Hot Summer Days

We are well on our way to recovery from the weekend away with family. Camping with two little people is not really super enjoyable. It is manageable but ......By the time you get home you start to question your sanity, life in general and all the decisions you have made in your life up to that point. Well....it isn't really that bad. Tristan and Eden did amazing considering they were tenting and out of their normal environment. And throw in meeting over a hundred people that they don't know. Yes, they did very well. Going to Slate Run with our extended family is always a highlight of the summer. For those of you who read this blog that are not family I will break things down for you. My grandparents had 19 children. Yeah, you heard me. Nineteen!!! Throw in spouses for those almost 20 children and you quickly arrive to somewhere around 40 people - give or take a few. Add in all the grandchildren, their spouses, the great-grandchildren, etc. etc. and you soon arrive to somewhere around 150 people. All sleeping in campers or tents and having a wonderful time. We took Mark's three younger sisters with us this year and I must say having them there was so fun for us. Sitting up around the campfire, hearing stories that make you question whether or not you are related to people who missed the normal gene, hearing someone playing guitar while you laugh at the ridiculous antics of your brother, making runs to the candy store, giving your cousin the "what for" for setting off crazy loud fireworks after your kiddos are sleeping - these are all repeated memories year after year. It was wonderful having Eden meet all the extended family. By the way - Eden's swollen and infected gland seems to be going away without ever developing an abscess. We are so grateful that the antibiotic and prayer took care of the infection. Of course in my typical lame fashion I didn't take hardly any pictures while at the cabin. It may have had something to do with taking care of the two young ones while playing our badminton games. Judah and Shane spent a majority of the weekend in the creek playing with their cousins and sitting around the fire with us in the evening.

I made up for my lack of pictures today while Tristan and Eden were playing in their pool. What else are you going to do on oppressive, hot, humid and disgusting days?! Tristan is much more tentative when it comes to being in water. He isn't so sure what he thinks. You can kind of see that in his expressions these next few pictures.

Oh so cute!!

Eden of course loves the little pool. And she showed her many different faces while playing today.

By far my favorite expression in her repertoire.

While sitting at the "pool" I shot this picture. This is my favorite spot in our yard. I love being married to a man that can create such beautiful things!! This is where we make our smores and create many memories with the kids.