Won't you take me to...Pumpkintown?

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe....

 

Post four-and-a-half hour climb ice cream stop

I think we have passed this pumpkin photo op the last four years of day-hiking, and never had enough time to stop and play. This year, as (one night) campers, we could linger on the porch a while. Wish fulfilled.

 

Hiking Perseverance

 

I love the mountains...I love the rolling hills....I love the flowers...I love the daffodils... I love the fireside when the lights are low....

My family is a little more undecided

It is one thing to take yourself up a mountain. It is an entirely different thing to bring others along with you who are unsure if they even want to see the view from the top. Motherhood should include a manual on motivational speaking.

Glad to see these smiles after many "Can we turn back now?" conversations. They were not too excited about climbing every mountain, but made it to this vista just the same.

Forced Family Fun....you can thank us later, or not.

It's time to retire my twenty-year-old hiking boots, but I hope to never give up a love of moving.

My man pressed on through plantar fascitis for me

I love him so!

 

 

Camping 2014

Before and After

Some things are worth getting a little messy (and stinky) for... at least once.

We like clean. We like order. We like our soft, comfy beds.

But, we love our Sunday School class, and I love the mountains, so we tried. Thanks to many loans from our outdoorsy friends and family, we pieced together one Suburban, one car-top carrier, and one trailer of gear for our seven people. (On the way home we saw another family with the identical set-up who honked in solidarity or sympathy!)

 

We know we are not really die-hard campers. This state park was outfitted with electricity, water, and not-too-distant plumbing. But, for us, it was a good first step (and possibly the only step we will ever take). Kids, enjoy these photos in case this is your only childhood camping experience!

Seeking a moment of quiet in the midst of our seven-man shared space.

The neighbors

Hatchet love...happy 15th!

Learned that my man is great at telling creepy ghost stories to seven-year-olds

Hanging out with buds

A moment of sisterly affection

Polishing some whittling skills with only one flesh wound

Feels like fall.

 

Celebration Sharing

Our daughter turned 13 on the same day as our 15th wedding anniversary. We were thankful to have had a chance to travel together earlier in the year as our house was filled with teen girls and our calendar was filled with family events in fall.

Happy Birthday Natalia!

Two teenagers in the house...three to go!

Wrapping up the boys' fall ball seasons

Field trips to colonial times

Candle-dipping

Biscuit lessons

We are thankful to share big and little moments together.

"To be great in little things, to be noble and heroic in the details of everyday life, is a rare virtue" - Harriet Beecher Stowe (paraphrase)

 

Love Spoken Here

With crazy family schedules, A and I have to grab a moment together on functional dates whenever we can. Today we went to the gardening center together to redeem a gift card my sweet sister-in-law had given me in July. It was in-between our daughters' piano lessons, picking up a child from a movie out with her friends, running to buy batting gloves and tire cleaner, picking up books from two libraries and groceries, dropping off hand-me-downs to a family that just adopted FIVE Latvian children, working through homework sessions, laundry folding, our son's baseball practice, picking up a friend for a sleepover, and a visit to my mom's. In the midst of busy love, two hours together is still very much appreciated.

 

 

My love language is not acts of service. It's quality time and words of affirmation. However, there are times when someone helps me do something that fills my heart with gratitude.

Today, my man shaped up the shruberies in Suessical fashion:

Then

Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvmmVXIbYm8&sns=em

 

My mother-in-law has armed me with deer repellant. I used to be all Snow-White about woodland creatures. "Oh, look! There is a family of five deer in my yard." Now, it's more like "There's an invasion of pesky day lily eaters! Get 'em!"

An evening at my mama's. Enjoying her soup and magic with burlap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Flu Shots

Our Family Fun night ...to CVS for flu shots

Waiting in line, playing with back massagers and stress balls, reading teeny tiny writing and discovering that these things actually help!

Picking out my first pair of reading glasses!

The kids making fun of my aging eyeballs....just you wait, kiddos

Not so bad after all