A Camping Adventure

Our kids love to go camping. Abby started asking when we could go camping in February. This weekend was our first camping trip of the summer. We packed the car up on Wednesday night and headed out Thursday after work. Our destination - Deep Creek State Park in Maryland. This was our first time to Deep Creek - and the weather was less than idea, but all in all we had a great time.

It was an easy trip - much shorter than we anticipated. We found the park without problems and after being reassigned to a new camp spot because we took our puppy and the original spot was in the no dog zone, we got settled in. Our spot was less than private - directly across from the bath house for our loop and intended to be paired with the spot of our less than quiet neighbors. 150 foot of rope, a large tarp, trees and rocks...a privacy screen was errected and things were much better.

The campground itself was very nice. All the roads were paved and were also one way - which made bike riding easier for the kids. The road directly in front of our site was also flat which made practicing riding without training wheels easier for Abby and her Daddy. Each site was equipped with a "bear box" which made securing our food and supplies much easier than it would have been if we had to drag them in and out of the car. And much more secure. No worries about bears breaking into the car for a snack.

We knew that the weather would be cooler in Deep Creek than it would be at home, but we were not really prepared for just how cold it was. The sun finally appeared to stay on Saturday and we all went down to the beach. The kids actually braved the water for awhile, but it was really COLD and they didn't stay in long. They did have fun playing on the beach in the sand though.

We tried to go to the fireworks on Saturday night. The park staff told us all about them when we checked in. The part they forgot to tell us was that parking to view the fireworks was along the road on the shoulders around the scenic overlook and that you needed to get there hours before to get a parking place. When we arrived, all the spaces were gone. We ended up down the road behind some trees. We did see some of the fireworks display...those that were shot very hight in the air. The kids were satisfied...and Abby really liked that she could see them but did not have to hear the loud booms from the cannons.

All in all - a very good trip. We walked around the campground with the map and marked the spots we'd like to try next time we go. Hopefully we'll make time to go on several other camping trips this summer.

Introducing the newest member of the family

We have a new pet - her name is Madison (Maddie) and she is a 7 month old chihuahua that we got from our neighbor. Our neighbors who are renters had to decide whether to pay a pet deposit or find a new home for their puppy. They decided to find her a new home and didn't have to look far. Once our kids found out that their was a puppy who would always stay little in need of a home they were quick to volunteer. Maddie is a sweet little doggy and she is already housebroken. She is mostly good with this kids and seems to get along just fine with Lacey and the cats. I am sure that we'll have many adventures together. Stay tuned.

Another Season Comes to a Close

Josh's baseball team held their end of the season picnic on June 25th at Mary Lou Retton Park. It was a great evening. Much like our season the focus was on having fun and being positive. Our team sponsor - EconoMart provided more pizzas than 12 growing kids and their families could ever possibly eat and cookie cakes that looked like baseballs. Each family brought a little something, too. The kids had a great time playing on the play ground and eating.



When it was time for the awards, our head coach Kevin Morris started by recognizing the coaches. They did a fantastic job all season long of helping our kids have fun and learn about baseball at the same time. And then, when he recognized the players, Kevin talked a little about their progress. He started with the 6 year olds - we had 4 of them - all were eligible to play another year of Tee ball but all stretched themselves by starting C Ball. They were all great little players. Morgan, the only girl on our team for the whole season, capped off her first year with a homerun in her last at bat.



Kevin took his time and praised each kid for their contribution to our team. He also totaled their season stats and wrote them on the bottom of each trophey. It was a great end to a great season. We have been really lucky to have good coaches every year. So far, Kevin has been the best. I hope that he will decide to coach B-ball next year and if he does, that he drafts Josh to his team.


Front row - Shaine, Peyton, Eli, Josh, John. Middle row - Sam, Dreavin, Morgan, Corey, Nathan, Joel. Back row - Coach Jeff, Coach Kevin, Coach Sean, Coach Pat, Coach John.

Firefly or Lightening Bug...that is the question!

