Shenanigans

So, as you can see, my posting certainly has not picked up this fall!  We're all settled into school and activities...football just finished last week...but I haven't seemed to gain any time.  There are projects to do, kids to get organized and school to help out at.  I certainly could use a break and some down time!  We have finished our paper route now, though, so yesterday I actually got to SLEEP IN (until 8:30...my teenage/young adult self would cringe) but it was lovely.  So, I finally got some photos off my camera and it's time to get them onto the blog!

Since we've posted a good part of the summer, I'm going to post one of our other big activities...the annual shenanigans at Rowan's Ravine with Jason's family.  The kids love this time so very much and we had a beautiful few days for it (other than the mosquitos, which are STILL here in October!), oh and the elevated e. coli levels in the lake.  So now, get ready for a whirlwind of photos!  Here we go....

First off, there were shirts...for all the kids.  Nana had these made to celebrate the trip.

Then there was play time...always play time...

...with bikes, even.

Sometimes the evenings are cool and a little hot chocolate is called for...

...or just sitting around a blazing fire.  At this point, I noticed that my toes looked so sad without nail polish on them so...

...time to paint some nails!  Lily quite enjoyed this little activity.

The ever present, always popular wagon was a hit this year.  The kids weren't so sure about pulling Papa, though!

They would rather that he pulled them!

The boys are getting older so there is more sport-like things like football.

Still always room for cars, though.  Bradley loved that they went down the ramp.

Jonathan loved the Transformers bike helmet.  He rode the bike a bit but simply refused to take the helmet off!

Just hanging out...

...and playing games.  Another great activity to keep the kids busy.

Since the levels of e. coli were elevated, the beaches were closed.  We brought our own water fun, though, in the form of a couple of sprinklers.  The kids really didn't seem to get the concept of running through the sprinklers so someone had to show them! :)

This kid decided it was awesome!

Then there were more games...everyone deep in thought.

Uncle Eric and Aunt Louise came out for a bit of a visit, too.

Nana had a lot of activities to keep the kids going....

...racing paper towel tubes...

...pinwheels...

...mentos and grape soda...

...drawing on canvas...

...and the ever popular glow sticks.

Bush pies in the fire certainly kept us well-nourished (and then some, probably).

We had to get a photo of all the grandkids in their Rowan's Ravine shirts.  It turned out pretty well.

One with Nana and Papa, too.

Then, there was the annual nature hike.  It's always nice to get out and see some grasslands.  The mosquitos like it when we come out, too.

I think Uncle Craig thought the hike needed a little bit of an extreme twist.

Those are the cabins we stayed at in the background.

On our last full day there, the beaches reopened and the kids actually got to go down and play in the sand and the waves.

Then it was time for mini-golfing.  My hat's off to Jason & Steve for attempting to wrangle this crew (rather than letting them run through in about 4.8 seconds, like they did last year!)  

The beautiful summer sky...

This kid was hilarious...you've got to check out this series of photos.  He loved the gophers.  Seriously...the best part of his vacation.  He spent the whole time chasing them (while poor Erin was trying to convince them to eat our of her hand).  You see him here, checking the gopher out...

...then he would spot it and the chase was on...

...it had a safe hiding place but Bradley wasn't fooled.  He would wait for that gopher to come back out!

Then once again, off to the races!  He actually scared away all the gophers for a time.  They headed for the hills.  Then, he started chasing birds.  Crazy kid!

After we cleaned up, we headed down to the play park for a bit before lunch.

Then it was time for lunch and ice cream at the local eatery.

Could he be any happier about it?

There you go.  The annual trip to Rowan's Ravine.  I know everyone had a ton of fun.  Soon, I may even be back with photos from the rest of our summer.  You just never know when I might get a minute! :)

Until next time...