GRIZZLY DAY!!

Today was Grizzly Day! It's a total spirit day for the Grizzlies and their families. We've been part of the Grizzly family for going on our 3rd year now with 2 years in flag football when Austin was 5 and 6, but this year is his first year of Tackle. So after a combine, draft, 5 day a week practices in the heat of the summer, yesterday we all enjoyed the fun of Grizzly Day. The boys hung their helmets up on the float, threw out candy as each team had their own trailer/float. The boys were pumped up and their cheerleaders shared their float. Ashley got to even ride in the back of the pickup truck and throw candy. They loved it! The teams cheerleaders were on the back of the float and I asked Austin later that day if he saw any cute girls on the float...he said NO. The only cute girl he saw on the float was AShley. His sister! I hope he's always this sweet. I think he will be.
I
'm so glad to be part of such a great organization. GO GRIZZLIES!

5,6,7,8 the Elevator Dance!

So this crazy pic of us---it's an action shot of the Elevator Dance!!! Maybe a cousin of the Safety Dance? But whenever the Toler's get into an elevator with no one else around, a dance is performed. "And 5,6,7,8 the Elevator Dance! Elevator Dance, Ella, Ellavator...ella ella ella ella-vator! The song is sung, the dance moves are high and it brings happiness to our elevator ride. So if you ever here stompings or loud noises in an elevator, it could be the Toler's doing the Elevator Dance!!!

Tippy Toes..

Austin's had 2 sets of these boots or orthotics.



This is the kind he'll have for this last year of braces.





So ever since Austin started walking at 13/14 mos, he started walking on his tippy toes. The Dr.'s said that it was normal when they were little, so they could "peek up" and see what was going on higher than them. But that he would grow out of it. Our little buddy never grew out of wanting to see what was higher than what his eyes could reach! So still at 7, he walks on his toes sometimes. His calves are like meaty drumsticks--so strong from always being up. But, it is causing pronation in his foot. He's now rolling his ankle in when he walks. So, we had to get fitted for some new orthotics this year. But luckily these only go up to his ankle bone, instead of like his other orthotics that went all the way up his calf. Between botox injections at age 3, 2 sets of plaster casts, 3 sets of orthotic braces.....we've done everything we can short of surgery to keep our little tippy toer off his little piggies. So this is the last year of intervention. The Pediatric Orthopedist said there's a big growing spurt between 2nd and 3rd grade and this is it for him. After all the preventative measures taken all his life, after this year and his last set of orthotics, it's up to him.

So he picked out camo braces and black straps. To be cool like his Dad.

Rady Park

We have been a fan of Rady Park this summer! We LOVE this Warrenton gem. Catching tadpoles, crawdads, little fish, the creek bed is perfect for the kids to get all wet and dirty and explore nature! So we went there twice this week. The second time, we met up with the Crowley's. Our buds from the good old Fairfax Ward back in '02. I even got to meet little Nathan their 6 month old! Charlotte and Ashley were catching all sorts of swimming things....and we took along Austin's bud Dylan Vanstry for him to have a playmate. A lady there even brought her pet bunnies to play with! It was a wonderful day!!!

Millions of Peaches, peaches for me

Our friends the Bauers-Katie, Even and Owen went with us peach picking this week! I love peaches--my favorite fruit. Has anyone tried peachy cakes at Cracker Barrel? Mmmmm a slice of heaven on earth. So we tried a new orchard called Hollins Farm. I must say I've enjoyed Stribling and Hartland better. But the scenery was gorgeous, we had plenty of peaches to pick that were just kid height, and had a great time with our buds in the nature! After we'd picked our 10pec of peaches, we headed to Fauquier County Park --LOVE IT and enjoyed a picnic lunch. Wonderful weathaer, cool and no humidity. And full of cute peaches!

Oh Happy Day

Whenever Pop, Grandma, Uncle Ray, Dad or ANYONE sends us something in the mail, it's the GREATEST thing ever! The kids look forward to it for days. Sometimes the packages will just remain closed for a few hours because the extend the excitement We LOVE getting packages, letters, any thing through the postal service. Thanks guys!





A green princess dress, because it's Gavin's favorite color. We picked out this Halloween costume at Cracker Barrel a couple of weeks ago. She was so excited to have Gavin see her in it! He came over, and she had her big 'coming out'. The dress was donned and her prince was enamored. Just out of a movie. At least this is all what's going through Ashley's mind. But this dress is the one she wants to wear she told Gavin, "After you go on your mission, I'll wear this to the temple." Hmm, we might have to work on the white dress part.



Austin is getting ready for his FIRST day of work! Our dear friend Jean Allen hired him to weed her garden. Austin felt so empowered that someone wanted HIM! HIS skills! He got a backpack, filled a cannister with water, and rode his bike all by himself down the road to Jean's house. He arrived for work on time. He then had a chat with his employer about money and he knew how much he would get paid for picking weeds. He came back home after work (1hr) and announced as he kicked off his garden shoes, "Honey, I'm home! And, I'm tired. So just make me something yummy to eat while I just relax here for awhile." Really Austin? I just had to document this for his future wife to read. Austin was a sweetie and in his prayers he was thankful for the opportunity he had to work. Thanks too Jean for giving him this chance. This teaches the little people so much about work ethic--much easier to do if it's not your own mom or dad.

BUSCH Babies!

This week our family and the Johnsons went to Busch Gardens Theme Park in Williamsburg, VA and it was GREAT! This is the first time we've been there and it was so fun. We cruised the whole park. We opened it up, and closed it down with the night fireworks. What a wonderful day!

It was great because we took the kiddies to a play area where there were plenty of kid rides, then Erika and I could leave the men with the kids and we rode the roller coasters!! We felt like we were in HS again! Screaming at the top of our lungs on loop-dee-loos! While some rides felt like it took off 5 years of our lives, it really just gave me day of youth back. I love that feeling of adrenaline, excitement, fear, experiencing a roller coaster sans the kiddos even for just a few minutes..wahooooo!!

Then Jonathan and Jeremy took a turn to ride the big roller coasters. Austin's face in one of these pictures describes how his excitement level was to ride the roller coasters there. Not. Austin is not what we call adventurous on the coasters. Or "Coaller Roasters" is what my kids call them. But he did enjoy himself and the kiddie rides.

We wrapped up the night with dinner of pizza and cokes and then the firework display. Ash konked out on J's head at the end of the evening during the fireworks. We had an AWESOME time there. Looking forward to Busch next year!!