August and September Weekends

Here are a couple things we did with pictures to go along with them...

Colton and Camille waiting for the bus to bring their siblings home to them

The weekend before Labor Day was our annual ward campout with our Manassas buddies-- as always, it was great catching up with everyone.  There was a small hitch in that our usual campgrounds were under construction, so Crystal (who is WONDERFUL about organizing this every year) found us a different location.  The new place was lovely and bug-free (!!!!!!!), but unfortunately it was also VERY small so our tents were set up practically on top of each other, AND the bathrooms and parking lot were about 1/4 mile away.  There were wagons to transport your stuff, but it was still a royal pain.  I felt especially bad for the pregnant girl in our group-- imagine getting up in the night to use the bathroom and having to hike that far away!!!

Those aren't even the tents that were packed in tight.  And see the pregnant girl there???

The campout always follows the same formula-- bring your own dinner and cook it while setting up tents.  Roast marshmallows, then try to get the kids to sleep while the grown-ups stay up super late chatting.  Unfortunately, the 2-year-old in the tent next to us couldn't manage to settle down, so we didn't get much sleep.  Ironic, since it was the best my kids had slept all summer, but oh, well.  In the middle of the night as I listened to that poor kid and was starting to get irritated, I suddenly realized just how much her mom must be dying trying to figure out how to calm her down and I let it go.  At least it wasn't my problem!

In the morning, Crystal provides breakfast for the whole gang-- sausage, pancakes, fruit and juice-- and then we all go hiking.  It's kind of amazing-- how does Crystal do all that???

On the hike I told Camille to look up at the trees and not only did she do it, she put on this perfect bemused expression, too!

Later on when we made her walk, she was less happy

Some of the kids on the hike (poor Isaac on the right there!) (and actually, Camille was only slightly happier!)

Not related to camping...

Colton pretending to be asleep on a mountain of stuffed animals

For all you Moana fans out there: SHARK HEAD!

Camille enjoys coloring

I can sorta put my hair in piggy tails!

Ryder and Craig selfie

For Labor Day weekend, Rachael and Ian and Nolan drove down from NYC to see us!  I LOVE having visitors-- I love having an excuse to make extra yummy food and show off fun stuff in Charlottesville...  If you're thinking about coming, TOTALLY DO IT!!!  We want you here!!!

My kids LOVE their Uncle Ian!

Ian had a much-loved bunny as a kid, so he was excited to introduce Nolan to Oreo.  Here he and Craig are trying to clip her claws...

Nolan was quite captivated by Oreo!

He also appreciated our grocery store shopping carts a LOT more than my kids do!

Getting milkshakes at the downtown mall (and Rachael showing off her baby bump!)

And we always enjoy making s'mores!

Come again soon, Rachael and Ian (and Nolan)!