December Review

Brian got 2010 of this blog printed for me for Christmas.  I love looking back through it but I also love watching the kids read through it, too.  They laugh and ask each other "Do you remember?"
That in itself makes me want to be diligent about posting pictures and stories so that they will be able to remember lots more.
So, here are some pics from our December, pre-Christmas.

Everyone helped decorate the tree but these little guys hung around the longest.

Jack was an innkeeper in the Christmas program at church  

and Kayla was a wiseman.  

I loved how she got herself all set up on the couch.  

She turned 2!

Decorating sugar cookies, very carefully with more than enough of everything in the end!

Clementine buddies.

I don't have pictures of these things but we had fun caroling at the retirement center, delivering goodies to friends young and old, reading lots of Christmas books, watching "White Christmas" and eating real, not microwave, popcorn with friends, and more that I'm probably forgetting.  I think it was a pretty good month.

Got Ham?

Trying to get back to somewhat normal today.
Normal routine, normal food (meaning not a steady diet of sweets!), normal sleep, etc...
I am one who likes to take down the Christmas decorations right after Christmas.  Still need to do the tree but I think I've gotten the rest of it.  I like how neat everything looks when it's been put back in its place.  We also need to figure out what to do with all these new presents.  We cleaned out last week but still, when the kids all get even just a couple of new things, it adds up.
Jack has been beside himself today- he got a fish tank for Christmas and set it up today.  Tomorrow- the fish!  He has read so much about them and is sooooo excited to finally have his own.

For dinner tonight, I tried something a little different.  We still have a good bit of ham left over so I found a soup recipe then tweaked it.  I really liked it!
Here's my version:

Ham and Vegetable Soup

4 cups of chicken broth

1 can of diced tomatoes

some barley

Boil those, along with some pepper and basil.  (Adjust boil time to whatever the barley needs)

Add some chopped ham and veggies.  The recipe I saw called for mixed frozen vegetables but I used some green beans, corn, and chopped carrots that I already had.

About 10 minutes before serving, add some noodles and cook until tender.

I made some corn muffins to go with it.
Yum!
It was a little salty so next time I'll either reduce the chicken broth or add a little water.

Just Licking

She still cannot stay away from all the candy on the gingerbread house.  We know she's trying again when we hear the random piano notes as she climbs.  She said, "I not eating, Mom.  I just licking."  Oh that makes me laugh!!

Christmas Eve

It is Christmas Eve.  Finally!  My kids are just about beside themselves with the waiting.  It's a little different for us this year since we are home and not at Grandma's today.  I think this is the second or third time in my 38 years that I haven't been there.  We will go on Monday but there is a little tug in my heart to be there now.  Today.
Funny how tradition can run so deep.  I love the smells from her kitchen.  Right now my own smells a little like a grandma's.  One thing missing:  the smokey scent from the woodstove.  At Grandma's, either one of them, it would be warm (maybe hot) inside and cold outside.  And you know, I don't know when there has been a fire in those stoves but it's still a part of my Christmas memories.
Another thing that sticks out in my mind is the Santa radar.  One of the local tv stations would break in and show on the map where Santa had been spotted.  We would squeal and hurry off to bed, so excited, believing that he was close.
With all that sweetness tucked in my heart, there are new things I await now, like our Christmas Eve service. 
I love the singing.  I love coming together as a church family to worship.
There are other things I look forward to.
One of my favorite thing about travel time on Christmas is to see how quiet so many homes look from the outside.  Many of them with driveways full of cars.  And I wonder what's going on inside.  I imagine family catching up, reminiscing, enjoying a big dinner.  I always hope it's a joyful time.
And surely I am excited for my children to experience Christmas for themselves:
*the delight of birthday cake for breakfast
*the pleasure on their faces as they open presents
*the time they can spend with their grandparents and great-grandparents- what a blessing that is to us all.  *the fun with cousins
*hearing again the most wonderful story ever told
I wonder what their memories will be, what they will hold dear.

Sticky "Bums"

Let's just say Christmas came a little early to our house.
Brian and Kayla have an annual baking tradition.  Well, at least for two years running.
They make these sticky buns, which Lucy calls "sticky bums."  Ha!  That makes me laugh.
Anyway, these two work on the rolls the night before- and I do mean work.
The dough rests all night then they finish them up in the morning, and we have a delicious mid-morning snack.
The texture is impressive.
The smell, fantastic.
But the taste, out of this world!

