Great Strides Walk - 2011

The Spencers will be walking in the Virginia Beach Great Strides walk on April 2nd to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Our team, the Spencer's Striders, has a goal to raise $10, 000. If you are interested in contributing to this worthy cause, follow the link below.

Great Strides Walk

York River State Park

We decided to explore Virginia by way of the York River State Park in Williamsburg.

Sophia takes a quick nap so she is ready for her exploration.

Gianni also follows suit.

Once awake, the kids partake in a snack so they are all energized for the hike.

Sophia takes a picture of the family resting at the edge of the estuary.

Sophia shows Gianni a little bit of love.

Oops my hat!

Time for another break. These steps should do.

Sophia is a blur as she runs down the boardwalk.

Breaktime...again.

For everyone.

Hey, what is that?

Oh, its a butterfly!

Mommy and the gang hold hands so no one gets lost.

Gianni dons Sophia's hat and binoculars and looks like a true explorer.

Well, now he is just along for the ride.

Finally, we reach the end of the rainbow...and there is a playground.

Sophia beats Mommy in the swing contest.

Another great day outdoors! Lets get lunch.

Norfolk Zoo

The Spencers enjoyed a glorious near-Spring day at the Norfolk Zoo.

Sophia helps Gianni along.

We all enjoyed a ride on this replica of a 19th century steam engine.

Gianni helps Mommy read the map of the zoo.

All aboard this party train!

Sophia poses with the lions. Unfortunately, Daddy did not actually get a lion in the shot.

Daddy, here are the turtles.

See, right there.

Mommy notices an elephant frolicking in the dirt.

Sophia was dying to see a giraffe.

We take a quick break and refuel with zoo food.

We noticed this sign and wondered what dangers lurked inside the cage.

Even more scary than we thought!

Gianni watches the buffalo with Mommy's sunglasses.

The prairie dogs invited us to tour their home.

Daddy and Sophia take a look...

and then Gianni joins the tour group.

This crane has some crazy hair and was not afraid to flaunt it.

We also got to see some phat pheasants.

Sophia became the cow whisperer.

S is for Spencer!

Chincoteague, Virginia

The Spencers used their limited time in Virginia to explore the beautiful area! We headed to Chincoteague Island for the weekend to hike and look for the elusive Chincoteague ponies.

Daddy and the kids are ready to set out.

We take a break so that Sophia can practice her photography.

Sophia, sporting her binoculars, is in search of some wild animals.

They are not over there...

Nope, nothing yet...

Ah, here they are!

And here!

Meanwhile, Gianni put himself in timeout...he is just really used to that.

We stop to take a peek at the Assateague Lighthouse.

The kids pose on the lighthouse steps.

Cheese...now bring on the hotel pool!

Mommy, Daddy and Gianni sit on the steps of the lighthouse...Sophia takes another picture.

The gang runs around on the soft sand, looking for shells.

Gianni runs from the cold water.

The kids relax on the patio and listen to the sounds of nature.

No vacation would be complete without a bit of shopping!

Gianni shakes hands with his new best friend.

Daddy helps Gianni ride the horse.

Mommy lends Sophia a hand as she gallops off into the sunset.

Gianni is very excited about visiting the train museum. Unfortuntely for him, this is the closest he got.

We see a store name after our nephew/cousin Jaxon...and spelled the same too!

We finish eating at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel restaurant and head home.