Saturday Centerville Waterfall Adventure

So it's 4th of July weekend and we really didn't have any plans. We unpacked and organized the garage yesterday (you can imagine how much fun the kids thought that was!) and relaxed. We thought it'd be fun to do something a little different today. Several days ago a friend of mine posted some awesome pictures and instructions on how to get to this little waterfall area in Centerville. It was only located about 15 minutes away and as per her info it seemed like the perfect hike for non-hikers with small children. We packed a lunch, sunscreened the kids and off we went. 

About 3 minutes into the hike I realized: either we are serious wimps or my friend and I have very different definitions of what's considered "fairly level ground." Keep in mind a majority of the 7 of us are in flip flops. Adrian is carrying Leah, I've got 20-lb squirmy baby in my arms and the rest of the kids are helping us carry water bottles, lunch, blanket, etc. we are going down steep hillsides with gravely dirt underfoot. Just as we get down we turn a sharp corner and there's another steep incline. I'm worried. Did we go the wrong way? I can hear the waterfall so I know we must be close! 

We turn the corner go down another steep hill and there it is- this gorgeous waterfall. Yes it's picturesque and the water is cool and refreshing. However this was not the place for a picnic! There are short banks on either side of the small river that are about 18" in width. We find the biggest spot and lay the blanket down. Everyone begins exploring and it takes about 30 second before a majority of the kids are either soaked or covered in dirt. Adam is done with being held however I'm not about to let him just have free reign crawling all over the mountainside. I'm trying to have fun but for every smiling picture I take of the kids I'm envisioning someone falling, getting bitten by a snake, slipping on a river rock, etc. At one point I looked around and thought, "there's no way Life Flight could make it back in here!" 

In all my worst-case-scenario day dreaming I've lost track of what Adam is doing as I hold him. I peer around and see he's happily sucking on a river rock. Awesome. Leah's shorts are caked in mud and a small movement to her side makes me zero in on a ginormous spider.  

When it's time to go back, Adrian puts Leah on his shoulders and puts Adam in a football hold. I bring up the rear, saying a quick prayer that we all make it back unscathed. Thomas and I take our time- flip flops are making us slow. He falls and slides a little ways down the hill side. I'm trying not to freak out as I pull him back up. He claims he can't carry the lunch bag so I strap it across my other shoulder. By the time we make it back to the car we all cheer like we've been gone for much, much longer than the 1 hr 15 minutes it's actually been. 

We will go back, I'm certain...in about 5 years. With tennis shoes and less baggage. 

Cheers everyone. I need a nap. 

Random Happenings, June 2014 edition

So I was browsing the pictures on my phone yesterday and noticed there were over 330. Oops! It's also been a good 2 months since I've blogged here, so here's a quick update on our family... Btw- I will post about our house next! 

At Grammie and Papa's house we fell into a few routines. One of those was particularly cute- Leah loved Grammie putting these pink curlers in her hair. All the time. And she pronounced them "killers." Ha! She'd walk around asking everyone if they liked her killers. Fun. 

Adam turned 7 months. Then 8 months. I'll do a full update on what he's up to in a couple weeks but in a nutshell- loves to crawl everywhere, stands unassisted and walks with help. Plays with brothers and sisters and makes car noises! Eats like a horse, is growing like a weed and is still adorable! 

He got a bad cold a few weeks ago- poor little dude swelled up like crazy! 

Hailey is really figuring out my phone, passwords included. I keep finding these gems... Or at least I did until I created a new password, ha! 

Mothers Day was fun, as was Fathers Day! 

We went to the zoo, again. The new lion exhibit is awesome! 

Bubba and Nellie came for a quick visit- 

Our 9 kids combined found some fun things in the backyard. I think the pet snail count was at 23...

Minutes after they left we found a snake in the backyard! Yuck! 

Here's some random pics I just thought were cute...

Up next... Our new house! 

Random Happenings from the past few weeks

So we're here living with my in-laws, which is actually going really well for anyone curious. My in laws are great- they're easy to live with (I doubt they'd say the same for our family of 7, but they are super nice about it, LOL!) With life being a little crazy I thought I'd just do more of a conglomeration post of the past 3 weeks...

Leah goes all out when she drinks Blueberry Smoothies

Adam bounces in door ways all over the house

And disregards social faux pas like actually sitting back in his bouncer chair. Then again, watching Sesame Street is a particularly gripping, edge of your seat kind of show.

But isn't he so cute?!? 

We have lots of fun family dinners with cousins

We have had some lovely spring snow storms. Here the kids are sweeping the snow off the trampoline.

Speaking of the trampoline... It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Watch out for those springs, they'll get you every time! 

Leah did this exact same thing about 2 weeks ago- her bruise is now a light yellow. Now she and Colin can coordinate bruises! 

No idea what's going on here but I found it more important to take a picture rather than save my baby...

Sunset after a snow storm...

Everyone is asking about our house so I'll post an update soon!