who we saw there?!  The lady herself.  Dolly passed by us in an old timey car we saw her HUGE....hair. 

Our first ride was a water ride.  We were all soaked!  

Myles enjoyed the Carousel

3D movie and ride

More water play areas

 Myles trying to outrun the fountains

Dad and Grady on the rafting ride.  Myles was too short to ride so we went to drive some cars.

The following day we went to Ripley's Aquarium.  It was one of the best aquariums we have been to.

Scuba diver

In the puffer fish tank

This aquarium had tons of interactive things for kids

Grady loved the fish insides

 Happy Father's Day from beautiful downtown Gatlinburg, TN

We went to the Ripley Believe it or Not museum.  It was not very kid friendly.  Grady had nightmares from a few things he saw.  Whoops!

Good Ole Burke

Last week Josh drove up to do some work on his brothers house and we caught a ride with him.  He dropped us off at Mimi and Papaws and headed up to PA.  We had a great time hanging out in Burke and DC.  Of course, we checked out some museums and went to a few parks as well.  The boys and I met up with some of our favorite people, Brooke and Ms BJ.  It is always great to catch up with our oldest friends. 

Josh came back on Thursday and we drove to Maryland to visit Aunt Patti, Uncle Steve and the cousins.  As usually, it was a blast hanging out with the Fradkins.  Thank you for everything!!

Papaw in his favorite chair.  Hey Pap, thanks for putting up with the wild boys while the entertainment (Mimi) was still in Europe.  They loved riding the ATV and the lawn mower.  Papaw time at it's best!



Mimi came home from Brussels on Tuesday, much to the delight of Grady and Myles.  Not only did she have jet lag but two crazy boys that wanted to play.

In true Mimi form, there was nothing but silliness.

Now, I don't know if I was brave or insane but I took the boys on the Metro down to the Air and Space Museum.  It was a successful trip but I must have heard "wow, you have your hands full" about 100 times.  It is definitely easier with another set of hands.  I waited until Josh got back to go to the Natural History Museum. 



Flying a Cessna

Aunt Patti and Uncle Steve had a wonderful pool.  The boys would have stayed in it the entire time we were visiting.

The boys couldn't get enough of cousin AJ.  He was so good with them.  I don't know too many 17 year olds that would have been this nice to little ones.  AJ, you are a very cool guy!

No fear. 

Josh looks really happy at this moment BUT...Myles over shot him and nearly drowned poor dad.  It was all he could do to keep Myles out of the water and get to the side.

Waterbaby

When in Maryland what should one do?  Eat CRABS!





Myles wasn't sure what to do with the crab but loved the hammers.  I feel ya buddy, those things freak me out.



 

Dinner time!  It was fun to see Jake and meet his girlfriend, Lizzy.  We were so glad you all were home from college so we could visit.

Aunt Patti helping G with some crab legs.

The boys giving Uncle Steve a good bye hug.  "I love Uncle Steve he's so silly" Anyone that can do silly is #1 in Grady's book.