Five awesome people

The kids and I went to visit the padres who are living a little less than four hours away from me. We spent the night in their missionary digs last night. I meant to take pictures of them at the new chapel they go to, with the ward members, and around town. But I just got seven pictures right at the end of our visit. There isn't one of them were all five of these beautiful people are looking at the camera. But here they are...

This is the front of the house they are renting.

This is the corn field their house faces. Can you see the dirt tracks they are standing in front of? Arrel said that thirty years ago this was a well used road. I actually saw someone driving on it as we were about to leave. I love seeing how these southern roads change.

We had a great time, and participated in a Relief Society activity, making herbal vinegar. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Wings and Things

It's part of our life, nearly every week we head over to her house and sometimes its exhausting, but most of the time its magical. I just can't seem to squeeze the same thrill for life at home as I do on her porch or in her holler. This week it even involved the car ride on Pine Creek.

Josiah found a new place to sleep.

Then he found a butterfly that hung out with us for a surprisingly long time.

Did Josiah have something sweet?

But no, it shared some time with Goldie too.

When we started off Pine Creek Mike found this lovely turtle, which Stuart wasn't so sure about.

But Josiah almost convinced it to poke out its head.

I just love the nature and time together we find there at Mom-Maw's house.

Wednesday Night caused New Sleeping Arrangements

8:00pm I put the kids to bed after a long day and little sleep at Mom-Maw's the night before
9:15pm Goldie screamed and I think sleepwalked into the living room. She woke up Stuart. I put her back to bed in my bed and Stuart went back to sleep in his crib.
10:00pm Mike came home and shortly afterwards Stuart started screaming again. I told Mike he is crying it out.
10:30pm Mike hears steps coming into the living room. I assumed the screaming woke up Josiah and he was coming to report. When I realized it was Stuart coming toward me I jumped back scaring him. He climbed OUT of his crib.

Mike spent the next twenty minutes taking apart Stuart's crib and putting his mattress on the floor. It still took Stuart a little more than an hour to go back to sleep and sleep the rest of the night.

This morning Josiah ran to tell us that the wood on Stuart's bed disappeared in the night.

Thus the new arrangements you see above.

Mike's Hiking

Last week Mike went on the fifty mile hike that the scouts in our ward participated in. He had a good time. As part of their requirements they have to hike twenty miles with all their gear in one day. The scout leader allowed me to volunteer to make tinfoil dinners for them at the end of that day. (He told me the year before they'd had Ramen Noodles) I don't think any food I've ever made has been as appreciated as that food was.

We spent the night with him and then the next day went swimming in the New River. It was good times. The last two days Mike rode a bike and one of the scouts ran along with him. I think he enjoyed himself.

While he was gone I took the kids swimming at the local pool by myself for the first time and we had a campout in the living room. Sleepless, but fun family nights.

Hiking Again!

On Tuesday and Wednesday I went back on the same hike I did a week or so ago. Only this time I went with these young ladies, I carried twenty five pounds and went three miles further over the course of two days.

This is the creek we cross as soon as we get out of the car. It was a wonderful hike, and I had such a fun time meeting the "through hikers" on the trail. We met two hikers who had been going for 36 days and had hiked 500 miles. That sounds amazing to me.

I suppose one other reason I am writing about this is that it was a personal accomplishment for me. Yes, I admit I'm out of shape, and I am thirty six years old. But I don't want to be...out of shape that is. I wondered if I could really do this. Especially that mile and a half of straight uphill...and I did...I made it! Without being a burden to anyone, or making them late, and finally without hurting. Yes, I do have sore muscles, but I'm great. The next challenge is to get in shape enough that I could do the 23 mile hike they send these campers on next year. I was proud of myself.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

This past weekend our family went hiking on the Appalachian trail. My friend thought it was about five miles, but it could have been eight.

We hit the trail about 9:30 am and of course we carried Stuart the entire way. We crisscrossed over creeks about fourteen times. About two hours into it, it started raining. I assumed it would stop. (when I checked the weather it said it would be scattered showers and not to much chance)

It didn't stop raining until we were off the trail and back on the road. But the kids were champs. Stuart got so cold, his jaw started trembling, but he only cried for a few minutes. Josiah was terrific. He walked over halfway before the cold rain and the distance got to him and then we put him in the pack.
 
Goldie did great, with very little complaining and minus a few steps she walked the entire way. I have some great little hikers. We got back to the car at about 2:15. After getting dry clothing on the kids we rushed home so Mike could get to work. I thought our time was great and despite the rain and my sore muscles we all had a fun day.

Lizard Boy

They are really salamanders, but he LOVES them. Yesterday he found two more up the holler and had a super hard time letting them "go back to their mommy and daddy."