Vacation 1

The second week of August we vacationed in West Virginia. Randy, Alex and Max left boyscout camp, came home, and we all loaded in the van to be on our way. Sara and Eric's family and our family had fun sharing a cabin again. Henry and I were able to get in a game of Candy Land as we hung around the cabin.

One of many times Randy took his turn unloading and reloading our dishwasher.

Max AKA, the baby whisperer, with baby Jack.

Madison all grown up and her first summer out of college, she came with Aunt Coco and Uncle Chris. Sophia is always so glad to see her and for the two of them to spend time together!

Here's a bunch of wild animals! In the back Tim, Henry(hiding behind a magazine), Parker (behind his arm), Kelli (hiding behind her ipad), Oliver (back to us), Julia and Lukey.

Grandma, Julia, and Wendy hanging out together.

Coloring cousins.

Dad and Timmy checking out the stars together.

Everyone lining up for the first of two night hikes while camping. This night Randy, Eric, Bob and Chris took Parker, Sophia, Oliver, Tim and Henry out after sunset for a hike around  the campgrounds.They checked out the stars and tried to get around without flashlights. Some of the kids had fun, but others did not. Like Oliver who kept explaining, "Dad, this is zero percent fun!" (This became the quote of the week - well honestly we still use it.)

Sophia getting her turn to snuggle Jack.

As Alex gets older I find there are fewer opportunities to get pictures of him. So I wanted to make sure there was proof he was with us.

There was a great pool at our campground. Two pools actually. A little wadding pool and then the regular pool. All the kids went back and forth between the two.

Watch out Timmy's going to spray you!

Getting ready to dive in!

 A running garden hose was drapped in the pool. And you know, no child can leave that alone, especially Lukey. 

Henry and Oliver played a lot of games together, including this old Ninja Turtles game that had been Sara's.

Maddie kept the younger girls all done up. Sophia had many turns getting her nails done, but here's Julia having her turn.  Actually some of the boys had a turn as well, getting Minion nails and the like.

Time for some relaxing, well for Timmy anyway as he perches on top of Uncle Chris.

Uncle Bob encouraging Julia in her new found love of cheese whiz. Look at Parker's reaction.

Getting creative one morning Oliver, Henry, Tim and Parker (though he's not in this pic), used all the empty cans to build a castle.

One day we ventured out to a horse ranch with a teeny, tiny, awful petting zoo. All the grandkids that were on vacation cooperated for a picture on the porch of the giftshop there. Alex, Maddie, Sara holding Jack, that black helmet behind Kellli is Sophia, Kelli, Oliver, Julia, Max keeping Luke from running, Henry, Timmy and Parker.

This was Sophia's first horse back ride. I was a little nervous, but she and the other adults with her assured me she had a great time. Her smile there before they left, never faded.

Alex also enjoyed the trail ride. But wished he'd made the age cut off to forgo the helmet.

There goes Aunt Donna on her horse . . .

and Aunt Coco on hers. Kelli, Chris, Maddison, and Wendy all went as well.

Although we were at a petting zoo, this cat got pet more than any other animal. The "petting zoo" consisted of a lama that bit Bob's shirt,a couple sheep, some bunnies in a hutch you couldn't get your hands on, and maybe some other animals that were pretty dirty for a petty zoo.  The kids weren't even impressed, but that's how it goes sometimes.

Some time was also spent playing in a little toy house and this mining sluice. Eric's giving Oliver and Henry some pointers.

Parker and Luke taking there turn.

"Higher grandma, higher!" Parker, Oliver, Julia, Max and Timmy all getting pushed.  While hanging out on this porch before everyone was swinging a little dog was there. Lukey tried to pet it and it nipped at him. Many months later as I blog this vacation, Luke still says, "Dog do this" and puts his hand in his mouth as if to bite it and says "Rrr!" then laughs.

A pretty little view of West Virginia from the horse ranch.