A Decade of Camping Adventures

Last weekend we joined up with the Sanders family at Deep Creek Lake State Park for our tenth annual Deterding-Sanders Camping adventure!  Alison, are you impressed that I managed to post these pictures so soon after our weekend together?! (Alison is a much more consistent blogger mama than I am).  

It took us five hours to get to Deep Creek thanks to traffic and a flat tire, but much to Grace's relief, the Sanders girls were still awake and a campfire-- and s'mores-- were waiting for us!  Steve and Kevin set up the camper in the dark, bless them.

Saturday was the day for the usual Daddy-Kid hike.  We moms always encourage a nice long daddy-kid hike, *wink *wink*

Peter and Evie!

A triathalon was happening during our stay, and the athletes ran right past our campsites.  This created hours of entertainment for all six of the kids who are over the age of one!  They even came up with this clever cheer:

"C'mon person you can do it, just put a little power to it!"

OINK

Last week some friends stopped by with two baby guinea hogs.  They're babysitting these orphaned piglets for a local farm, and Avery, Grace, Jane and I thought the baby animals were  awfully cute (although stinky).  Leah was not impressed and stayed indoors.

The piggies will grow up to be super-ugly hogs but for now we can appreciate their adorable little snouts and tiny hooves:

The Party

...Scenes from Leah's birthday party...

18 Years and Counting!

Today we had a fun visit from some of the most special ladies in my life-- I met Tina, Cathy and Becky when my family moved to a new church in 1994 and although there are some miles between us now, when we get together it's as if no time has passed at all.  How awesome is that?  

Lois was our beloved youth group leader and we still love getting together with her when we can.  She's the most faithful letter-writer and encourager I know.... and that reminds me, Lois, I owe you a letter!

Grace and Leah really like it when they visit, too.  

Bid on a Mini Session to Help Jesse!

This Christmas, our friends Shane and Wendy are joining with Reese's Rainbow and Angel Tree to raise money to help with the adoption of a precious little boy named Jesse.  Please read about it on their blog here.

Wendy is offering fabulous goodies to those who donate to the cause!  This week, she is auctioning off a Mini Session with yours truly!  If you'd like to place a bid, visit Wendy's blog post and leave a comment.

sweet Jesse

Western PA Fall Adventure

The last weekend of September took us back to our old stomping ground, Grove City College. That magical place where I finally convinced Steve that he couldn't live without me  we fell in love.  Here are Steve and the other Rhos that showed up for the cookout:

Before the Homecoming festivites began, we spent a couple days camping with the Sanders' family.  It was our Sixth Annual Deterding-Sanders Camping Adventure, and we decided to celebrate in style.  Instead of our usual tent camping, we rented some great little cabins on a lake at Keystone State Park.

girls, girls, girls, girls, girls, girls, girls (and two cute boys)

 s'mores with peanut butter

cutie pie girl baby April, Avery's camping buddy 4LIFE

it was relaxing

the Deterding site

and the Sanders site

Leah and Mr. Kevin

all you really need to keep preschoolers occupied on a camping trip is a lake, some sticks, and an endless supply of rocks and pebbles.

waffles for breakfast on the porch!