Homes for Crickets and Toads.

There are many things to share from our week long Sukkot camping adventure, but to delve into it all is a little overwhelming. So, I will pick one thing that actually calms me just thinking about...

We built a village. The little ones napped and Drew, Naomi & I sat in the shade 'round a mossy spot and used sticks and stones and pine needles and acorns and leaves and built a little fairy village. It was utterly relaxing and a great way to open Naomi up to ingenuitive thinking.

It surprisingly nice and simple and only one of the very fun times we shared through the week, but as I look through the pictures (it was well documented, Drew & I took turns trying to capture it perfectly) I feel the calm of the process...

I can't think of a better way to encourage imagination. Perhaps there's a cricket or a toad making themselves cozy round the fire right about now. This will be a new tradition to help us sit and enjoy our days outside. I think we may start treating them like GeoCaches so others can look for them--wouldn't that be a fun thing to treasure hunt for? And add to? This article triggered my memory of making them as a kid. And of course, Magic Onions always has inspiring fairy garden ideas!

Holiday Reminiscing

Tonight is the first night of Sukkot (feast of tabernacles). So, amid the rush of getting everything packed and ready to go for a week of camping and fellowship, I'm stopping in to share a few photos of years past.

2004: Went into labor the next day. (this is proof to those who don't believe I gained a ginormous amount of weight when I was pregnant the first time. whew.)

2005: Naomi was born at Sukkot in 2004, so here she is almost 1.

2006: The Sukkah in the backyard. (Naomi 2)

2007: Naomi's 3rd birthday fell on Sukkot, so we partied extra hard.

2008: Sweet Lady blowing a Shofar
(I was due a week after sukkot with Leviah--hence, my midwife kept the feast with us, just in case we'd need to do a 'tent' birth).

2008: Sweet kiddo decorating the Sukkah.

2009: Naomi turned 5 and Leviah was almost 1.

2010: The kids enjoyed a field movie night. This is a new tradition and we're looking forward to this year's show. Drew's mad A/V skills make this all possible.

From the Camp-out

sunset on the Nomad.

We spent the majority of last week out at the land enjoying the heat and celebrating Sukkot. We sweltered, on account of it being September (insert sarcastic tone here).

Regardless, we had fun. We did some leaf pounding, outhouse building, nature walking, hammock napping, campfire cooking, banner making, movie watching, star gazing, family bonding, friend enjoying and more. It really was a blessing and a good time--many new memories.

Here is a scrapbook of pictures:

fancy door for a john, no?

though it was hot, we cooked stew, dogs, mallows, & more over the fire pit.

doesn't everyone watch movies on camping trips?

the full moon lit up the nights.

a bit campy

this is our Hobitat Home.

We were out for a week in the depths of Hagan-Stone Park--a local state park approx. 15miles from our actual home. We enjoyed our time of "dwelling" with some fellowship & fun. Unlike I'd expected there were very few moments of silent reflection; between the rain, sunshine, cold, heat, crafts, exploration, fishing, campfire cooking, playground, birthdays (more on that later), the annual Volkswagen bus convention & trips to-n-fro the bathroom there were few seated expanses of time. I miss it & am glad to be home simultaneously.

I will share the week with pictures...

Lulav & Etrog for Sukkot

Babies...did I mention? Babies.

climbing & fishing.

nature.

crafts

volkswagen event; there were loads of buses-new want.