friday park visit

Roscoe is sooooound asleep right now.  He missed his morning nap and then we spent the whole day out and around, getting home from the park around 4:15.  So thankful for family that lives close.

Nana, Roscoe, Papa, and Eliot

Eliot's favorite person ever is Papa.  Hands down.

Peekaboo with Aunt Bethy

Liam.  A child's life.

Distracted mid-swing.  (joking) (he's not that strong yet)

To think that Roscoe used to be afraid of him...

table rock

The hike Friday was beautiful.  It didn't feel too hot, and the humidity wasn't too high either.  So aside from the fact that I was more out of shape for this hike than any other, it was a great time.  Thankfully, on the way up Beka was telling me a story (Mark was way ahead), so I didn't have to worry about saying much back.  I didn't have the spare breath!

Aside from the very beginning and a few places towards the top, the entire hike looks like the picture to the right.  There are a lot of rocks acting as steps.  The trail to the top is a little over 3.5 miles.  For this mama whose daily exercise consists of lifting a baby, pictures like this are the reason my calf muscles are still cursing me today.

I snapped the picture below left because I love when you can see tree roots scatter out above ground.

Pictures don't do it justice, but below right is another example of the ascending terrain. 

The comment was made that you realize how small you really are when you're looking out from the top of a mountain.

The battery for the camera died before I got a picture of the tree I really wanted (go figure!), but this can suffice.  The beginning of the changing of leaves.  To me it was more rewarding than ever for this to be one of the first trees to see changing colors, because it was towards the top of the mountain.  None at the bottom were like this.


So aside from the physical exertion that had us (excluding Mark the Machine) dying at the end, this was such a wonderful day.  And to be honest, even the pain involved was worth it.  Mark and I are already planning another trip in November, but this time with another couple, one of whom does not like hiking at all.  So he'll be tasked with staying back at the shelter preparing a grilled feast for us hikers upon our return.

a labor day hike

Tomorrow Mark and I will be going on an early labor day hike with Beka, his 1st cousin once removed.  (Does anyone else even know what that means anymore?)  We're leaving the little guy behind.  I'm kinda like YEEHAAAWWWW......... WAAAAAAHHH.......... WEEEEEEEEE..... *sniff sniff*......... BRING IT ON!!!!!! about that.  Follow those emotions.  I know some of you understand them.

Honestly, I'm wicked excited about this.  Seeing that I had to take over a week to save up enough milk for Roscoe for the duration that we'll be gone, I've been thinking about it every day now and I'm PUMPED. (pun.  intended.)

But there's that other side of me that realizes I've never spent more than a couple hours away from him.  This is going to be weird.

Hopefully Mark and Beka will be able to put up with me, because I have a feeling that I'm going to be extremely giddy being away from the life I talked about yesterday.  That is, until we get approximately .5 miles into the hike and it hits me that Mark and Beka are in way. better. shape. than I am.  *sigh*

Check in later for pictures.