The Mountains of West Virginia

I have to admit, WV is one pf the prettiest places I have ever seen! You could sit for hours and just look at the view! However, I also learned that driving up these mountains can be very dangerous and time consuming. I am glad I did it, but I will NEVER do it again. I also got to camp some in western Pennsylvania (did you know that most of Penn. is covered with mountains?) I also spent some time in the Berkshires (mountain range in western Mass.) As I write this, I am in the mountains of North Carolina. NOTHING can compare to the mountains of West Virginia though. I used just about all the cool camping things that the APES gave me during Teacher Appreciation week! I have wanted to camp in WV for a long time, and I finally got to do it!

I camped in an old abandoned homestead in the Appalachian Mountains

This was my view for 4 days

Photos from Mass.

Sheila helps Bridey and Meghan with the latest hairdos!

Do they look like they are from Whoville or what?

Five of the 11 Gibbons crew

Mary, Dan, Patrick, Meghan and Bridey Gibbons

Fun in Mass.

We went up in a hot air golf ball. Megan fell out, but she landed in a pile of hay and was OK.

The sun was bright on this day with the Gibbons family

Patrick (Earl swimming in the pool)

Megan was awesome with the dogs

My RV was camped right next to the historic Gibbons Apple Orchards....a must see in New England.

No More Dolls for Us!

Bridey and Megan gave up their dolls and decided that daschunds were much more fun! The dogs actually had a blast end enjoyed it.

The dolls were just thrown to the side

Bridey with Thelma

Megan with Francie.

Last Week at Prouty Woods

~The camp was a blast this year! It was bitter sweet for it to end.

Canoing on Long Lake

The Prouty Staff

Getting ready to hit the boats

Relaxing after lunch

Go Sox Bo Sox

~Mr. G and his brother Danny were able to score tickets to a Red Sox game. This is an almost impossible feat....they have been sold out for the last 6 years. We sat in a luxury box seats. We had our own TV, unlimited food and beverages. It was awesome! The Sox play in the historic Fenway Park, one of the oldest parks in baseball.

These tickets sell for over $500 apiece

The view of the Green Monster

Big Papi comes to bat and hits three run homer

Johnathan Papelbon (he's from Jax) saves the game

We met upm with friends

Scenes from Prouty Woods

Littleton, Mass

~Well, Mr. G, Mrs. Hartless, Mrs. Whitelaw, and Mr. Sofferin survived the Bahamas! I must say it is one of the Best times I have ever had. We met some really cool people from all over the world..... Suriya from Indonesia, Rasa from Lithuania, and Peter from the Ukraine. It was nice and warm, but not as hot as Jacksonville. The food was phenomenal, and the company was good!

Every day the room attendants folded the towels into the shape of animals. The alligator was my favorite!

The two prettiest ladies in the Bahamas!

~The day I got off the ship, I headed home and packed my bags for a week long adventure in my RV up the East Coast of the United States. I spent time camping in SC, Virginia, and New Jersey. This was my first road trip with the camper. I had a blast and met some really nice people along the way. It was nice to stop and smell the roses. I arrived in Cambridge, Mass., and Littleton Mass., and boy was it cold! One day the high was 57! It rained 7 of the first 8 days! The one nice day was when my family got together fora cookout. I think someone was looking out for us.

One of the newest Gibbons kids....Ben

Bridey, Patrick, Shamus, Megan, and Jennifer Gibbons

My brother Frank and his wife and their three kids

~My next door neighbor called me to tell me there is a four foot alligator living in the Lake Gibbo! Hopefully, he will send me some pictures!

~The weather has finally changes in new England! Today was 80 degrees, and breezy!

~Sorry about the limited amount of pictures...but it seems whenever I am having fun, I forget to take pictures.

~Hope all the 2009 Gibbo and Whitelaw Apes are having a great and safe summer! God Bless you all...and I miss you.

~By the way, Andy Blythe hit two home runs in his state tournament.....and his team came in 2nd place for the entire state! Another Ape success story!

New England Update

Hello from Massachusetts! It has rained all day, every day, except one!

My neighbor in Jacksonville emailed me this picture from my backyard. I hear there was some nasty weather in Jax as well!

Right now it is 62 degrees here. I am wearing a sweatshirt. I will post sometime this week with pictures and more details from New England.

The APES take over Wild Adventures!

~Thanks to all the APE chaperons who ventured with us to Valdosta Georgia on Thursday. We had a blast!
~Thank you Mr. Powell, Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Mendez, Mrs. Davis, Mr. DaSilva, Mrs. Wooten, Mrs. Sgambaterra, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Haberman, Mr. Zimlich, Mrs. Zimlich, Ms. Dowdell, Ms. Torres, Ms. Gay, and Mrs. Peck!

The calm before the storm...literally!

Derek is still dry!

Derek and Eb on the Tilt-a-Whirl...and still dry

The Apes......still dry

Not dry for long!

We told Mrs. Haberman she would only get "a little" wet!

They only got "a little" wet! Ha-ha-ha-ha

Mr. Gibbons told them not to go on...but they did not listen

The rain poured down while the same wet ones got on the Yo-yo to dry off.... ha-ha-ha

Mr. Sofferin has a teeny tiny dry spot on his shirt

I wonder how these ladies "won" those basketballs! Did they trade some fruit cocktail and vienna sausages for them?

Mrs. Wood stayed dry....mmmmm funnel cakes

Apes gather at the exit

More Apes gather at the exit

A lot of Apes gather at the exit

Wild Adventures...The ride home!

Cousin It!

Reese sleeps in peace!

Gitmo getting mo sleep!

Does Grace look scared or what?