Sleeping on the way to our destination
Chillin' eating lunch halfway to our destination
We arrived at our destination at dinner time on Monday. It was probably the worst day being in the car with the kids. They (as much as Ga-ga and I) were done with travelling and ready for some down time. Malone was more than done. Pat was especially ready for some male bonding time with his boy cousins. Boys! Finally!
The kids all slept in the next day and finally had to be woke up in order for us to eat breakfast and meet the B-D's for the fun excursion they had planned. It meant driving for an hour and a half but it was well worth the short (comparably) trip.
The cousins minus one
We arrived at Hobo Cedar Grove Botanical Area around lunch time. The B-D's had graciously put together a picnic meal for us.
Cousins enjoying some grub
The littlest cousin (A) was a little grouchy, having recently woke from a nap in the car. It didn't take long for him to cheer up and for B-saurus to become crabby. She had almost fallen asleep on the drive (I really wished she had) and started her, "Uppy, Uppy! Carry me!" cry.
And so, much to my dismay, I started lugging B-saurus around. I periodically tried to set her down but it wasn't working.
old growth cedars
Kakes
B protesting being put down momentarily
Malone hiding
Ferns
It was hard getting pictures with a body in them for scale since the older cousins had run ahead and I was lugging what was fast beginning to feel like 100lbs up and down on the trails. B wouldn't cooperate to stand next to trees and belly ached the whole time. Sorry to all the other hikers who were trying to enjoy the trail!
S and Pat by the stream
Marching, marching, marching...
My big brother and the little girls
The temp was in the low sixties (maybe lower there?) and quite chilly. My girls started the hike off with hoodies topped with windbreakers. By about half way through they were down to just the hoodies and by the end, it was t-shirts.
The blue shirt club
The littlest cousin
The older kids really enjoyed the excursion to see "big trees" and go for a mini-hike in the woods. Kakes especially liked the bubbling brooks that we crossed on little, wooden bridges. Pat had fun tearing through the woods. The kicker...we get almost to the end of the trail and the parking lot is in view. B is finally down walking on her own. She says, "Huh. That wasn't long at all!". Yeah right, B-saurus. You try hauling close to 40 pounds of dead weight uphill. Lucky us, she fell asleep on the drive back to the house.
View of the gravel road we travelled to get to the Grove from up above
Also shows where they've been logging
"Beware of Stock"
Enjoying freeze pops back at the house
A willing subject
Today, was low key. The kids got a good night's sleep and started the morning off at the park that is right across the street from the house we're staying at. A quick trip to my least favorite place on earth (Wal-mart) to purchase a tooth brush and some odds and ends and it was back to the B-D's house.
In the afternoon, we headed to Moscow's pool which is fantastic! There are 2 big slides for the older kids and 2 small ones for the little ones. Kakes and Pat had a blast on the slides and even the adults joined in on the fun. No picture of Ga-Ga on the slide though.
Malone sliding out the back of the frog
Kakes
Pat
Kakes and me
The adult B-Ds
Lazy River
Cousins
Little guy
B-saurus protecting her torpedo
Malone and Sasha
It's been a nice, quiet evening at the house. Ga-ga is reading to A and B. Kakes and Pat are playing Mille Borne. Malone and S are playing a game they made up. Everyone is happy and you can't ask for much more than that.
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