Last Hurrahs of Summer! Huntsville and Lagoon

Summer was coming to a close and Clint was headed to San Diego for a week for a Commanding Officers conference, so I made plans to take the boys up to Huntsville for three days. It was actually our ranch week, but we'd been to the ranch three times this summer and Huntsville very little. As it turned out, Clint never left to San Diego because he had a fever all week, but we decided to go up to Huntsville anyway. I love being in Huntsville because the wilderness just pulls the kids outside and they run around with their cousins and explore non-stop. 

I took the boys on a bike ride up to the monastery. I've been wanting to do that forever because it is so nice to go on a bike ride in Huntsville where there are rarely cars on the road and there aren't intersections every 50 yards. Talmage really resisted the idea and ranted and yelled about it, but with some conniving I was able to get his shoes on and get him on his bike. The only problem was he was wearing a Chinese coolie hat from the Malmborgs toy box. I thought, well, it will keep the sun off and if it becomes a problem he'll just have to figure it out. Once we got going, Talmage took the lead and we cruised the 1 1/2 miles to the Abbey gate. Then it was UPHILL. The boys made it about 2/3 up the hill before they had to hike-a-bike, but then we hit the poplar-lined lane and it was a coast to the finish. The boys enjoyed looking around the gift shop, but we were sad to learn that the monks had stopped making honey only two weeks before. Years ago they stopped selling eggs and bread. Their population is getting too old. Their youngest is 65, oldest is 94 and four of them are in their 80s. Jack asked about the Holy Water for sale and learned that you can sprinkle it around your bed at night to get rid of bad dreams. Every night since then he's expressed his regret that we didn't get him any holy water. On the way back down the boys really picked up speed and it was revealed to me that neither Talmage nor Cole are able to use the hand brakes on their new bikes. And Talmage's coolie hat kept on blowing in front of his face like a huge shield. So he kept on running himself off the road into the grassy banks to stop himself. I suggested that he take off the hat, or cinch it tightly to his back, but he refused. So, I told him that he was accepting the danger that came with continuing to wear the hat. After his vision was blocked two more times and he got familiar with the side ditch twice more, he decided to take off the hat. We survived the ride. When the boys are old enough that they can sit still, I'll take them back to hear the monks sing vespers. I hope the monks don't die out before that happens!

Grandpa Hale and I also took the boys up to the South Fork campground cave. Many awesome dates have been set up in that cave. Uncle Joey proposed to Aunt Katie in that cave and I spend graduation night in that cave with a bunch of friends, a bunch of junk food, a generator and a VCR/TV. Unfortunately there was about 10 inches of standing water in the cave so we didn't go in.

The last check in the box was to go for a swim in the McKay's pool.

Jack takes a plunge in the McKay's pool.

The last Monday before school started was a 1/2 price Lagoon day for Navy families. I took the boys and my sister Victoria met me there with her girls. That was the first time I'd been to Lagoon since I was a preteen. Some things hadn't changed, like I'm pretty sure the Terror Ride hasn't even been dusted in 30 years. But some things had really improved. There are huge Sycamores all through the park so that we didn't even worry about needing sunscreen. The boys were not hip on the big scary rides. And after we did the Rattlesnake Rapids and got soaked Jack said, "I did not deserve that!" But at the end of the day when we hit the kiddie rides, they absolutely loved it. If I hadn't wanted to drop another $50 for dinner, I'm sure the boys would have been thrilled to stay till closing time. The boys were also super interested in the Broadway performers. Talmage said, "Those girls are really beautiful. They aren't dressed very modestly. But they are still very pretty!" Highlights for me were seeing the boys drape their arms around their ride buddy as they waited in line, and the surprise thunderstorm that dropped half-inch hailstones on us! 

Jack and Trace waiting for the tug boats.

Trace and a girl he picked up in line.

Our neighbor Astin, who plays with our boys daily.

Can you see Talmage? Of course you can't. He's completely camoflauged!