Reminders

It was still dark out this morning.
I sat by the lit Christmas tree.
Sammy was in his new tent in the middle of the living room.
"Mom?  Why was Jesus born?"
So we started to talk about this question, yet another big question from Sam.
Some of things I heard:
"What did the angel tell the shepherds?"
"So God was a baby? Oh yeah, so God and Jesus are the same guy."
"Tell me more about baby Jesus, Mom."
I have loved these sweet moments with Sam lately.
They are so good for me because I quickly get worried over all I "need" to do and then I get grumpy.  Who wants to be grumpy at Christmas, of all times?
I need to be reminded over and over, by Lucy singing or by Sammy asking questions or by whatever means necessary, that Christmas is about one thing.
Him.

Short and Sweet

Today has had its ups and downs, I guess like most days.  The downs are kind of getting to me but it's rest/nap time and all is quiet.  Things usually look up after this part of the day.  I found this Christmas book, Christmas in My Heart, A Timeless Treasury of Heartwarming Stories, and sat down with it for a few minutes.  The story that caught my eye is "A Day of Pleasant Bread."  Short and sweet.  Here's a couple quotes:

"As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year.  And thus I drift along into the holidays- let them overtake me unexpectedly- waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: 'Why, this is Christmas Day!'  How this discovery makes one bound out of bed!"

and

"Do you know, the more I look into life, the more things it seems to me I can successfully lack- and continue to grow happier."

Christmas Baking with Lucy

It is smelling delightful in here!
Today's mitten countdown activity:  baking christmas goodies.
Turns out Lucy is my only helper.  The other kids ditched the kitchen in favor of digging in the dirt on this really warm December day.
That's ok.  It's good for them to be outside and it's been good for Lucy and I to spend the morning together.
We've made some gooey oatmeal bars which are tasty but I don't think they are going to hold together.
Brownies just came out of the oven.
We just mixed up some sugar cookie dough and will bake those this afternoon.
I think a friend will come help us decorate the cookies then we'll put together some plates tonight and deliver the goodies!
I had friends in both Bridgewater and Charlotte that always did lots of Christmas baking and brought us plates of cookies.  I always looked forward to that day.  So many different treats.
I miss those girls more than their sweets, but the sweets were sooo good!

Pretty Star

We have spent the morning, or at least a better part of it, making stars like this one.  Isn't it pretty?  And the best part, it's easy.  A friend sent me the link; you can find the directions here.  You only need a stapler, scissors, tape, and six pieces of paper.  Try it!  

Happy Birthday Lucy!

There is so much to say about this girl that it's hard to know where to start.
For one thing, she goes back and forth about this birthday business.  Yesterday, she was either singing "Happy Birthday to me!" or she's saying "No!" when we ask if she's ready for her birthday.  That's kind of how I feel.  We have enjoyed this little one every step of the way but for my baby girl to be 2?  My heart aches, just a bit.
She delights us all.  Her big brothers and sister love her.  Her sister will do just about anything for her, even try to potty train her.
Lucy's a talker and a singer.  Lately, her favorite is:  "I'm a Little Teapot" which she calls "peapot" and "Jesus Loves Me.  She has her own version of a couple of songs that include the words "Hallelujah" and "come and worship Christ the newborn king."  She has used the words 'actually' and 'supposed' in the last couple of weeks.  She pretty much parrots anything we say.  She has no problem letting the big kids know when she's had enough.
There are a lot of people she loves.  She still prefers the guys, and at church, in particular, there's Pastor "Hutchin" and "Powell."
I love her smiles and her hugs.
She loves to "boom" Daddy, which means get a running start and knock Daddy over.
She is always happy when her "friends" are coming.
She likes to play in her kitchen and she likes to read books.
Helping in Mom's kitchen is good, too.  "I help you Mommy?"
Jack and Lucy can eat us out of a box of clementines in a couple of days if I let them.
Lulu and Sam are getting to be good buddies- really fun to watch.
I know there's so much more I could say about our sweet Lucy.
She is nothing short of a joy and a gift, as they all are.
Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Christmas Craftiness

Our backyard is home to this towering pine.  While I apparently missed the crafty gene from my mom, I still have thoughts of being able to make something pretty.  Something for the house.  This tree is my inspiration.  Kayla and I watched a couple of youtube videos on making your own pine roping.  Looks easy enough, we thought.  So we got some florist wire several weeks ago.  I got up the nerve to try a few things.