There are many things that let you know that summer has arrived. The weather is warmer, the days are longer, and the kids are out of school. My favorite sign of summer's arrival is the return of the lightening bug (southern WV speak for Fireflies). The kids were out enjoying the longer days with some friends from our neighborhood. We'd been skating on the road and then the whole gang came to our house to jump on the trampoline and play on our swing set. As everyone was starting to head for home, we noticed them. Little lights that started in the grass and slowly started rising into the air. Josh and Abby were so excited. "Mommy, go get our bug catching jar...we want to catch fireflies!"

They had a great time. In a matter of minutes they had caught more that 30. The simple joys of summer. I remember many nights spent during my childhood in the back yard capturing lightening bugs. After the hunt was over, the fun of keeping the jar next to my bed and watching the lights until I drifted off to sleep. Josh and Abby opted last night to open the bug catching jar and watch the fireflies fly away. It's just as well. I am sure that we'll be out at dusk many a night catching lightening bugs!

From Generation to Generation, Amen

Growing up, I knew I had a lot of grandparents, but it wasn't until I was older that I realized just how unusual it was. I especially knew that I had a lot of grandparents on Christmas Eve, when we'd leave our house around 3pm just to make the rounds and see everyone. I didn't have a lot of grandparents because of blended families or anything like that. I had a lot of grandparents because there were many generations of my family still living. When I was born, there were 5 generations of women on my mother's side. I have included a picture of us. It includes my great-great Grandma Cobb, my great Grandma Geneva, my Grandma Jean, my Mother and I. Althought there were not 5 generations in every family line, there were 4 generations in each family line. You see, I had 1 great-great grandmother, 4 great grandmothers, one great grandfather and all four grandparents when I was born. I don't remember my great-great grandmother. I can't tell you how old I was when she died or anything about her, but I have a picture.

I can tell you a lot of things about all my great grandparents. I have memories about times spent with all of them. My grandma Violet (my dad's dad's mother) was a Avon saleswomen. I remember that one of the local newspapers featured a story about her around some anniversary of her service with Avon. She lived in a block house in a place called Kanawha Two Mile. I remember going with my grandparents to visit her. Her house was full of neat things - many of them Avon trinkets. She used to give us Avon ornaments every Christmas. Before she died, she moved in with my grandparents. Since they were my next door neighbors, we spent a lot of time there. I remember that before she died, she told stories about her life that we recorded on cassette tapes. I wonder what ever happened to those tapes. And I wonder more if anyone still has a way to play them. I don't remember the exact date that she died, but I do remember that it was spring. I remember that all the family gathered at my grandparents house after the funeral and playing in the back yard with some of the cousins.

My grandma Lessie (my mom's dad's mom) was a stong and independent lady. When I was little she lived in a trailer that was across the way from my grandparent's house on the Pritt family farm. I don't remember much about her house, but I do remember that it had a distinct smell because she heated it with oil heaters. Most of my memories of Grandma Lessie were of the time she spent in Hodges Nursing Home on the West End of Charleston. I went to visit her with my grandparents. I remember that she'd often ask me to sing songs for her. I remember the mural on the wall outside her room had birds on it. And I remember that the lady down the hall used to yell a lot. She died on Christmas Day and was buried in the family cemetary on the family farm.

My Granny Mabel (my dad's mom's mom) is the one that I have the most memories of. She was a wonderful lady who knew just about everyone in Kanawha county (or at least her phone records would suggest she did - she loved to talk on the phone). She lived to the ripe old age of 101 and was young at heart until the day she died. I was closer to her than any of my other great grandmothers. I used to love it when she'd come to stay a few days with my grandmother (her youngest child) because I knew that there were always adventures in store. I remember being a very little child playing in the basement of my grandma's house while she and Granny Mabel strung and canned beans. I also remember learning to sing hymns - I truly believe that my Granny had memorized the alto part to every hymn ever written. And she knew the words to every verse. I remember that she would drape sheets over the kitchen table and climb under with me to play house or have a tea party. And when you consider that she was in her 70 and 80s when I was a child that makes it all the more special. She was able to start at the beginning of the year and in date order tell you the names and birthdays of all her children, grand children, great grand children and great-great grand children. And I don't know how the others felt, but she had a way of making me feel like the most special person in the world to her. The thing that always amazed me about Granny Mabel was her unwaivering faith in God. She outlived her husband, who died more decades before her, and 4 of her 7 children. And although she was sad about it, she never turned her back on God. She lived long enough that she got to see me get married and she was alive and well when Joshua entered the world. She died right before Thanksgiving in 2002 - while I was pregnant with Abigail. I have never been sicker in my life than I was the day of her funeral.

