Monday, July 21, 2014

The Fourth of July

For the Fourth of July we decided to head to a balloon festival in Lexington, on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute.  It kind of ended up being the balloon festival that wasn't, because the day was too windy and they couldn't put up the balloons.  Nevertheless, there was some fun to be had.  The festival was on the parade grounds, and the surrounding architecture seemed like castles to the boys.  We have been studying the Middle Ages and the Renaissance all summer, so it's no wonder they imagined castles.

The boys were decked out in fun gear.  The twins decided to wear superhero capes, Pierce was wearing "spy gear" and all three boys had some festive glasses given to them by one of Pierce's previous teachers.

The glasses were really funny.

The highlight of the day was meeting Ginny, from Let Your Let Shine blog.  We have been blogging friends for ages.  Ginny takes the most amazing moon and sunset pictures around.  She and her husband, Phil, delighted the boys.  Pierce enjoyed a chess game with Phil and was amazed by his magic tricks.  The boys were kind of wild that day, but luckily Ginny and Phil didn't seem to mind.
We stayed until after dark to watch the fireworks show, which did not disappoint.
It was a fun outing, and much better than our July 4th activities the past couple of years.
Perhaps, we'll be back for more next year, and the balloons will get to go up.

32 comments:

Sunnybrook Farm said...

You guys weren't far from my mother's house, she was wondering why the balloons didn't come over her house as she is typically down wind of the launch area. The boys can figure out how to have a good time even without balloons.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh I am sure Ginny did not mind your "wild" boys at all they are wonderful children. I would love to meet them someday. Great fun love the glasses. Hug B

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Ahhhh...I have been waiting for this post!!! So nice that you were able to finally meet even if the balloons didn't get to fly high...:)JP

Roan said...

Those buildings are amazing. The boys make great super heros and love those glasses. Glad you got to meet up with a blogger friend.

Anonymous said...

Gads has Pierce gotten big! Still adorable though. It is so fun to get to meet blogging friends in person.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

aww, love those sunglasses. i recall many school trips to VMI. a gorgeous historical area. have a great week, Lisa. ( :

Jeanne said...

Loved seeing those sunglasses! And looks as if you had a fun day!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Lisa, So you got to meet Ginny and Phil... We met them several years ago--and she is very special to me.. Meeting blog friends in person is the BEST...I have life-long friends from blogging... SO special.

Sorry about the balloons. Hope you can go back another time to see them.

Hugs,
Betsy

Steve Surratt said...

That looks like it was fun. Something unique for the boys. I visited VMI many times to race. I always found those "castles" kind imposing and scary!

TexWisGirl said...

nice to meet in person!

Sharon Wagner said...

Good for you for making a real life blogging friend!

Sally said...

They look like castles to me also! The boys look so cute and how nice to meet a blog buddy.

Lisa, I have to say you are looking wonderful; so pretty! :)

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

Those buildings do look like castles! Your boys are so fun and cool. Love the glasses!

I'm glad you got to meet a blogging friend. I hope we meet someday! :-)

An Apel a Day said...

How fun to meet a blogger friend!

My kids where costumes out to. Here I thought only girls liked dressing up. Boys love it to!

Gail Dixon said...

How wonderful that you met a blogging friend. Looks like a fun day!

Harry Flashman said...

That was a good holiday. VMI is an impressive place. I served with three graduates back in the 1970's and they were all good officers.

mail4rosey said...

We watched the balloons go up too (and they did 2 out of the 3 days they were in town). I think it's always so awesome.

The glasses are cool, and I'm glad you got to meet your blogging friend!

Out on the prairie said...

The balloon fest here never got off the ground and this year. Sometimes you have to go a lot just to see them take off. Tethered rides would be fun for the boys.

Angie said...

The boys looked so cute in their festive gear :)

Anonymous said...

Always fun to meet a blog friend in person. Loved the photos.

Michelle said...

Those buildings do look like castles :) How nice that you were able to meet a blogging friend. Something I still need to do.

Lin said...

Sounds like a great day in spite of the lack of balloons. And I always love a blogger meet-up. :)

Rob-bear said...

Looks like you had a wonderful day, in so many ways. Even without the balloons. Next year, maybe.

Blessings and Bear hugs!

Tanya Breese said...

what a fun day! vmi is a gorgeous campus...did you see where there is a movie based on some vmi cadets from back in the civil war? i think it comes out in september. love those silly glasses!

Unknown said...

Looks like you had such fun. I am sure your boys will enjoy it next year as well.

Linda said...

Love the glasses! How nice that you got together with another blogger.

Michaele said...

That is so cool that you met. What a fun day for all.

Slamdunk said...

Too bad the wind did not cooperate, but glad you all had a blast anyway. I have never been to VMI, but would love to go--lots of history there.

Vision By Mila said...

I want a pair of those glasses, they're fun! And you are so pretty, I don't know if I've seen you in photos lately.

Becca said...

Those glasses are so much fun! It sounds like you guys had a great time even though the day didn't go quite as planned!

Busy Bee Suz said...

You would think that the wind would know better than to spoil ballooning!! Glad you still had fun; cute to see the boys all jazzed up.

Unknown said...

Hope it wasn't oppressively hot as we had 110 on the 4th of July and I enjoyed photographing a car show. I'm sure the boys loved the fireworks!