Camping and Crabbing on the Chesapeake

okay, okay, technically it wasn't the Chesapeake, but close enough, and that sounded better (on the Patuxent, but right at the mouth where it joins the bay)

The kids have been looking forward to camping on the beach since they found out we were moving anywhere near a beach, and they've been equally excited about going crabbing (though strangely enough, not wanting to eat the crabs, just catch them) since we went to the beach this summer and they saw someone else crabbing... I guess it looked like fun.


Saturday morning, when I remembered my camera and started taking pictures.
This was right by our campsite

So about three weeks ago a couple families from church sent out a group invitation to just about everyone from church they could think of inviting everyone to a navy rec center to camp and/or join them for a crab-fest. The boy scouts were doing a lot of the crabbing, but basically anyone that wanted to could come. fortunately living in MD, there's a lot of cool beaches within about an hours drive. Naturally, having a 2-week old baby didn't slow us down, so we jumped at the opportunity and joined everyone Friday night for a big bonfire and camping. The fire was just perfect, it wasn't too hot for it, and it was cool enough of an evening to appreciate sitting close to it!

we weren't literally camping on the beach, but it was only about a 10 minute walk from our campsite to this little beach and promontory where the scouts were basing their operation.

we all had fun clambering about on the rocks 

the girls played for hours on the beach with their friends

we did bring their suits, but I thought it was too cold to get wet... silly me! I know Afton! and Rayna didn't hesitate to get pretty completely soaked either.

first campout!

the boys were both pretty tired by lunchtime, and one of our friends let them crash in their double bike-stroller. with a warm towel for a blanket :) it seemed somehow appropriate.

the girls got a chance to go crabbing with Dad! they came back with 9 I think.

This year was supposed to be a bad year for crabs, and they had to let all the female crabs go, plus all the too small ones of course, but with 2 boats (the other was a hand-made canoe I wish I'd gotten a picture of, it was BEAUTIFULLY made by a guy in the ward when he was in his last year at medical school, because he was getting bored... I thought med school was supposed to be hard and time consuming!) I think the final haul was 3/4 bushel, more than plenty for everyone that wanted some, and we had probably 25-35 people eating them.

and that's not counting the kids that each had a couple bites... I was proud of Afton and Chi for trying it, Rayna wasn't feeling too adventurous, I think chi just wanted the bib :)

and no large group activity is complete without a bunch of kids wrestling an Uncle to the ground with much accompanying shrieks of laughter, and an appropriate amount of tickling and wrestling. 

I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter whose uncle it is either... this one only had one nephew there, and that boy isn't even in the dog pile!

thanks to all our friends that invited us along! it was a great weekend!

 

and crossed at least 2 items off Afton's MD-bucket list!

More pictures from September

So I think Malachi 'feels' the change with the new baby the most, which isn't that surprising I guess as he was the youngest for a long time, but it's cute to see some of the ways he compensates and gets some love back :). He especially loves to give me lots of hugs and kisses, reminding me that I'm his best friend or that he loves me (and of course getting plenty of love back in return). He's a little rougher with Paul, lots of tackles and tickles and climbing. This one evening I was laughing pretty hard at their antics, I know they don't come through in the pictures as funny as in real life, but I still thought it was worth posting :)

Chi can reach the ceiling!

and this was particularly funny, monkey-boy

This evening was a 'wrestle-fight' that I'd probably call a tickle-attack, with soft balls...

you can see the glee there, right?!

I know, probably not the most flattering photo, but maybe that shows more why Chi calls it 'wrestle-fighting'

this one might be my favorite...

Who is it that always tells me how easy girls are to raise, because at least they don't like getting dirty? I sometimes think I hear that one every month... I still don't believe it that people actually think that!

it was a rather chilly day too, though not so cold that they couldn't get wet...

you should have heard the squeals as they got hosed off!

you know, the laughing/almost-crying sound kids make when they're having fun, and kinda miserable at the same time?