I love looking at this on my table.  Nothing fancy but really, a few sprigs and some fake berries are enough in themselves.  Jack says it's my masterpiece.

This might be my favorite.  It's the first thing I tried, just to get my feet wet.  I wasn't sure if it was really pretty or really tacky.  Brian's mom and dad voted for pretty.  I think I agree.

The best part was Kayla, Sam, and I trying this together.  Sammy helped clip more branches.  Then Kayla and I spread newspapers on the table.  We cut a long piece of wire to fit our stair rail then we started tying.  It's a little flimsy but we like it.  

Decking the halls is proving to be lots of fun this year!

Rainy Wednesday

I am enjoying these dark, rainy days.  They're cozy.
I am struggling a bit, however, to enjoy the antics of four cooped up kids today.  Sigh.
So, we went to the rec center this morning for the first time.  It's free!  A big gym with basketball hoops, plenty of room to run, and a track on the outside for walking or running.  I think it was good for all of us, me included.  There are lots of older people and we saw our elderly friends from church there.  They go to exercise three days a week.  Maybe we will time our future visits with their's.
On the way home, we picked up "Santa Buddies" from the library for the kids to watch after quiet time and some McDonald's coffee for me.  Some time in front of the Christmas tree with Miss Read's Christmas Tales  sounds good to me.

Christmas Question

Sammy was supposed to be asleep when I went upstairs last night, but he wasn't.  I tucked him in again.
As I was leaving his room, he said, "Mom, why did Jesus have to die?"
I knelt down beside him, wanting to say the right thing.  Knowing the answer we've talked about before and overwhelmed by his question at the same time.
"God knew we couldn't save ourselves.  Jesus was the only one who could because he had never, ever sinned.  He died for our sins so we wouldn't have to."
Sammy was quiet, then he said, "So that little baby never sinned?"
"Never, not once."

My hope for Sammy and the other kids is that they wonder at the baby Jesus but that they also keep looking, to the cross.
There is so much more to Christmas than this world offers.
So much more.

p.s.

p.s.  Bedtime kisses from Sam and Lucy were extra sweet tonight, with all the sugar still on their cheeks.
I'm getting ready to watch the Christmas episode of Lark Rise to Candleford.  I don't know why I'm doing this because I think that one is very FREAKY with all the "wind do blow" business and because Brian is gone for the evening.  But, I love Lark Rise and I want to watch a Christmas show.  So there you go.  I'll have to leave some lights on when I go to bed.

Gingerbread House

Our kind neighbor gave the kids a gingerbread house kit just before Thanksgiving.  Putting it together was our special December 5 activity from our mitten countdown.  I have to say I was a little apprehensive.
Me and four kids and loads of candy.
But, it was really fun.  Lucy ate a LOT of candy.  Every time I told her no more, she said, "OK Mom."  Somehow she ended up with more anyway.  Part of the fun, I guess.

The temptation was too much.

Shepherds and Wisemen

I loved...
the dim lights and the candles in the windows,
the little angels tugging at the tinsel wrapped around their heads,
the shepherds and the wisemen,
the young voices singing, some loudly, some barely at all.
I loved hearing children proclaim the good news.
The little mishaps and the smiles.  Sometimes I think the imperfection of it makes it most endearing.
It just seems like "the" way to welcome in the Christmas season- to sing together, to listen together, and to be moved to worship in our hearts.
I remember Lucy singing, "Come and worship, Come and worship" over and over in the car and I am reminded that this is where Christmas truly is, in our worship of this baby king, come to save.

It's December!

It's December 1st!  The kids just canNOT wait any longer to decorate.  So today, the tree goes up.  Actually, it is up, just not decorated.  We're waiting for Brian to get home.
Isn't this little mitten/stocking countdown cute?  I take no credit for it.  A sweet lady from church made it for us.  Inside each one is a slip of paper with something fun to do... drink  hot chocolate, make Christmas cookies, etc...We came up with some ideas of our own, too.
Everyone's getting so excited!  Lucy points at all things Christmas and says, "Kissmas!"
Tis the season!