My final great grandmother (and my only great grandfather that I knew) was my mom's mom's parents. My great grandma's name was Geneva and she died today, June 23, 2009. I remember visiting her house which was just down the hill from ours and watching the interaction between her and my great Grandpa Howard. I remember the family gathering when my grandma's older sister Pasty would come in for visits from Texas. And the Blackshire family reunion was always a must attend event. It always included the horseshoe pitching contest and a series of games and relays for the kids. My cousin Lee and I use to practice the wheelbarrow race and the three leg race for weeks. And our practice often payed off. We loved to win. My grandpa had alzheimer's disease and when it was clear that Grandma Geneva needed help caring for him, they moved from their house on Tyler Mountain to a trailer on the Pritt farm and then into my grandparent's house. I watched as my great grandfather retreated to a time in the past and "forgot" who my grandmother was. I think it broke her heart. When he died they had been married for 60 years or so. That just doesn't happen anymore. A few weeks ago she suffered a stroke and never recovered. And today with her death it is the end of a generation in my family.

I take comfort in the fact that I still have all four of my grandparents with me. And that my children, like me, know them and have been blessed with a relationship that most never have. Growing up I never realized what a special gift the opportunity for that relationship really is. I am so very thankful to have had it. From generation to generation - Amen.

The end of a season

Josh's team played today in the quarter finals of our C-ball league tournament. We played Pearson Security - a team that we won against and lost to in the regular season. We knew that they would be tough, but after yesterday's come from behind win, I thought we might be able to pull it off.

We were the home team again. We took the field and showed a few jitters. We gave up 4 runs before recording 3 outs. We got up to bat and showed some power and put up 3 runs ourselves. Sadley that was most all of our offense for the day. And Pearson was just getting started. Our team kept their heads held high and showed good sportmanship throughout the entire game. We only played 4 innings and Josh only got to bat one time. He made good contact but was thrown out. He was on deck when the batter in front of him hit a pop up. The shortstop caught it and doubled up the runner who was too far off first base. The season ended with Josh on deck.

We have our end of the year picnic on Thursday. It should be a great time. We have outstanding coaches and great players. I know it will be a fun event. Now we can spend the rest of the summer having fun.

Drama at the ball park!

EconoMart played our first tournament game today. Seeding for the tournament was done by random draw because there had been several closely contested games and many parents and coaches were unhappy with umpiring decisions. Although we finished the season in 5th place, we were the first team drawn and therefore got a bye in the first round.

The tournament started last night. We played our first game today against R&E Electric. Our team was the home. We came out in the top of the 1st and played tough defense - 1, 2, 3 inning. We scored a run in the bottom of the first, but several of our big hitters started off slow. And then it started. One mental mistake and our team lost their heads. A couple of runs scored. We continued to struggle at the plate. And then more mental mistakes lead to more runs. Before we knew it it was 7 to 1.

Then the comeback began. Our hitters started hitting and it was 7 to 4. Then we again played tough defense. When we came up in the bottom of the 6th (the last inning of the game) we were down 3. Nathan lead off with a single. Then a single from Joel. Then one from Corey. Then one from Dreavin. Then one from Sam. Josh got up with no outs and the bases loaded. He hit a single and knocked in the tying run. Then our younger batters came up. All the parents were cheering like crazy as Shaine stepped into the box. "Just hit it!" we screamed. And he did. A little dribbler back to the pitcher and the winning run crossed the plate. Our dugout cleared. Everyone from the bases charged home. I looked up and saw Peyton jump into Josh's arms. They were estatic. Our first come from behind win of the season. They couldn't have picked a better day for it. Hopefully the emotion and intensity will spill over into tomorrow's game.