family vacation

We just got back from our first family vacation in years. The last time we all went on one I think mary was 4 or 5! We all met this past weekend for a long holiday weekend in the Shenandoah mountains. It was a beautiful weekend - the weather was perfect and sunny each day. The house we were staying at was very unique. It was called the historic round house and had so many stairs! I'll have to put a picture up later to show you. Colin loved all the stairs and was very independent on wanting to climb them himself. There was a stream near our cabin and once Colin discovered the joy of throwing boulder sized rocks into the stream he was out there every chance he could get. Colin loved all the attention and had so much fun each day. Mary taught him to burp on command and James taught him to make bodily function noises with his hands! Colin is so proud of himself but he does say excuse me after doing it - "eme me" He didn't nap for a few days and I was really worried especially the day we went on an all day hiking trip. He did wonderful. It amazing since when Brent and I take Colin for short little hikes at the park and he gets tired and wants out its hard to contain him in the pack and I was really worried he would want out when we're halfway to the waterfall or the peak -and then really what do you do with a screaming toddler when you're halfway up a mountain? But he was great. Brent and I went ahead and just got to the waterfall (Dark Hollow Falls) as fast as we could so he wouldn't get bored and the rest of the family met us down there. Colin loved putting his feet into the ice cold water and throwing rocks. I think we changed his clothes 3 times on that hike since he would get wet each time we stopped to play in the water on the way back up to the car. And then the family decided to do another short hike and Colin did that one too. (this all after only sleeping 6 hours the night before and getting a 20 minute nap in the car) That hike Colin walked up mostly by himself but did fall asleep in the pack on the way down. I was sure he wouldn't make it up but he did. He slept most of the way home Monday in the car and yesterday around 11 am he sat in his chair and fell asleep almost instantly and slept most of the afternoon.

We had a great time and are already looking forward to next years family vacation.... maybe this time we'll make matching tshirts.

Playing with water guns - Colin got really good towards the end

Throwing rocks with Grandpa Getting ready to hike Dark Hollow Falls

Telling Uncle Opie how to play putt-putt

Playing in the water on the hike The family
With aunt sarah at the top of the mountain