Rayna was a bit more practical... but she wasn't quite as muddy either.

and another day, the 24th, Afton finally lost her first tooth!

we were waiting for that one for over a month of wiggling... and yes folks, she's already 7! this kids teeth are firmly attached! (from daddy's side of the family, I guess, they were all later to lose teeth)

and since we had this cute snack, Rayna wanted to pretend she lost one too

Temple trip with Grandma W

Paul had training the week his mom was here visiting, which meant he left really early and didn't get home til a bit late most nights, what with the extra travel and such, so we took Friday afternoon and drove up to meet him. The hospital he was doing his training at was very near the temple, so we took a picnic and took the kids to see it! It was a good experience.

climbing a tree in the parking lot

family pose

and one with Grandma

Malachi loved the water fountain (waterfall)

we also loved the doors. we took a bit of a walk around the grounds and appreciated the fall foliage and the grounds

and the temple itself of course... we love stained glass

random little insert here, does anyone (Mom) know what these flowers are?
they reminded me of crocuses, but it's fall, not spring...

I spy three little kids hiding in the Japanese maples

our picnic spot (we had homemade pretzels with ham and cheese rolled up in them--yum)

and of course we spent a bit of time in the visitor's center. there are dozens of church videos and things there. I'm pretty sure they designed it on purpose so parents could leave their kids there with a babysitter while they go to the temple. our older kids would love that! (we didn't take the time to watch very many)

baby faces

check these out:
http://www.nowwhatdoisay.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-babies.html

they definitely look related, but I think he's his own person... perhaps a cross of Rayna and Malachi

and compare:

ps, you may want to open the link in another tab so you can see them side by side :)

Asher 2 1/2 - 3 weeks

as promised, here are some recent pics of Asher. he's about 9 1/2 lbs right now, and still mostly happy. these pics are Sunday to today, Malachi takes as many pictures as I do, so we have quite a few of Asher, but more than half of them are fuzzy or his head's cut off ;). these are some of my favorites:

I love those shoes
--though maybe I shouldn't say that since I designed them and it sounds like bragging but I think I did a good job!

it's practically obligatory to have a crying picture, right? and yes, I picked him up as soon as I took this one!

Really, Asher's a very good baby, he only cries if he needs something (usually help with gas bubbles), and he's an excellent sleeper, going easily 9-12 hours at night only getting up every 3 hours or so to nurse. he's filling out really nicely, and finally lost his cord-stump so he's got a real belly button now. his eyes still look mostly blue, though I'm not convinced they're going to stay so light, I think they'll be hazel or brown before too long. he does have light blond fuzzy hair though, so he may stay pretty fair. he gets lots of love from his older siblings and I don't think it'll be too much longer before he starts protesting head-rubs ;).

one of chi's pics, a little fuzzy, but decent :)

sleepy on Dad

we tried tummy-time for the first time today. he did well

he managed to push himself up like this all by himself! I was impressed. I knew he was strong, but he hasn't had great neck control 'til the last few days. He does love his boppy, I think it gives him a measure of self-control (sitting in it, and also laying across it like here).

and one shot to remind me how tiny he really is! or how huge my 3-yr-old is :)

a few skipped birthdays

Afton was able to celebrate her 7th birthday with Grandma here! that means she got really lucky with presents :). I didn't actually get a good picture specifically of her big present, but if you look at this first one, notice the sparkle on her ears!

and books of course are always great too,

a movie to make her cry...

a card and clothes from Grandma W

a basket and streamers for her bike

there were a few other smaller things in there too, a 500 piece puzzle, some new earrings to go with her holey ears, etc...

and this dear child is one after mine own heart, she picked apple pie for her birthday 'cake' YUM!

 

and moving backwards in time, I had a birthday too... the kids made this fantastic crown for me! and they hung streamers all over the house (which lasted through Afton's b-day, and Asher's too!)

Hooray for birthday season!