This is a summer of change and one in which the term roots and wings is beginning to seem like a bad idea -- no more wings for my kids!

Jacob left this morning to move into the dorm in his Atlanta university. I've called him twice and he's called me twice so we are even. It's an exciting time and I think will be a good fit for him but is hard on mom (and siblings -- Charlotte shed tears when she woke this morning and he'd already gone). Sam will be moving to Denver next week so we get to go through it all over again.

I found some old family beach photos that I thought would be fun to post. Good reminders of the many trips and joys we have shared and hopes of many more to come! Forgive my wandering into the past but the changes make a mom sentimental.

Three here from Scarborough beach in England -- about 1990-92. My home and birthplace and somewhere the older two boys loved.

Moving on in years -- some memories from Hawaii:

Then Jacob (the biggest) and Ben in Khorfikan, United Arab Emirates:

And lastly a teenage Sam parasailing in Malaysia:

We have not managed to go far abroad this summer but have been busy with a month long visit from Grandma, wedding (pictures to come), beach and mountain trips, and activities around town. The pool and local fountains have been popular given the heat and humidity here in the south US.

We are lucky to have various fountains and these in the middle of downtown Knoxville are especially fun during the farmer's markets. Sitting at one of the outside restaurants while the kids run back and forth to the fountains is "almost" Mediterranean feeling!

A new friend from ballet class gave Charlotte a princess hat and the next day she saw a cat-sized matching one in a store. Too good to pass up although I think the cat wishes someone would turn into a frog!

Thought we would share a few pictures of our additional family members. Our still loved old guy was Charlie (seen here with Max when he was about 2 years old) who died on the same day I found out I was pregnant with (now) Charlotte -- no one tell her she was named after the dog!

Here is said Charlotte with our other older guy, George (he's 10 and she's 3). Lovely George puts up with many different outfits and play times each day. He particularly enjoys tea party when he gets biscuits.

Then there is Tallulah who is about 5 years old. We got her from a border collie rescue group after she and her sister were dropped off at a kill-shelter in Georgia. We think she was a farm dog as she knows some commands but does not know how to play with toys. She's a sweetie but very driven to herd and spends her days staring and stalking the cat!

And then there is the stalked cat. She couldn't care less about Tallulah and occasionally hits her on the nose to remind the dog that cats are in charge!

I won't bother with all the gerbil or small animal pictures as they don't sit still long enough in costumes to be really exciting!

Last one is Max with Tallulah. Both had fallen asleep under my desk as I worked!

Charlotte has wanted to start ballet for ages. Put her near a stage and she immediately dances and sings! It has been a fight to get her out of the outfit!

We have lived in this area for a total of 9 years now and decided it was time we finally went to Dollywood. Our homeschool group had good deals on season tickets so we spent a couple of visits there now. The park is owned by country music singer Dolly Parton who grew up in the town it's in. It's themed around Appalachian/crafts and old timey kind of things.

http://www.dollywood.com/

I have to say the park itself is really nice. Good rides with lots of shade and places to sit down. Even water fountains and people who wander around asking if you need help or directions. The shows we have seen have been good as well. Some of the visitors to the park are "interesting" but if you view it as a good sociological study of the varieties of human kind, it takes the edge off!

Glad dad doesn't mind getting wet:

Charlotte is a little speed demon but Max and I are quite happy on the carousel!

While we were in California, Ben turned 14. We were in LA at the time so had fun celebrating with other family members. We were at a really neat restaurant that also had wandering entertainers. The belly dancer was very good and Ben handled the embarrassment well of her dancing around him and then with all the staff in the place singing happy birthday to him when they presented him with a cake!

We were totally impressed with the balloon artist. She was so talented -- not your average clown who makes a dog or two. She made some incredible balloon sculptures.

We live about 1 3/4 hours away from Chattanooga, TN and try to get there a few times a year as they have a wonderful aquarium and children's museum.

The museum is good for at least half a day with children ages 1-10 years or so. It's fun to see the youngest of our children playing with some of the things I remember their older brothers playing with when we lived here in the late 90s.

http://www.chattanoogafun.com/exit.asp?page=www.cdmfun.org

Max loves the science area:

Ben always loved the dinosaur dig! Now he tends to watch the little ones.

The aquarium is fun and has two huge buildings.

http://www.chattanoogafun.com/exit.asp?page=www.tnaqua.org

One thing we like is the butterfly exhibit on the top floor as all the butterflies come from the Butterfly Farm that we visited in Costa Rica!

We had a great Easter this year with the whole group around. We even had the pleasure of our soon-to-be daughter in law (wedding in July!) and her parents. They are lots of fun. Weather was great so we pulled tables together out on the deck and ate a huge meal, including good ceviche and wine and chatting.

Afterward the kids all had Easter egg hunts and games including egg and spoon races:

We like being on the beach in March!

We spent a great few days in Carlsbad, CA which is near San Diego. It is a lovely small town right on the water. Good restaurants and near to Legoland which the children enjoyed.

http://www.copperbluecreative.com/legoland/site/legolandca/

All of our boys love Lego and so this was a lot of fun to be immersed in it all day.

We loved this one of the inauguration -- very cool:

Here's Charlotte and I love this as it looks as if she is on a balcony looking over a real city. But it's a miniature Lego one!

Another one of Charlotte jousting:

Max -- slightly nervous despite this guy being made out of Lego!

Ben is such a wonderful big brother. He rides many things that I know he cringes at but when it's only for two -- I take Charlotte and he helps out with Max. Such a nice guy.

We spent a great month in California during early spring. Always fun to hang out with grandma but especially since she and my brother got a new "puppy." Of course since he weighs 70 pounds at 6 months of age it's quite a handful of a puppy. Sebastian is a full bloodhound. He's absolutely adorable but wildly crazy. Loves the children -- Charlotte spent most of the evenings lying on top of him as a pillow. The other time was spent chasing him to retrieve the shoes, socks, bags, milk containers, pillows, logs... and any other thing not tied down that he could run off with and play chase.

My second son Jacob, 19, is heading out tomorrow for Peru. He is going to spend almost two months working in an orphanage there. As homeschoolers we have always talked about a culminating experience to celebrate graduation. Not a mission trip as that is not part of our belief system, but a launching into the world trip.

I think this will do it!

The orphanage he is working at is near Cuzco in the Sacred Valley.

http://www.chandlersky.org/index.html

I am embedding a video from YouTube. Hope this works!

I just wanted to post this about the earthquake that hit Costa Rica two days ago. This was very close to where we were staying and we hope everyone is doing OK. We heard from the person we rented from that his house and friends are fine. It is the very poor who suffer as their houses are usually much more susceptible to damage.

http://www.amcostarica.com/

Have to include this photo of Max (5) as it shows his big news. Last week he lost both his bottom two baby teeth! He is very excited about it and has Charlotte shine the flashlight into the cavities to check for the new teeth almost hourly.