Fall Hike

Took a day off, really off to get away from our daily stresses and enjoy a day with our beautiful family.  Their were some major attitude adjustments needed(ahem, mine).  Then we drove off to one of our favorite spots on the Appalachian Trail in Newport.

This part of the AT (Appalachian Trail) runs right through a farm.  This makes it extra fun with little ones to climb over all the trail ladders.  

We've never been on this part of the trail in the fall.  I was amazed the wildflowers were still so bright and plentiful.  Look at the beautiful Asters!  Dorathea, Jonathan and I picked an armful of wildflowers on the walk back (and some burrs we found later).

"Wook is a cow!"

Daddy, Dorathea, and Jonathan all hiking in a line.

It was a perfect hike for the kids, gentle, with so much to see.

The colors of Fall were all out having a party.  The sounds were everywhere too; grasses whispering loud, crunching leaves, wind whistling.

We glided through tall grasses listened and watched close.

 Dorathea announces; "It's time for a game of hide and go seek!" so here we go;

 "Found you!"

 "1..2..3...4..."

 And then we find some cows.  And have a long staring contest.  Dorathea names this cow "Henrietta"

This goes on for a long time.

 We cow gaze as we snack.

 And then back to the trail.

  We climb on last ladder.  When Jonathan says "Go Home"  its always time to do just that.

 But what a day we had!  Bright Flowers and Leaves and children to share them with.

Ted packing up Jonathan.

Happy Autumn to you!

This is where we were today http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=58957

Thank you God for Fall!

Beautiful Summer

Summer held many delights for us this year.  We took every opportunity to go to the river, the lake, and play, play play!  We have small children so our job is to play with them.  So here we are hard at work;

Hiking Natural Bridge

(that's D's stuffed bunny who got to hike with us)

 Dorathea's Ballet Recital

Swimming at Grandmamas, and Fishing with Grandpa

lounging by the duck pond

 chasing ducks;

 Yes, we get to live in this beautiful place! the view from a strollering afternoon;

 Floydfest, where Ted and I played music told stories in Children's Universe, and our lovely roadie; Karen.  Thank God for her!

 He's up close to the band listening to the music

Dorathea performed her original song, 

 Jumping and napping on the new "sleeping porch" bed

 Welcome tea party for Doug

 Blueberry Picking at the Pate's farmhouse

 He's holding a microphone with one hand and eating with the other.

 Lovely Lindsey Pate weighing the berries for us.

And a visit to the Safari Zoo with the Wheeler family (more on that soon)

 it's enough to make even my children tired.
Happy Summer Ya'll!