Friday, September 18, 2015

Camping

This week we wished Adam a happy birthday and went camping at his request (I am not complaining about the ER schedule or the homeschool one!).  The early fall weather has been perfect for camping. It was the first time the whole family went so we kept it simple and only went a short ways away.  The kids did great!  Even Owen eventually slept in the tent.  The big kids talked and giggled until they fell asleep and Marit was left asking "Graham? Are you still awake?" I have the best childhood memories of family camping trips. Though it is a good bit of work, distractions are less and things are slower, God uses His creation to encourage and restore us in ways we didn't know we needed. Now we know we can do it, so we hope to do it more regularly.

o and i did a lot of hanging out (me following him around as he stumbled everywhere)

warm enough for swimming if you are a kid


lots of fishing. graham bates his own hooks now so they could do this somewhat independently

cool enough for a fire

awake for the sunrise
it was breathtaking...what an artist-creator God is

the sunset was too

in the dusk light

nice fish babe!

his first perch


collecting firewood, fatlighter!





most of us crashed when we got home

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Mountain fun

my man happened to have a few days off at the same time my parents were headed to saluda (my late Grandma's house), so we took a trip!  that's why we homeschool right?  on the way, we took the kids to one of our favorite spots-Rainbow falls.  the kids hiked like champs and my back is sore from carrying our fat baby around, but it was a very refreshing couple of days!
always a horticuluturist

flower pocket

cousins



"helping" my dad hang the hammock he made


one of many reptiles g caught












Friday, July 24, 2015

Family time

Well, the India family came to the states this summer and we spent a few very full days together.  It was too short, but we are grateful anyway. we aren't perfect and neither was our visit, but it was still a great time.
at my brother's house there were people sleeping everywhere, which is tricky with the bright-eyed early risers


caroline and owen were cute together



uncles and cousins

cheap (and dangerous) thrills



hadn't seen her in a year! 

more morning snuggles

kelly's scones were amazing


crochet lessons for char