The Ryder Vacation

The Ryder family came to DC/Virgina Beach last week for a Family Reunion. Here are a few pictures of our adventures. Sorry there are no pictures from our time touring DC - with temperatures over 100 degrees taking pictures of us sweating did not seem so appealing. 

 The fam rented a house at Virgina Beach and while there we had Maryland Blue Crabs. It was great mess - while I love crab the goo inside was gross but I did love the claws!

Me and my first whole crab ever!

The great mess!

Marsha and my sweet cousin Molly

Virgina Beach had several funny signs that I couldn't help but take pictures of:

NO Fishing in the Fountain in front of this Hotel!

No Swearing!

Eating at Margie & Ray's

LB & I

Cousins - Maggie & Molly

On the way home I made LB stop at Sonic in Fredericksburg (since there is no Sonic near DC) so I could get my favorite Chocolate Cream Pie Shake only to find out that they no longer make them.  

Overall we had a great time at the beach , I learned to boogie-board - that is after I crashed, bleed, and flashed the beach, we caught up with family and met some cousins we did not know we had, and learned dirty family secrets. 

It was great fun!

What we have been up to...

It has been on busy summer with LB working as well as interning and me teaching ballet. However, here are a few pictures of what we have been up to. 

 One Friday we headed down to the National Museum of Art to the Chester Dale exhibit. We are trying to be more Artsy Fartsy, well not really but rather more culturally enriched. We are also trying to master the self photo - apparently we are still learning.

 

I learned that the only way to survive a DC Summer with Mormon underwear is to invest in some great skirts and t-shirts. Above is my summer uniform - I now own in it just about every color combination.

On the 4th we had a BBQ with friends from Church and watched the National Fireworks from our friend's balcony. My camera does not do the  fireworks justice.

 

On July 5th we braved the heat and checked out the National FolkLife Festival. This year there was food demos, performances, and booths from Mexico, South America, and Thailand. The food was amazing and if I had not been so hungry I would have pulled out the camera to take a picture. 

Dancers from Mexico do the "hip shoulder wiggle" dance (at least that is how they described it)