the year of the mosquito

Moose Creek Cabin 2011

The title says it all, well not all, but most of our dealings up at the cabin this year were with the mosquitos. We opted to go in June this year because Matthias is taking the UT bar this July. A mistake we will likely try to avoid at all costs in future years. The mosquitos were pure evil. They sat in a swarm right outside our door, and as soon as you walked out, they attacked! After the first day, we did a mosquito bite count on all of the kids. Ty had about 80, bex had about 100, Kali was much the same, and Cole came in with a whopping 130! We stopped counting after a while. Try as we might to keep the kids covered in bug juice, and clothing, they still found their way to the kids' necks, hair, ears, everywhere! I am surprised one of them didn't end up with yellow fever.  

Despite the mosquitos, the cousins had such a fun time with each other. Its an amazing thing to watch them get a long, make believe, smile, laugh and love each other. They have grown very close and are such great friends. 

Ty and Cole played the Dynamite song over and over and over. They loved break dancing to it. This picture is of all of them around the breakfast table, singing their hearts out to Dynamite. It was so cute. And what's cousin time without jumpin' on the bed? Every night Matthias and I told stories to the kids before bed. They especially loved hearing stories of mischievous Uncle Brad and his escapades.

Nana helped them all make their own Tie-Die shirts. Baby Jarris' onsie was precious! Beckham wore his for four days straight after the cabin. I couldn't get him to take it off to wash it! Aren't they adorable kids?

And how can I pass up the fun time Bex had with his Uncle Eric? He LOVES his Uncle Eric. They have such a fun time teasing each other, and Bex still follows him around and sits with him every chance he gets! It was so great to see baby Jarris for the first time and to hold him. It made me want another little one! 

More cabin posts to come!

summer wrap-up

Being the last days of summer (fall equinox is 3 days away!), I must document some of the summery things we enjoyed.

MY FIRST FLOWER POTS

I planted two large and colorful flowerpots this summer. They were beauties and made me smile! I set them out on my front deck. I've never had much sucess keeping plants alive... until this year. I so badly want to be like my mom and mother in law. They always have the most beautiful gardens. Maybe I will have a green thumb after all?

FERRON

We camped out at Ferron again this year at Hoosier Daddy's family reunion. It was beautiful. I loved the mountain flowers, the age of my kids and the independence they are gaining. Matthias met us there after he took the bar exam the second to last day. (We won't find out the results until the end of October.) This is the only picture I took. Ty gutted and saved his fish. Bex carried his around to show everyone. When he let go of it, the fish's midsection was left indented from Bex's iron grip. I think it's eyes were bugging out as well. We enjoyed cousins and siblings, singing around the campfire; a new favorite song "Hey Lolly." We made up many-a-verse around the campfire.

COUSIN CAMP

Nana put on a mini Cousin Camp for the grand kids. They swam, scootered, played games, made crafts, explored Nan's garden, went to the park, fed ducks and had a sleepover. Cole and Ty have always been good little buddies and it amazes me that despite the long spans of time they are apart, they can pick up right where they left off and are the best little buds ever. They are so cute.

The biggest surprise to me was Kali and Bex. Their history has been, well, as mostly enemies, but they palled around the whole time figuring each other out and wanting nothing to do with the older kids. They had a good time. B&M, I was tempted to take Kali girl home with me, she was such a doll. Love her. and Cole too, but I haven't really spent much time with Kali and I wouldn't mind one bit to keep her as my own.

GRILLING

This year we tried out a new grilling technique. Pizza!