Thanksgiving Pics

We had a really nice Thanksgiving at my parents' this year.  Thanks for all your work, Mom!  Here's a few shots from the weekend.

Love these guys!

Can you see her arms around these guys?  So cute.

Everyone who had their VA Tech clothes on.

Go Hokies!

I really could eat this guy up.  

Wednesday Afternoon

That picture of Jack is just hilarious to me.  I laugh out loud every time I see it!
Today has been such a nice one.  A little more in line with the way I would like each day to go.
A fairly calm start to the day always helps, and the house was in pretty good condition since we had tidied up for home group last night.  I did rearrange a couple of things, by the way.  I think I like it.

Lucy and Sam played with playdough for a good hour (!!!) so the older kids and I were able to whiz right through some school work.  Then we went to the library and it's been quiet ever since.
On the way to the library, we were listening to the Christmas station.  "Jingle Bell Rock" was playing.  Sammy was looking out at this windy day and said, "Look, Mommy.  Even the bushes and trees are dancing."  Loved that!

Now I'm just waiting for a friend to pop over for a visit.  Makes me think of this, from Storm in the Village."

"An afternoon call would be much more satisfying than cleaning the car."

Or anything else, for that matter!

Tuesday Afternoon

Hmmm... What to do with this?  I have a couple of ideas.  I'm really just wanting to do something different, something fun.  We'll see.
I just took a time-out with a cup of coffee and Miss Read's Storm in the Village.  I feel a little guilty about that when I look around and see so much that needs to be done.  Jack and Kayla are playing Uno (and getting along so well!) while the little ones are resting.  I guess we'll tackle some housework here in a little while.  I'm itching to do some rearranging.  Maybe we'll get to that, too.
Off to enjoy the quiet for just a bit longer!

Full

(Aunt Mary's picture)

Tammy, my cousin, could tell by his hands.  He was a carpenter.  His hands were his work.
I could tell by the way he is standing.
You can see sweet Wendy (Tammy's sister) on her first birthday.
You can't see our Papa's face as he stood behind her.
But we know it's him.
He passed away several years ago, before his great-grandchildren were born.  He has 10, almost 11 now.
Even though they don't know him, I like to think that they are richer because of him and all of their family that they never met.  Some of these young ones eat on tables Papa made, some of them put books on shelves he crafted.  They hear stories about him.  But mostly, they are richer because they have their own Papas.  Or Papaws as the case may be.  His sons.
Today I am thankful for all of my family.  Those who are here and those who have gone on.  My heart is full as I think of these faithful ones who loved me and helped make me who I am.  There are many.

Nap Time?

I put Lucy down for a nap

 and Sammy down for quiet time.

 Then I heard laughing and squealing.

Then I found these two.  

We'll try again.

(Sorry for the blurry pics.  My camera phone is all I can count on now.)

Love (III)

We are studying the book of John in Sunday school.  Our leader is an English professor at Tech who is especially knowledgeable about poetry.  He shared this in conjunction with John 13.  I think it's beautiful.

Love (III)

by George Herbert, 1633

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning

If I lack'd anything.

"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here:'

Love said, "You shall be he."

"I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,

I cannot look on thee."

Love took my hand and smiling did reply,

"Who made the eyes but I?"

"Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame

Go where it doth deserve."

"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"

"My dear, then I will serve."

"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."

So I did sit and eat.

Happy Friday

I love this picture.  Jack hates kisses.  Jack and Kayla love to aggravate each other.  I don't know if he knows what was going on in this picture but when he sees it, he will be good and aggravated!
We had a good 10 or 15 minutes of heavy blowing snow yesterday after we got home.  The kids loved it.  Lucy wasn't too sure about it at first but it didn't take long before she was running around with the others.

Also yesterday- our last day of CC until after Christmas!  My load feels so much lighter!  Of course we are not done with school but having several hours a week freed up is a great thing!  We got McDonald's sundaes to celebrate.

A few things that made me laugh:
Kayla's into  "Encyclopedia Brown" books.  Now, she also wants to be called Encyclopedia.  And she's reading...you guessed it...an encyclopedia.  One for children but she's reading it page by page.  She said she wants to know everything there is to know.  Makes me smile every time I see her with it.

