Nope Daniel is not walking yet... he's only 11 months. Wait, only 11 months? How is he this close to a year old already? He is supposed to be the baby. He does cruise and is very efficient at crawling- he now not only knows where the hall bathroom is for his flushing pleasure (hasn't put anything in yet, just likes the sound), but has also ventured far enough to know where the master bathroom is.
September was such a whirlwind of travel that it seemed to pass in a blink of the eye. October is moving a bit slower, thank goodness... I've been absorbed in projects, with any luck I'll post again and tell you about it. Our travels started the first of September this time, well technically August 31st. We went to one of the most pleasant places I have ever been to and am now a renewed believer that it's the most peaceful place I will probably ever go. I reflected to my sister as we were getting ready to head home that I can't remember a time I have ever wanted to leave there. Got any guesses yet?
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| Michael on a rock, if you've ever been there, you probably recognize it. |
The Adirondacks. More specifically Grandma and Grandpa's lake house on Simon Pond, which is off Big Tupper Lake. Grandpa always kept a sign there that said Neverest, which was his name for the place. While it might have been appropriate for him, as he was always renovating, adding on, building something, or digging some rock out of somewhere- the irony of the name kind of struck me, since the rest of us find it a place of wonderful rest.
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| Michael and Daniel with Aunt Jesse and Bones |
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| Daddy hiking with the big boys. |
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| Can't go to the Adirondacks and not have some good soft serve! |
We had a great several days there... swimming in the lake, playing with the paddle boat, canoeing a bit, hiking, walking, fished a little, had a campfire, enjoyed some blueberry pancakes, and got to share some memories with my boys. One of the highlights... finding out that my sister is expecting :) We missed Grandma though, it was definitely weird to be there without her, but then, it almost felt like she was there.
After that vacation we headed to Clemson to see our Tigers play. As you probably know, and if you don't then you don't follow college football at all and that's your loss, we're still undefeated. What a year. We went to the Wofford game. Daniel's first. Scott was very engrossed in the entire game, while Blaise watched a lot of it, and had a good time just being there. Michael was begging food, well ice cubes, from a friend we brought with us- so glad she could come, we don't see her enough. Daniel loved the balloons and running down the hill. He doesn't like it when we get excited, but he settled down eventually and fell asleep on Cullen's lap.
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| The family in Death Valley 2011 |
Next on the agenda... Indiana. We have really good friends who moved there 2 years ago, so we are trying to make sure we get to see them at least annually. Last year, we met halfway, but this year, with the addition of a new baby each, we just went all the way to them. What a great time. Almost makes me want to move to Indiana to be close to them again- except for the whole moving thing... and the winter thing... and the lack of mountains.
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| What a crowd. |
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| The kids working on their fort- this is an ongoing activity. |
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| Daniel and Elias, buddies already! |
Finally... home. Soccer season in full swing.