4th of July flags

It was my mother-in-law's Birthday yesterday, and I was lucky enough to have heard her hint at something she would like for her Birthday gift!  She liked the buntings I made for Caris' party and commented about how cute they would be for the 4th of July.  Oooh - good idea!  I sewed a couple up for her Birthday and then today I made one for myself.  I love how it looks hanging over my mantle!

Hiking

I don't know why, because it's not like I'm in great shape, but hiking holds great appeal for me.  Adventure, beauty, time with my family, exercise - it just all sounds like a fun way to spend time.  It's taken me forever to do any research on the subject though, because it's just so HUGE.  Where do we go?  What do we take with us?  How do we GET there?

Today was our day, baby!  I said heck with all the research, let's just get out there.  Let's go somewhere that we're familiar with and kick it up a notch.

Caris and Graham accompanied me.  Canaan was too little, Alif was too Laker-obsessed, and Malachi was too disrespectful.  Here are the two excited hikers at the mouth of the trail!  (I know, in a few months I'll laugh at myself for all of my totally wrong terminology.  Sorry, real hikers.)

The trail was nice and wide and very safe as long as we were careful, but I was a complete nervous Nellie the entire way down.  "Sorry honey, Mama's just kind of nervous." "Watch yourself on this transition!"  "Get over to the other edge!"  I cannot believe my kids didn't complain.  Or at least roll their eyes.  LOL

On the way down Graham put his hand against the mountain and said, "Ohhh, I like this rock."  I said, "Sit down and I'll take your picture by it.  SIT.  Graham, sit QUICKLY.  Away from the edge!"  Ack, I will have to really loosen up!

I told Graham it would be great if he took a picture of me so I could prove I was on the hike too.  He laughed and said, "Yeah . . . like you just let us go down here alone and everything."  LOL  Alright, alright, true enough.

The way back up was a LOT harder than I'd anticipated.  The kids did great but I had to stop for rest at least 5-6 times.  Mama was wore OUT!

I was so proud of us when we finished!  I told the kids so and Graham said, "How can you be proud of yourSELF?"  I said, "Honey!  I was a little scared and tired, but I did it, and I AM proud of that, and I'm proud of you guys too!"  I asked the nicest man ever to take a picture of us.

We did it!!  It was awesome.  I can't wait to go again!

Fun in the park

A friend posted on Facebook the other day that she needed a little park day.  She suggested a park that's about a 15 minute drive from my house, and it's just amazing to me how natureish it feels to go there.  We need to do this more often!  Kids need to be out of their yards and into a place where they can run and climb and see animals and not worry about neighbors (ie a little yelling is ok) for a while.