Salem, IL (Penny's house)

We finally arrived at Penny's house after our long travels. We had never been there during the summer before and it was very nice to see everything greeen and alive. It was hot in the barn but it was also an all around great time. We had been trying to get all the kids into one picture the whole trip and finally got one.

All the kids in the back of the Ranger

with Penny.

The little kids wanted to help with the horses.

Catalina, Rocco, Amy and Lisa 

at the little barn.

Sweating Rocco, Ina and Micah in the barn.

Resting in the Ranger.

Penny, Micah, Amye and Lisa after completing

the daily barn duties.

Resting after some blackberry picking.

Dinner after a long day.

Incase you missed this in the previous photo--

a fully weaponized burrito.

Tired out kids. A few of us were not feeling so well.

At our new favorite Salem business, Dairy Mart. 

They had this delicious lemon soft-serve and

we returned there everyday to get more.

The boys having a manly moment.

Ina enjoyed the Strawberry soft-serve too.

Outside they had a "Putt-putt," or Miniature Golf,

and the kids had fun in the hot heat.

I helped Ina out a bit in her first

golfing experience.

Towards the end of our trip I took the kids,

minus Olive, to the park. Rocco was not feeling

well, so it was nice to see him enjoying himself.

On the carousel.

The little ones liked it too.

Spinning is fun.

The swings are funner.

Rocco agrees.

And Sunny was there for it all too.

The next day we drove home straight through. There was a brief stop in Nashville but we made it home to Watkinsville in one piece. Within a couple days the Western visitors returned home and left the house feeling a bit empty. We will all carry fond memories of the time we had together.

Fall Creek Falls, TN

After Lisa and Rocco visited Watkinsville for a while we went on a roadtrip up to Penny's house in Illinois. On the way we stopped in Fall Creek Fall, Tennessee. It was a beautiful place that I to hope to explore further in the future. There were many waterfalls and swimming holes, and it was one of the nicest National Parks I have seen. It was a welcome stop along our long journey.

This is the biggest of the Waterfalls.

Olive, Griffin, and Liam checking it out.

Micah, Catalina, Lisa, and Rocco looking at the falls.

Striking a pose.

A few of the kids resting along a hiking trail.

Rocco being silly.

Griffin on a rock.

Rocco, Liam and Catalina.

Making there way back to the car

from a trail.

A small outcropping along a trail.

A nice suspension bridge over a small river.

This is the last shot I took before I was
repeatedly stung by Yellowjackets. It put a
damper on my day but we still had a great
time. Sadly, it did end my photography
session for the day--there was a lot more
to see and do in Fall Creek Falls.

Next up, Penny's house.

Charleston, SC

We had a big summer. The most exciting part began when Amye, Micah, and Liam arrived. The next day we left for Charleston. Soon after we got back from Charleston, Lisa, Matt, and Rocco came by our house too. The following photos are a documentation of the Charleston trip.

The Kids on a bench swing overlooking the river.

 Griffin and Liam on a cannon.

 Catalina next to a cannon.

 Ina and I under an intersting old tree.

 Micah in a tree.

Micah worried about some mosquito bites

and Olive June empathizing. 

All the kids again.

We did also go to the beach when we were there, twice even, but I have no photos to prove it.

Sunny

After years of considering and months of searching we finally got a dog. Her name is Sunny--or Sunny Bear or Ms. Sunny. She is a 6 month old Schnauzer and she is super cute. Mollie wanted a dog which had both a "scruffy-beard face" and was hypo-allergenic. We got both. The kids love her and we are working through her puppy issues--not limited to but including: pestering the cat, over-rough biting, potty training and leash walking. She has been a good student so far. We are loving the new addition to our family.

A couple photos from the day we got her.

 Griffin and Catalina throwing the ball for Sunny.

Taking it easy on the couch after much play.

Getting a Catalina hug.

 Catalina wants to sleep in Sunny's bed.

Olive June's Birthday

This year Olive June wanted to go the beach for her birthday. Some friends of ours who live in Wilmington, NC, invited us to visit them awhile back and we finally took them up on their offer. Olive June had never seen a Sunrise and wanted to see it rise over the Atlantic ocean. I got her up early and we rushed down to the beach to catch it.

She was tired but she really enjoyed

watching the sun over the ocean.

When we got back to the house,

Olive June really enjoyed opening

her presents.

After a trip to the beach we had Birthday cake at Kyle and Selah's house.

Catalina Enjoyed it too.

Ina, Chet (Kyle and Selah's son), and Griffin

enjoying some down time, and a popsicle, 

after some time at the beach. 

On our drive home we decided to ride a fairy to get back to the mainland. 

Here we are on the fairy.

 We also visited a pier--it was a bit windy.

Olive June also celebrated her birthday with a few friends a couple days before our trip. She wanted to have her party at an ice cream shop so we threw her a party at Menchie's. There was coloring, ice cream eating, present opening, and shenanigans.

The kids posing with Menchie before the

party-goers arrived.

 Party coloring time.

Ina enjoying some ice cream.

 OJ loves present opening time.

 Mollie with Catalina.

A life size walking and talking Menchie even payed

the kids a visit.

All in all, everyone had a great time.