There's a boy in her CC class who, along with his family, seems to be into hunting, outdoorsy things.  He passed out his own handwritten "business cards" yesterday.  For trapping.  He's serious.  He's 8.  That made me laugh out loud.

And Dad, this one's for you.  Jig's up.
In the car yesterday Jack said, "Mom, you would faint if you knew all the stuff Papa lets us eat and do when you're not around."  He also said to keep quiet about it so you wouldn't get in trouble...

Forts and Flowers

Can you see Sammy peeking out of this fort?  It kept his and Lucy's attention for a while this morning and I was glad.  But, it didn't last too long and soon one of them (or both?) ended up unhappy and screaming and it was time to be done with the fort.
Part of the day, I have felt like hiding myself away in my own fort.  Not sure just where that would be but if I had one, I'm sure I would have spent some time there.

Other parts of the day were more like this.  Happy, cheery, peaceful.  Everyone working or playing.  Maybe even learning something!
The test for me is how will I remember the day (and every other).  Because really, each day is a mix.  Certainly never all bad but I think my tendency sometimes is to let myself be grumpy about the harder parts.
Training up children- well that's a job that deals with hearts and so it gets messy.
But, training up children- that's a blessing because they're a gift.
Right now, I think I'll go with the cheery parts of our day:
*We've been deep into books about the Civil War and the Underground Railroad.  We're all learning and enjoying it.
*We finished swim lessons today.  Yay!
*Tomorrow is the last day of CC until after Christmas.  Double YAY!
Breathing room maybe?  There's plenty coming up soon that could require a nice deep breath so I'll take it.
For now, I'll get some dinner in the oven.

Monday Morning

The clouds this morning are the lightest shade of pink, so smooth.  They look like you could eat them.  It is still quiet in the house although my early bird (Sammy) is wide awake, barely able to wait until the hour changes to 7.  Waiting is tough business.
I just started Booker T. Washington's Up From Slavery.  It has been an enjoyable and eye-opening read.  Looking forward to tonight when I can get back into it.
(Just heard early bird #2.  "Get me out," she says.)
Last thing, then.  I tried this new recipe this weekend, oatmeal waffles.  I thought they were delicious and even somewhat healthy with a cup of oats mixed in.  I guess it's been a long while since I made waffles, it's usually pancakes.  When I said I was getting ready to mix up the waffles, Sammy said, "Mommy!  You keep calling pancakes the wrong name!"  Later when he actually had one in front of him, he slapped his forehead and said, "OH!  These things!"
A good day to you.

"Dishy"

13 years ago tomorrow (November 11), Brian and I had our first date.
A few days later he helped my roommate and I get the fall leaves out of the yard.
He had on a flannel shirt and a baseball hat.  Loved it.
Today, I dropped Jack off with him so they could help rake leaves for an elderly couple from church.
And do you know, my heart skipped a beat.
Because there he was again, flannel shirt and all, looking quite "dishy" if I can borrow a fellow blogger's word.
Loved it.  Again.
Love him.  Still.
I have an extra spring in my step and a smile on my face just thinking about him.

Sweet

A really sweet end to a pretty good day.

Love these girls.

Rich

"Now Port William, or what is left of it, is most likely to assemble, not in Port William at all, but in the Tacker Funeral Home in Hargrave.  The survivors of the old life come to pay their respects.  The neighbors, old and young, come.  People who have moved away, maybe a long time ago, come back.  You see people you knew when you were young and now don't recognize...and we know how much we have loved each other."       from Wendell Berry's Hannah Coulter

My mama's aunt, my grandma's sister-in-law, passed away on Kayla's birthday at the age of 94.

And I saw this.  This scene from a book was as real as the pages it was printed on.

Choir ladies come up to my dad and suddenly he's a much younger man again.  They knew him then.

My mom's cousin (in-law) tells me what a sweet lady she is, the best.  And she's right.

A viewing that was set to begin at 3:00 already had folks settling down in pews, quietly talking, at 2:55.

I see someone hug my grandma and say, "Well hey Lulu!  I haven't seen you in a while!"

I smile because we call our little Lucy Lulu sometimes.  Just like her great-grandma apparently.

Grandma wanted to sit where she'd be able to talk to people.  That was all a part of the day.

My thoughts had not been far from my grandma.  I wondered what this day was like for her.  Having said good-bye to so many and here doing it again.  Those part of that "old life."  Life well-lived, in community and family.  Just doing life... together.  

