Caleb's UPK field trip to Finch Hollow Nature Center

In the rain and mud, UPK forged on for a trip to Finch Hollow yesterday!! The kids were treated to a lesson on the difference between birds and mammals, then allowed to touch some stuffed animals that had once been alive. We went outside for the hiking portion of the show, and slogged through puddles and mud. The main trail that leads to the pond was totally underwater, so we had to look at the pond from a berm on the opposite side. We ended by climbing up a hill and tried not to slide down. It was a fun trip and I am grateful that the state of NY found money to keep this park open to the public and for field trips.

Mr. Tasber gives a lesson between birds and mammals

Caleb strokes the stuffed duck

Caleb got to touch a coyote fur

Snacktime!

Outside at the start of our hike, looking for birds, listening for bird calls, and checking out bird nests

Our new fence

Our new privacy fence. Glad that we finally did this in the backyard!

My kids meet Cameron

Molly with Cameron - he is 4 days old

All the kids with Cameron
Potter and Cameron having some tummy time!

Caleb's tball team

Last week, Caleb's tball team had pictures. I shot this while the professional picture was being taken. Caleb is second from left in the front row. Sadly, the first game (today) was cancelled because the fields are still flooded from all of our rain. I am thankful that Potter has been playing ball with him in the backyard since he got home from school.

Baby Cameron

My best friend Wendy has a niece who is currently living with her in NY. Lindsey gave birth to her first child, Cameron, April 25th. I was fortunate enough to be there for the entire birth. What a truly amazing experience!!

Me and Cameron (he's about 30 minutes old in this picture!!)

Special visitors arrive Friday night!!!

Dave's cousin Holly, who lives in Atlanta, came up with her two boys on the last night we were in the mountains. Atlanta is only a 2.5 to 3 hour drive, so they easily arrived by dinner time. The goofiness of having 5 kids in the house quickly got underway and we had the best time hanging out with them!!

Cousins!! Christopher, Anderson, Potter, Molly, Caleb

Cousins: part two: Dave and Holly

Christopher was mesmerized by Potter playing the mandolin

Burgers and dogs for dinner at the big table.

This might be one of the most precious pictures ever!!

Day two - Tallulah Gorge

(Forgot these cute pics and now Blogger insists that I put them before all of my text. Grrrr)

Molly in front of the river, before our long trek down

At least they are all three in the picture!!

On Friday, we drove on down to Georgia and visited Tallulah Gorge State Park. Dave and I had been there about 15 years ago when we were both still teaching. It is a beautiful area, all the trees and flowers were in bloom, even more so than up higher in the mountains. It was an overcast day, but warm temps, which made the trek that we were about to do much easier than if we had gone in dead of July with 90 degree weather. You begin at the rim of the trail and then, to get to the suspension bridge and then down to a viewing deck at the bottom of the gorge, you must descend 310 steps. Yes, they let you know exactly what you are getting into before you begin. This is NOT for the faint of heart. The steps are steep and a little intimidating. But let me just say that going down was a piece of cake compared to coming back up. At least we were not the only people huffing and puffing our way to the top. Those 310 steps back up are not friendly. The trip down to the bottom of the gorge was definitely worth it, though. It was GORGEous!!!

Dave and Granddad on the suspension bridge. You must be very trusting when you walk out on that bridge!!

Looking down into the gorge from the suspension bridge

The falls going into the bottom of the gorge

Molly at the viewing deck at the very bottom

See? They are honest about what you can expect. We could have gone another 221 steps down to the Hurricane Falls platform, but that would have meant 531 steps back up!!!

Big hike day at Glens Falls

Our first full day in the mountains we decided to go visit Glens Falls, which is about a 20 minute drive away near Highlands. The kids got some goofing around in at the breakfast bar and then we set off. Upon our arrival, we found out that one of the main paths to the falls was closed for maintenance - they are basically putting in over 200 new stairs down to the falls. We took the other trail, unsure if we would still be able to view the falls. As it turned out, we had a really good 2 hour hike in the wooded area on that mountain. It was very cool and shady, so no one really minded. We meandered along a path that stayed on course with the stream that came from the falls, crossed over the stream several times (some easier than others), and ended up at the top of a mountain that was no where near the falls. It was a beautiful morning, though and everyone got their exercise in for the day. We went to town in Highlands and had lunch out, then headed back to our house for more fun in the creek out back!!

