Summer Unplugged

Well, as predicted, the summer has been busy and spent here there and everywhere...except on the blog! But in the midst of a busy few weeks, we hit the pause button more than once on technology, schedules and deadlines to just enjoy summer in the great outdoors.

It was worth it.

This is Whiggs Meadow on the TN/NC border, and the site of our first family camping trip. It is beautiful.

And we were pumped.

We had the whole meadow, and the 20-degree-cooler temps, all to ourselves for the night.

That night included sitting by a fire roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, watching the stars come out and the satellites orbit, and snuggling close in our tent. ...Because it got cold. And more than a little windy. Like sleeping on the North Face windy, and I thought we might be lifted off the ground.

To our great surprise, Katie Beth got a full night's rest. That's more than I can say for Tyler and Ben and even more than I can say for myself.

But if KB ain't happy, ain't nobody happy, so it was all good.

"The hills are aliiiiive...."

After a quick breakfast of bananas and granola bars...and possibly a couple more marshmallows, we headed back down the 5,500 ft for a little father/son fishing expedition.

We'll just say Tyler is still looking forward to Ben becoming his fishing buddy. Today, he was happier sitting on the shore and eating all the corn we brought for bait.

"Can you hear me now?"

KB trying to get cell service, but to no avail...and not just because she was talking on a rock.

Then on Father's Day, we caravanned with the Radnoti's up to the Hiawassee for a little frolic in the "refreshing" river.

Katie Beth and Andrew set sail in their pint-size vessel.

Spitting out another rock. She and Andrew had made a secret pact to ingest as many stones as possible. The Rock Patrol prevailed in the end, although they kept us busy!

Austin and Ben check out the cool crawdad that Tyler caught.

Then they got to work on an intricate canal system.

"Who's in charge here?"

Fortunately for Katie Beth, they were equal-opportunity employers.

While the mountains and hills are just a short roadtrip away, there are plenty of outdoor escapes closer to home. We've had fun at Coolidge Park:

at playgrounds (in the mornings, before the thermometer hits 90):

on bike rides (and chases):

and picnics:

Of course it can't be all fun and games...we have been keeping a busy schedule of the kids' museum, swim lessons, trips to Nashville and San Francisco, VBS...what was I saying? Oh yeah, not all fun and games...whew, sure was nice to get away from it all! ;)

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul." Psalms 23:1-3