Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

We Are Thankful For Our Boys!!!

Adam's 8th Birthday

Adam's 8th birthday!!

Adam's birthday was a good day. I had to really be in the zone for that day. Dan had left to start his new job in Utah about a week before, so I was flying solo. I was really blessed that day and it all worked out. I took all the boys to Chuck E. Cheese when Adam and Richie got home school. It was THE perfect time to go to Chuckie's. Not much is happening there on a Monday at 3:30pm. All the boys had fun and we left with no tears...success! We got home and had Adam's favorite BBQ pizza from Domino's. My mom was planning on making Adam his favorite cake of hers, the pound cake, but unfortunately she was sick so I went to plan B, Oatmeal Chocolate Cake and let the boys decorate their own piece. With Dan in Utah I was left to being the photographer, needless to say it wasn't pretty. We set up the computer so Dan could "be" there through the web cam. When it was all over I was happy and grateful. Happy I made it through the day and grateful for everyone that made it a special day for Adam.

Adam is a good kid. I am so grateful he is the one blazing the trail for the other three. He is a good big brother and a good son. The comment I get most from people who interact with him is, "Adam is such a sweet boy". I agree. We Love You Adam!!

"Hi Dad!!"

Sam was having a hard time waiting...

Happy Truman

I am glad I suggested just decorating your own piece...

Would you like some cake with that frosting?

Cumberland

Going to Cumberland Island was a dream. Living in Utah for so long, I just never thought I would be able to share one of my favorite places with Dan and the boys. I suppose dreams do really come true! Cumberland is such a wonderful place. We would camp there a lot growing up and I always looked forward to it. I was so happy to share such a special place with Dan and see him enjoy it as much as I do. My Dad and Terri kept Sam and Tru so we could really enjoy ourselves. It can get pretty loud in our house with two little toddlers, so we were looking forward to spending time with Adam and Richard. It was fun to plan a trip that we were all excited about. The boys would ask me all about the island and what we would see and do there. It was great to see them in a place that is perfect for 7 and 6 year old boys.

So many great memories and a few things I wouldn't mind forgetting: The thousands of BITING gnats that were at the dock when we were loading our gear on the ferry. Even the deckhands said they had never seen the gnats that bad. I could have done without the 'waterbugs' aka roaches that hung out near the bathrooms. The tree frogs were great for the kids, but I like my privacy in my COLD shower. And I had to block out the sound of a giant possum that lived under the bathrooms. Dan cutting his foot in the ocean. The 3am rain storm wasn't a bonus and I could have done without the water in the tent and the following night of howling wind. But we have plenty of good memories to compensate. A few of my favorites: arriving at the Seacamp dock and finding it exactly how I remember it from 15 years ago, waking up early and watching the sun rise with Dan and the boys, walking to Dungeness and hanging out at the picnic table having a group snack picnic, hanging out on the bench, watching the kids play on "the monkey tree" from my childhood, campfire talks, fishing off the dock, watching the kids play together, and spending time with some of my favorite people.

So let the photos begin:

We stayed the night in St. Marys so we could catch the first ferry to the Island the next morning. It was like a scene from the circus clown car. I couldn't believe how much stuff we fit in the van and how fast we got it on the ferry. We had to bring everything we needed for the next four days. No Wal-mart runs...

Leaving it all behind

Here is the group that went: The McPheters, The J&J Mitchells, The Sharps (minus Sam and Tru), The P&S Mitchells, and the E&E Mitchells. Silly Faces for the Park Ranger

(I love this picture)

We gathered all our gear into the handcarts and started the trek to the group site. It was great how everyone helped each other. The kids were happy to help too.

The Live Oak trees that grow on Cumberland Island are simply amazing. They are so old and beautiful and unique. As children we called them "Monkey Trees", because we felt like monkeys climbing through their large, tangled limbs.

After we set up camp we headed straight to the beach. It was so peaceful and perfect. I love being at the beach and being on Cumberland's is just a sweet opportunity.

I remember racing down this boardwalk to the beach as a little girl. And then slowly walking back up it after a long and wonderful day on the beach. It was no different being there as an adult.

Luke flying down from heaven

The next day we took a hike to the ruins of the Dungeness Plantation.

This is what the mansion looked like in its heyday.

We went down to the marshes to look for shark teeth and the wild horses came for a visit.

Hiking around the plantation grounds

We stopped and had a snack-picnic. It was one of my favorite memories. Everyone passing this and that to each other. Summer sausage anyone?

Picnic Time

The kids at the big fountain.

We were reenacting a picture from our childhood. Aww.. look how grown up we are!

Adam and Richie posing by the wild horse and the ruins.

Take Two

Hiking and having a GOOD time!

And finally leaving it all behind...again...

It was hard to leave after such a great trip, especially not knowing when we will be able to go back. I just hope that when we do get back we will find it just how we left it.

One last look...goodbye