Random

Just a few unrelated things.

The kids have been into finding painted rocks.

I'm not sure what these giant heads at Walmart are about but they are pretty cool.  I kind of want to buy one for everyone in our family but I'm pretty sure they won't fit in our carry ons.

This picture is so sweet.  It is our neighbor friends, the top when they first moved in, and the bottom right before we move out.

Bob and Calista.  She loves facing out, and sucking her thumb.

My mom planned a mini birthday party for Penelope since she will miss the real thing in a month.

Read More

Eclipse

Everyone made such a huge deal about the eclipse this year I think that made it really fun.  We got our special solar eclipse glasses about two weeks early and were ready to go.  I even talk to the kids a couple time about what an eclipse is.  After reading more in depth about it myself it really is amazing that it ever happens at all.  Did you know that out of all the planets and all the moons ours is the only one that every has a solar eclipse?  Cool huh?

On the day of we had to get our government passports so we couldn't be at home.  We watched the start of it there and then drove over to Old Navy and hung out in their parking lot.  Leon needed new church pants :)

It was pretty cool!  We only had 91% coverage but I thought it was pretty good.  These pictures were taken of the internet but this first one is about how much we could see.

I wouldn't say it got really dark out or anything, but we could tell it was a bit darker.  More like dusk outside.  I didn't expect it to get so much colder.  It was noticeably colder for about a half an hour.  So cool!

Read More

Franklin Falls Hike

Franklin Falls is one of our all time favorite hikes.  I only wish it were longer!  It is a nice one mile hike in the woods, and this time it seemed much shorter than last time.  We went with family on the way home from the reunion.

Its the biggest waterfall I've been up close to.

Read More

Reunion Part 2

There was a lake at the place we camped and the kids loved it.  I usually prefer a pool, which they had, but everyone else was at the lake so we decided to go where the action was.  My brother brought this fun giant island floaty thing.

We finally got Calista to sleep and Bob and I took nice relaxing rides on the air mattresses my parents brought.  Leon pushed me around for a long time and then I got out and took this picture.

My brother told the kids a scary story about a swamp monster who was coming that night and going to steal a boy to be her husband.  They were pretty scared.  Leon even wanted to go home.

The three legged race was awesome.  The best part was Leon and Penelope's attitude.  They were laughing and having a blast even when they fell down and started crawling to make it to the end.

Bob and I were consistently second.  We will have to practice before the next reunion to beat Isaac and Kim.

The potatoe sack race was way to hard for me.  I gave it a couple practice jumps and then quit.  

Calista was an angle the whole time.  Siiiike (or maybe psych), she was up a lot every night and I just got tired of holding her constantly during the days.  Scarlett was busy playing and so she didn't hold her as much as she usually does and we had no where to set her down, not that she would go down anyway.  So bob and I took turns holding her the whole time.

We did a group hike near the camp ground.  It was hot, and had no shade.

One day we dressed up in Hawaiian clothing.

This reunion was perfect timing for us because we got to see everyone right before we move to Japan.

Read More

Lake Lenore Caves Hike

On the way to the reunion we stopped a little hike.  I think it was about a mile each way, perfect for stretching our legs after a few hours driving.  

It was hot and sunny with little shade cover.  When I read cave hike I was hoping for more like Ape Caves, which is one long tunnel type cave.

Instead it was a hike with a few small shallow cutout type caves in the wall.  Non of them went very far.

We had fun exploring.  Tucker found what he thought looked like a rock nest and wanted to pose for a picture in it.

The landscape around us was pretty!  Not at all what I'm used to, and I honestly prefer much more trees.  But it was different and nice.

The highlight of the hike was on the way back when Scarlett found money.  She was in the lead and all the sudden bent down and excitedly said she found a dollar.  I took a look at that was excited too because what she found wasn't exactly a dollar.

There was no one around so we let her keep it.  She was so nice and used it to buy us all ice cream!

Read More