Photos By Phia

 Since our van is finally fixed and we are no longer driving a sardine can of a rental car I was able to load up kids and dogs and take them for a nice hike up on the common.  That rental car was so small we had to take all the wheels off the jogging stroller and put the frame in the front passenger seat, it still didn't fit, so we had to balance part of the frame on my shoulder to lift it off the middle console area so I could shift.  Needless to say, we only went running one time during the week we had that car and poor cashy didn't get to go, he would have never been able to squeeze into the car!

Hank believes the only reason we go hiking is to get blackberries and chestnuts.  Seriously, I think the only reason he is excited to put on his welllies is because he associates them with fresh picked snacks!

Anyway, the regret for forgetting the camera was intense.  At first Sophia was walking on the trails holding up her dress because she didn't want it to get muddy, but on the way back she much have changed her mind.  I walk around a bend in the trail to see the kid not splashing in the puddle, but jumping up and down with all of her might laughing happily as mud went flying in all directions.  It iddn't take Hank long to get in on the mud stomping action.

 When we got dressed to hike, we all wore our wellies as we knew it would be muddy, but after their crazy mud party the wellies didn't stand a chance.  There was mud inside the welllies!  Not doing much good at that point.  The pups didn't want to be left out so they decided to go swiming in the most disgusting stagnant stinky puddle/pond/mud hole ever.  Daisy didn't mind it, but Cash seemed totally offended when I hosed him off in the backyard before letting him in the house. 

 Since I forgot to take the camera the photos today are provided by Sophia.  They are a perfect example of the things she finds important enough to digitally preserve forever!  I love the photo above as every single item was either given to us by friends with older children or purchased used from yardsales or recycling center.  This is the kids housing complex.  To the left is the house, the middle is the storage area, and then on the right you can see the stable where stuffed horses, stuffed cats, and stuffed and sometimes real dogs are housed.  :)