Monkey kids eating breakfast

At the beginning of the trail at Glens Falls, someone had made some Zen rock piles. I found them very soothing.

Dave and Granddad cross over the stream on a bridge, the easiest crossing we had the whole morning!

Bubbling, beautiful stream

Caleb on one of his crossovers, looks like he is hugging the tree for his life!

Kids cannot refuse climbing up on a huge fallen tree and being photographed

Another stream crossing

They are so photogenic!

Granddad, Dave and the kids, it was a very picturesque setting, despite the fact that Dave is getting choked

Arriving at our mountain retreat!!

We arrived midday at our mountain rental. The private road to get to the house is 1.5 miles, and with all the twists and turns, we didn't think we'd get there. Then, the driveway is about a 60 degree descent. Must make sure to have good brakes before going (and I would not take a stick shift car under any circumstances!!!) After we toured the house with our jaws hanging open, the kids decided that they wanted to take advantage of one of the best features of the property: a mountain stream with waterfalls!!! It was a sunny, but cool day, but that really didn't deter them. After the initial shock of the water temperature, they were fine. I mean, seriously, they spend a week in Maine water every summer, they are immune!! Other cool features of the house include two ginormous decks, an outside firepit, a spiral staircase to get up to the loft, the loft, a huge garden tub with jets and bubbles, and a laundry chute. I am sure I'll come up with other things, but for now, those are the highlights!

Caleb and Molly climbing the rocks to get to the big waterfall around the bend

All kids on the way to the top of the waterfall

The back of the house, looking at it from down at the creek

Can't get enough playtime, now they head downstream

Beautiful Molly!!

Boys at the big waterfall

Caleb getting drenched at the big waterfall. I stood there for a minute and turned blue!!!

Roasting hot dogs on hand carved sticks

My adorable Caleb!!

Evidence of the carving......

Out at the fire pit, ready to make smores

Second from left, our hero who found this wonderful house!!

Heading to Scaly Mountain, NC!!!

We left Granddad's house, with Granddad in tow, and were on our way to our rental house in Scaly Mountain, NC. Found this house online, and let me just say, it was beyond our wildest dreams, even though we had seen photos online. That will come later. En route to the house, we stopped off at Dry Falls, about 20 minutes from the house. The children had never been to the mountains or seen any falls of note (see previous post) so this was a brand new and exciting experience for them. Since you can actually walk behind Dry Falls, we were all pretty damp once we left!!

Caleb, Potter, Molly on the walk down to Dry Falls

Caleb behind Dry Falls

Potter behind Dry Falls

A family shot, can you believe it?? Dave looks like he is getting the Gatorade treatment after a football game!!

At the top of the walking trail down to Dry Falls

Spring Break - starting at Granddad's house

I have been on a small hiatus from the blog. Countless trips and activities, tutoring and home projects - all these things keeping me from updating since I am never sitting still for very long! We had an amazing spring break this year, despite having one of our spring break days taken away due to going over our allotted snow days for the year. Oh well, our kids just missed that day of school, as did many other kids. Our first stop was at Fearrington, where we spent a couple of nights with Granddad. Biggest attraction for the kids - feeding the goats, playing in the pond, and this year, climbing up the waterfall that feeds aforementioned pond. Not sure if that is really allowed, but we did it anyway. A bit overcast while we were there, but much warmer and trees and flowers in full bloom, a major bonus for us!!

Caleb feeding goats while avoiding the electric fence. Sometimes it is on, sometimes it is off. This time was on, one poor goat really got shocked!!

Playing in the pond with a long stick and trying to get as much nasty algae on the end of the pinecone as possible.

Little did we know at the time, but this waterfall was only a pittance of what the coming waterfalls would be!!

Potter finally climbed all the way up and out!!