Aging

I took these weeks ago, but when I saw this first picture it made me gasp at how much older she looks.  Maybe it's the ponytail.  She looks so long, so big, so not a baby anymore.  She's a toddler.  A curious,  independent, strong-willed toddler.

not embracing the camera today

So, I'm not embracing the camera today.  I haven't picked up the camera all week due to the sick little one.  I did take a few camera phone pics, but they don't include my face in them.  The meds for her double ear infection didn't work so she suffered an extra long time with ear pain and fever.  Yesterday she got more meds and is finally perking up.

so pitiful :o(

Back at the doctor

Finally feeling human again.  Could she be any cuter?

Just Pictures...

Peyton's been a mess for the last day and a half...double ear infection.  

So, no words today.  Just pictures of a happy Peyton :)

Tough Guy

The night we camped this happened.  It had just gotten dark and we had just given the kids the speech about not running in the dark and we also gave them headlamps to wear.  Just as the adults sat down to eat Hunter ran into the campsite grill (so much for that speech)....the grill won.  I waited until Heath told me to put down my fork before I realized he was really hurt (way to go, Mom!).  It was instantly purple and very swollen.  He cried for a while, but he was super brave.  It didn't ruin his night.  The next morning we figured out exactly what he hit on the grill.  It was the round grate that you put the food on.  Any other part was pointy and probably would have busted his eye open.  It's been a week and the bruise is almost gone.

Miss K

While we were camping I learned that Miss K is quite the model.  She loved posing for me and took direction so well.  Not once did I get the 'cheese' face.  Maybe just boys do that?  I know mine does. Despite wearing camping attire and having less than perfect hair (as her mom quickly pointed out) I still love these captures.  I think I might have to take her out for a real shoot sometime.

Camping With Kids

Saturday and night we camped up the road.  Like literally 5 miles from our house.  It's the perfect place - playground, water and electric, bath house, picnic tables.  With all the stuff we brought we weren't exactly roughing it.  We did sleep in a tent tho!

We got a group of 10 adults and 4 kids together.  The families with kids had one campsite and the other 4 adults had their own quiet campsite.  I'm sure they appreciated it :)

Here's our group of families with kids (Minus Peyton, she left my care around 4pm.  There's no way I was going to attempt having her sleep in a tent.  The five hours I had her out there wore me out!).  We all met in marriage counseling class at church just before we all got married.  That was 8 years ago.  The moms stayed at home with the kids for the first few years so our kids have known each other pretty well since they were born.  This trip was a little bittersweet because one of these couples is moving far away come summertime.  We're SO sad to see them go!  So glad we made these memories.

These kids haven't played together much in the last year or more because of moms now working and kids having preschool during the week.  They didn't miss a beat.  To say they had a ball would be an understatement.  They've never been so dirty in all their lives!

They ran wild and free!

They were so cooperative when I asked to take a picture.  In the crook of the tree you'll see the bird nest they built.  Who knew there were so many things to do in the woods.  They were easily entertained without our involvement most of the day.  These three have ten months between the oldest and youngest.

This is a first - all 5 kids together!  And happily posing!

Love It.

a favorite

It's amazing to me how girls know other girls.  These two bonded over the leaves.  K would pick up a handful and drop them and Peyton copied almost instantly.  They did this forever.

We made dinner on the grill and over the fire (no picture of that one).

S'mores in a fish basket.  That's the way to go!

A movie under the stars. I told ya we weren't roughing it.  Gotta keep these kids entertained!

The kids slept until about 6:45am.  We made breakfast, packed up and were home by 11am and napping by noon.  Ha!

I have more pictures to share that don't have so much to do with camping even though they were taken while we camped.  I'll save those for later.

Wacky Wednesday

In honor of Dr. Suess' birthday it was Wacky Wednesday at school today.  They were told to come dressed in a wacky outfit.  This is kind of a new concept for Hunter.  He's not one to care what he wears and is not one to run around the house in a costume all day.  But he totally embraced it and loved going to school is his wacky outfit.  He dressed in an inside out shirt, camo shorts, superhero leggings, batman socks, and two different shoes.

Here he is with his buddy, Jace before school this morning.