little sister

rub a dub dub....

....we need a bigger tub!

ladies of leisure

We complained about the cold for a loooong time, and suddenly it's hot. Too hot to do much else than lay in the pool out back!

the dads

Happy (belated) Father's Day to the two men in my life I love most dearly....my dad, because in his heart he holds my past and my childhood and my memories....because he taught me to think and to love and to cry....and to Dan, who holds my present and my future and our children and to me is my home. I love these pictures, capturing the best times this weekend....Dad, loving Erin, and Dan, laughing at Kate eating s'mores and then requesting sticky chocolate kisses. You guys are the best. Really.

the flood

When I said we got flooded out of our cook-out Friday night, I wasn't kidding. Pine Creek, before and after. The rain (and thunder, and lightening) was insane and our beloved Pines looked a bit like a war zone the day after.

hoola hoopers

I happily claim these freaky...oops I mean talented.... people as my family.

Pines 2009

Our Hays and Ocken families have an awesome tradition every year of staying at the White Pines State Park in Illinois. This year we were stormed out of our Friday night cook-out but the weather recovered nicely for the rest of the weekend, although I have to admit it was a bit muddy. The kids had a blast....hiking and playing and wading in the fjords and watching trains and eating s'mores. Erin's first experience wading in the fjords was comparable to Kate's first experience eating s'mores: both equally euphoric! Like every year, coming home was bittersweet.....loads of laundry and muddy feet but we can't wait to do it all over again next year.