Working in gardens, trips to town, picnics.

Helping.

Loving.

Sharing.

Maybe even a little bickering?  I don't know.  

I do know that this picture I keep in my mind is just that, my picture of what I think things were like.  I do love to think about it.  Probably some accurate, some not so much.  

But it is a rich heritage I have, regardless.

  

Trick-or-Treat

Wouldn't you give this pirate some candy?  You can't see his sword but oh yeah, it's there.

I know this is fuzzy but it pretty much sums her night up.

Lollipops.  She kept saying, "I eat candy Mom?"

Or she just went ahead and got it out of her pumpkin bucket.

Jack was Luke Skywalker again and Kayla was a colonial girl.  She has been looking forward to this for a long time.  According to Jack, they've been waiting to trick-or-treat for a whole year!

Standing over the vent.

More treats!

Sunday Afternoon

I am having a good Sunday.
Church was great.  It's Reformation Sunday so our service was just a little different.  Love remembering some of the church's heritage.
Just had a nice long nap (!) and it's still quiet around here so maybe I'll get to read a little.  I just finished reading Hanna Coulter again.   I don't think I will ever get tired of reading that book.  I love it more every time.  Now I'm starting one called These is My Words.  I believe it's a work of fiction based on the author's family memoirs.
The kids and I are still reading through Carry On Mr. Bowditch.  This one I love as well.  I'm sure I must have read it when I was in school but I don't remember it.  It has made me cry a few times and get so excited about learning at other times.  Read it.
Kayla's reading More Stories from Grandma's Attic.  I wish I could find more of those.
Jack's into all the Thornton Burgess animal stories.  There are many.  The one I see now is The Adventures of Prickly Porky.  The librarian was so glad he checked several of those out because they are in danger of being taken off the shelves for good.  That is sad.  With so much junk out there for kids to read, they would consider getting rid of some good classic literature.  We'll just keep checking these books out- maybe it will help rescue them!

Now, because I don't want to forget this and because it might make you laugh out loud:
On the way to church this morning Samuel asked, "Mom, what's that white stuff coming out of the cars?"
"Exhaust."
"Sauce?"
"No, ex-haust."
"Ohhh...egg sauce."

Snow Gear

"Hey Jack!  Want to sled?"
Yep.
The weatherman said we might see a few snowflakes today.
Jack claims to have already seen two.
So, of course, Sammy is in full snow gear.
Waiting.
I have to confess, the possibility, just the tiniest prospect, of snow, gets me excited.

Lucy Pics

I know it's because she's mine.

I know the way a mama and a daddy look at their children is different from the way others see them. With an affection that's different and precious.

It should be that way.

But I still have to say

I think this little one is beautiful,

full of sweetness,

and full of silliness.

(This was the beginning of her now perfected pirate face.

I'll get a closer shot of that soon.)

Birthday and Tennessee

Day two of swimming lessons- done.
It is a great day when you can help your kids see how God has helped them and answered prayers on their behalf.  Every day should be like that, I know.  I guess today we had eyes to see.
And you know, for Sammy and Lucy, these are the best kind of "lessons."  Just spending time in the pool, getting comfortable in the water.
I've got some birthday and Tennessee pictures ready to post.  Here we go.

Kayla wanted to make her birthday cake.  So, of course, I let her.  As she was peeling off the letters and decorations from the packaging, Sam ran up quick as a wink, stole one of the letters, the "y", popped it in his mouth, and ran away.  Kayla didn't get too upset about it.  We are doing family parties this year but her little friend Journey from next door did come over for homemade pizza and cake.

Lucy's favorite part of the Tennessee trip was baby Joel.  How could he not be?  He's a cutie.  Lucy loved for him to sit on her lap.  And she loved giving him kisses.  She's still talking about him.

Caroline and Kayla taking a little snack break on a rock by the river.  Sweet friends.

Mary and Jack out on a rock in the river.  Seems like these two are usually the more adventuresome ones.  

Sammy and Aunt Sarah heading back to the trail.

Lucy backpacked it most of the time but she loved finding sticks when she was down.

I have some more pictures of her that might have to be their own post.  Too cute.

I love this little boy.  He looks like he was out in the woods.  And he sort of was.  On top of the van which was parked in the woods.  He's always, always, into something.