More cabin fun

Morning play with the Spencer kids included 

lots of happy, loud giggles and squeals!

Noodles = Yum.

The whole cabin gang. Cabin life is way, way too wonderful.

Mmm... s'mores

You can't necessarily tell by the look on G's face, but he very, very much liked his first campfire s'more experience...

Little fish for a little kid

We spent Labor Day weekend a couple hours north at a wonderful lake cabin someone let us borrow. (THANK YOU!) The Spencer family went with us, which made for tons of fun, laughs, kiddie play, and good food. It was a monumental trip: Graham caught his first fish! Ate his first S'more! And had lots-o-fun with Harriet and Emerson, both of whom he adores.

Here's Joe teaching Graham how to fish.

Next, Graham gave it his all. Then he learned the fishing-waiting game (not so easy for a toddler).

Then, Mama and G held the fishing pole together and tug! tug! A little fish! G's first!

Joe unhooked the little fish, showing Graham, who then reached forward to feel it. When we asked later what the fish felt like (expecting a response such as "wet" or slimy") he responded, "fishy."

Summer's last hurrah

Our dear friends the Spencers have the lucky privilege of getting invited to this fantastic cabin/hippie commune a few times a year, and WE were lucky enough to go with them at the end of August. The place has two cabins, a sauna, a huge raspberry patch, and tons of space for all of us to run and play. Oh, and it's surrounded by pine trees and on a lake, with kayak provided. By day we played hard with the kiddies, caught fish, swam (yes, it was cold!), and shared meals. By night we sat around the campfire with libations, laughs, and a star-filled sky. What more could you possibly want from a family vacation?

Here are a few photos that capture the fun. Graham, being the water baby that he is, was in heaven. The first one is one of my favorite photos: Harriet and Graham floating in a giant inner tube. Too cute.

Cabin fun

We took our first multi-family vacation this past weekend: 6 parents, two 3-year-olds, a 14-month old, a 7-mo-old, and Graham, who will be 5 months tomorrow! Graham was exposed to the sometimes chaotic, loud, and super fun nature of being with a bunch of kids all at once.



He was completely intrigued by watching the 3-year-olds play rock star band while screaming "banjo! banjo! banjo!" and playing with big sticks. Naturally, Jeff was the band leader.



We roasted marshmellows over the campfire, took turns with the canoe and kayak, danced to Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra and more, and went for walks among the colorful fall leaves.




Joe and Jeff relaxed in the lakeside sauna then jumped like madmen into the super cold lake. The adults also took turns making fabulous meals (circus waffles with a homemade raspberry sauce, from-scratch marinara sauce, and Joe even brought the bread machine!, and more...), and we managed to polish off—over the course of the weekend—nearly an entire bottle of whiskey and several bottles of wine after the kids went to bed. Oh! and there was lots of star gazing and some of us even saw a few shooting stars. When can we go back???