Green Thumb Update!

Looks like the Ballard Boys have Quite the Green Thumb! Their Garden is Huge and Super Green as you can see...

Our Squash was taking over our the neighboring garden...

The Vegetables of our Labor! YUMMY!

Kung Foo Master's New Belt!

It was a Celebration tonight at Taekwondo because William received his Orange Stripe Belt!!!! He was So Proud! He has been the Class Leader at the start of class 3 out of 5 times a week.  He leads the class in the oath and intro and  does so like a Black Belt Leader! I wish I could get it on video!

 Not only did William finally receive his New Belt today but he earned his First Stripe on that new belt for knowing his Address! Way To Go Black Belt Leader!

Hilton Head Island 2012

The Ballard Boys took over Hilton Head Island again this year and had a Blast!!! The First day the boys pretty much stayed up in the sand and only wanted to swim in the pool.  Actually James was frantic if anyone went near the ocean! Frantically screaming, " No Bec, No Wee, Hurry Hurry!!" While flailing his arms, any time either of them went near the water!

But they eventually ventured into the puddle left by the low tide! Running back and Forth through it!

We Finally coaxed them into the water by day 2! And as you can see, they Loved jumping and Karate chopping the waves!

James also was finally old enough to take a ride on the bike with Daddy!!! He was So Excited! Yelling "Bye Mamma!" the Whole time Daddy was strapping him in!

The Boys also were once again invited to Grumpy's Favorite Restaurant, The Old Fort Pub! They were very well behaved! William even politely ordered his own dinner of Chicken Fingers and French fries!

But Mostly this is Where the Boys hung out! Under the tent, Snacking, Digging, Building, and Fighting! They had a BLAST!!!

The Boys doing what they do Best! Digging and Throwing Sand! :)

My Favorite Picture Every Year! They are getting So Big!!!

William and Grumpy checking out the Boats in Harbor Town! The Boys Love watching the boats come in and out of the Harbor! They could sit there all evening...Ok maybe not sit, but they do Love watching the Boats! (Or as Jebbys says... "Big Boak, Momma!")

A Little Photo Op. the Last Night! So Sad another Beach trip is over!!! We all had Such a Fun Time!

Bye Bye Beach, Bye Bye Sand, Bye Bye Boaks!

Ballard Boys Take in Charleston, SC

The Next stop on the Ballard Boys' East Coast tour landed them in Charleston, SC for the Annual Kiawah Ocean Course Golf Stop. The Ballard Boys arrived early enough this year to take in some of the Beautiful Sites in and around Charleston.  They began their adventure with a Carriage Ride through the city to take in the History... History making was the scene that occurred when Our Favorite Paci Lover dropped his Paci on the street while checking out the horses and proceeded to scream hysterically until Daddy asked the tour guide to stop and he jumped off and ran back down the street to see if he could find it! Our Hero FOUND the Paci and we continued on our tour like nothing happened! My apologies to the THREE other Couples on the tour for the interruption! HeeHee!

Boys on the Carriage Ride, Pre-Paci Loss! :)

William Hailing the Trolley Down! (He's Ready for NYC!)

 While the Big Boys Golf, the Little Boys take in the Aquarium! A Favorite Annual stop for the Ballard Boys! This Year their Favorite was the Turtles!

The Boys checking out the Boats in the Harbor! What Beautiful Weather we had to walk around!

Ballard Boys Golf Pinehurst, NC

The Ballard Boys started their Adventure toward Hilton Head Island with a stop over at Pinehurst, NC to take in a little Golf and Visit Friends!

Both Boys Ready for the Road Trip Ahead!

 Daddy was so Excited to show the Boys the statues outside and tell them about all the Big Golfers that have come through and Won on the Famous Pinehurst #2 Course! William was thrilled to hear all the stories and look at the pictures, James just wanted a "Nack Peeze!"

Who Loves Pinehurst??? 

The Boys sitting outside the 18th Green.

With a little sweet talking the Grounds Men, William was able to hit a few balls on the range!

 Jebby got in on the Action... Daddy wasn't impressed with Jebby's club choice though...

A Little Putting Action...

Daddy trying to put it by the the Hole Blockers...

Exhausted from their First Day of their East Coast Golf Tour...

Kings Family Vineyard Polo

What do the Ballard Boys do on a Beautiful Sunday Afternoon??  Meet Friends at Kings Family Vineyard and take in a Polo Match! Actually this was our first trip out there for Polo but surely not our Last! It was So Much Fun!!!!  Everyone sets up around the perimeter of the field, tailgate style!

Jason's spread in the works... It was smart to arrive early!!!

 The Boys ready for some Polo!

The Boys watching the Players warm up! They warn you to stay back from the perimeter of the field because the ball AND Horses come over the boards! (And they DO, come over!!) So the Boys didn't stay long up there...

William explaining the technical aspect of the game to his Father...

Stomping the Divots! 

The Ballard Boys Mid Field during the break.

The Boys got to see a few of the Horses up close at the end! They had aBLAST! We are sure to be Regulars at this Event!

Shenandoah National Park

The Ballard Boys took a little Road Trip down the Skyline Drive along the top of Shenandoah National Park.  The Drive was Beautiful! Mountains and Trails all along the way.  The Ballard Boys stopped a few times for a couple little hikes along parts of the Appalachian Trail and to take in the scenery.

 Along our Drive down, we came across an exciting find... Humpback Rocks.  So we stopped at the Ranger Station to see if it was something a 4 and 2 yr old could do...  Who wants to climb one mile up the Rocky side of a Mountain???

ME!!!!!!!!

We were told the hike was 3/4 of a mile up and it started off not too bad... straight up but it was a gravel path.  After about 10 minutes up, the gravel path turns vertical! Like the Donkeys at the Grande Canyon, Jason picked up both children, I held the gear and attempted to stay up in my TOMS and we began the ascent...

30 minutes later, Jason huffed out a " Look Catherine!" And this is What I saw!!!!

Absolutely Breath Taking!!! Literally, because of the climb, but once you catch your breath and your footing it is the Most Beautiful View you could Ever Imagine of the Blue Ridge Mountains!!! Not sure I'd recommend doing it with two toddlers unless you can carry them up the many rock faces or had some extra climbing rope and harnesses lying around your house!

Kung Fu Kid's First Belt Test

William participated in his first belt testing this morning.  He was testing for his white/orange stripe belt.  It was very official and nerve wracking for us all but William showed his Black Belt Skills and was Successful!!! William is Always Our Little Black Belt Leader!

 William is in the back row, Tiny Tiger White Belt!

 The Tiny Tigers Began with their Offense and Defense! William is Very good at Protecting his Head!

More Offense...Punch, Punch, Round Kick!

 Along with Offense and Defense technique, William was required to learn his Phone Number...

 Also Stranger Danger Techniques...Leg Wrap with Bear Claw! :)

 Lastly the Board Break...We need a little more work on that one, but William got it on the Second try!

We also got to see a little bit of what is to come if William continues to be the Kung Fu Kid! SPARING! Yep, they pad-up the 5yr-olds and let them go at each other! Spinning Kicks to the Chest, Punches to the Head, Parents Clapping and Cheering, the whole nine yards! It was Hilarious!!!!