~ The Cowden Family ~

Delaware Hwy Traffic: 1 -- ALLI: 0

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

Well, at least there were no injuries!!

I'm currently waiting to hear the results from the appraiser.
Wouldn't be surprised either way if it's repairable or not.
It's a 2001 (old) but it's also a Honda (holds value). So, hmmm...
As much as I would love a new car right now, I'm really not excited at the thought of having another new car payment!

MY POOR CAR!!!

Firemen, Couch Potatoes & Clay Animal Parades

What a car ride! AJ, Jonah & Merrik: the 3 amigos!

(we'd just gone to this cool place for lunch: Firehouse Subs)

Jonah and Alexis - bonding. :)

And Merrik with Uncle Allen, who is quite talented in the

clay animals department!! So fun!!

(he's always so great w/ the kiddos -- thanks Allen!)

Duck, Duck, GOOSE

Feeding the ducks in Virginia!

AJ, Jonah & Merrik w/ the many, many ducks at the park.

"One for the ducks, one for me, one for the ducks, one for me..."

(we were feeding them popcorn)

They were really into it! (Love the expression on AJ's face)

Being swarmed as we got out of the car...

You'd think these ducks were used to getting fed by people, or something!

Splish-Splash!!

M & J happy to be in the cool Virginia waters while in the hot Virginia sun!!

We were visiting Rach & her family in Virginia. This is "their river"!
(And there at the river they have free life jackets to use - sweet!!)

It's cool cousin time!! Merrik (3), Alexis (13), AJ (6) & Jonah (5).
(and a couple of Rachael's friend Monika's kids in the background, hanging out!)

Somehow Jonah always finds a dog to play with...

Merrik - not sure if the water's warm enough!

YAY, cousins!! Merrik, AJ & Jonah!!

And Rach made me promise that the photo of her in her bathing suit wasn't going to end up on my blog. So there are no pictures of us grown ups! :)

Cousins, Motorcycles & Goofy Dancers

Merrik, Jonah & Melody doing their crazy cousin dance they made up.

Jonah, Melody & Merrik - LOVE THIS PIC.

And, "cheese!"

Jared's brother John with Mio, Will (13) & Melody (7)
visiting from Utah. We were SO happy we got to see them 2 summers in a row!!

Melody was rubbing Merrik's back on the porch. Aww...

Melody & Merrik got along so great! It's like they've grown up together! :)

Will on the mini bike that "Cool Uncle Paul" made.

Will would still be riding that thing if it were somehow possible.

Jared about to give Merrik a ride on the motorcycle. How cool!

This here's a fuzzy action photo -Merrik's getting a ride w/ Uncle Paul.

Paul & Michelle were the hosts of this wild and crazy afternoon! Thanks guys!!!

Uncle John & Jonah on the very cool 4wheeler.

And Merrik about to ZOOM away with Uncle Paul....

Mini Golf at "Crystal Caves'

Jonah & Merrik practicing in the putting green.

Jonah, trying to escape one of the caves.

Merrik & Jared taking a break by the waterfalls.

Merrik, Alli & Jonah - enjoying some shade! Man, was it a hot day.

Here's Jonah, lining up the putt!

And Merrik quickly realized it was more accurate to just kind of

push it in with the end of his golf club.

OSV - something different every time!

Merrik posing as a Sturbridge baseball player - circa 1830's.

The oxen & wagon at the Old Sturbridge Village playground.

This is actually a two-seated out-house they're sitting in! LOL.
(their bums are covering up the holes)
(and ... the sides of the photo look crooked b/c that's the white outside doorway looking into the outhouse)

These two are out of sequence but this is a "balloon" they fill w/ hot air from a burner & then let go, then it floats way up into the sky. As the hot air is released, it slowly lands and they do it all over again.