Allegany Part 2 - "Soggy"

On Saturday morning, we awoke to a "whoosh"--not a pitter patter, a downright downpour! Here is where our campfire used to be, insert river.

Of course, we made the best of it --chatting and, of course, eating ourselves silly.

Amelia and the birthday Papa.

I usually try to avoid posting those "naked photos" but, let's face it, our readership is small and I just love the curls on the top of Moo's head. Plus, I want to be sure to document the "bucket baths" that have somehow become a quintessential part of all family camping trips! It's so Laura Ingalls-esque, I love it!

Allegany cabins have received an upgrade for those of you who haven't been there lately. Cabins now have electricity and central heating! [Can you call it 'central heating' when there's only one room?] Yeah, it takes a way a bit from the roughin' it feel and the wood stove was cozy but, it is nice not to have to rig up lanterns when your getting ready for bed and ..and to not have to get up in the night to stoke the fire in those colder months.

I don't really remember the context of this one, looks like folks were getting a little hard up for entertainment...at Charlie's expense!

Gathered on the porch (for most of the day)

The skies cleared late in the afternoon and we headed out for a hike.

Mia the Spelunker

Did I mention it was dark and gloomy?

Aunt Kat came late since she was taking her Physical Therapy board exam on Friday. Early Saturday morning she found out that she passed, jumped up to tell everyone and promptly fell down the porch steps into the mud. It was pretty funny and (since there were only minor injuries) gave us a good laugh!

Seriously, it's still raining Mom?

Bob and Jon took the well-slickered boys out into the downpour to run around and enjoy the puddles.

I guess this technically belongs in the "Shiny" category since it occured on day 1 -- certainly no blue sky on Saturday! It's such a cute Uncle shot!

Here are a couple more from Friday. Amelia insisted on helping Papa make the fire. He gave her a small chunk of wood to take from the trunk to the campfire spot and thought that would be it. But, no, she returned for five more trips. I'd say she earned her Junior Woodsy badge.

"Papa's got me bustin' my hump" (movie quote for you Lora and T)

Allegany Part 1-"Shiny"

Coming off a rather soggy weekend in Keuka Lake, I was more than a little dismayed to hear the weather forecast for our weekend at Allegany State Park. We'd all reserved cabins to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday-whoopee! Since Friday was sunny, we raced to the beach as soon as we got there to enjoy a little summer before the monsoon arrived.

Here's Mom and Amelia hanging out at the water's edge. Notice goose poop dangerously close to Mia's left side...)

The forces aligned and Amelia was perfectly accessorized. Not only did Mom find a lime green barette on the floor in our car (that perfectly matched the trim on Moo's suit), but the bucket coordinates nicely as well. Where is Aunt Kat to appreciate such wardrobing?

Two gals in polka dots.

A sandy beach (or box): Charlie's utopia

This shot reminds me of a line from one of Charlie's construction books, (read ad nauseum), "The loader is the building site workhorse..." Bob found this one online and it often travels with us.

Hmmm, perhaps all men seek solace in the sand. Notice, no kids anywhere and yet, Bob and Jon continue to perfect their estuary.

Uncle Jon-Jon gettin' down and dirty in the sand. He is so cute with the kiddos!

A bright smile...

...for a rainy day.

Team Adams

On Father's Day, the kids marched out with their toddler-sized baseball mitts to present Dad with a new mitt of his own. I couldn't resist this pink and purple one for Amelia.

"Dang it, how could I have missed that pop fly?"

We also made Daddy-o some "lawn mower" cupcakes. Charlie and Amelia helped me make em. Amelia made sure to push the "engine" waaaay down into the cupcake and then both kids proceeded to happily eat the wheels (M & Ms) until Mommy finally caught on. Such great "helpers"...

Charlie's mitt is black like Dad's. He is starting a notable pattern of vocalized gender inequality that isn't exactly p.c. For example, he doesn't think that women are able to mow the lawn or use tools, even yard tools. The other day when I was using a large shovel in the backyard, he had the nerve to ask me if Daddy said I could use it! Pulling into a gas station another day, he tilted his head and said, perplexed, "Mommy, you can't get gas. Daddy gets the gas." Hmmm, this kid needs to be schooled. Although, perhaps getting Mia the pink mitt isn't especially helpful in dispeling stereotypes...Unfortunately, baseball will not be the area for me to illustrate equity of gender. I'll let Bob have that one. I hope they have many happy games of catch in their future!

Happy Father's Day

From the kids (paraphrased): Thanks for always being excited to see us when you get home from work and for piggy back rides, chocolate milk, and trips to the hardware store. Thanks for all the times you convinced Mom to walk down to get ice cream after dinner and for always slipping those tiny chocolate covered donuts into the cart when she wasn't looking. Thanks for always having a project for us to do and letting us use your tools. Thanks for reading Dr. Seuss, singing "Twinkle, Twinkle," and making strawberry pancakes. Thanks for watching 'Cars' and 'George' with us and for vacuuming the popcorn out of the rug afterward. Thanks for the wrestling, tickling, lego-building, swimming, fort-making, dancing, bike-riding and giggling.

We're so gosh darn lucky to have ya!

Mother's Day 2009

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms!

This year I feel blessed because two beautiful children scrambled unto my bed to wish me a Happy Mother's Day, because I only have one set of diapers to change now, because Charlie draws pictures of me with arms coming out of my head, because Amelia wears pig tails, because I get to answer the question "Why?" a thousand times a day, because I get to buy children's books, because I get to use glue sticks and googly eyes and pipe cleaners, 'cuz I get to watch Amelia dance, because Charlie and Amelia are occassionally the best of friends, and because I get to see my husband be an amazing dad. I'm also thankful that motherhood is not making me too sentimental-hardy har.

Came across these keepers and had to share...

Well, this one didn't come out great and but we did manage to get all the cousins in the frame at least--7 of the 9 Bannister Clan Kiddos who were born in the last three years. Plus, Aaron's expression is priceless (far left). Does anyone have a better version, if so please share!

Capturing the mischief of two boys. We missed you, Manda and Mike, but thanks for sending the kids!

Kat and Ryan James.

Foxy cousins, Kat and Rachel.

Kat with the big little bro.

Aren't these grandparents just the cutest?