ASP - Saturday Hike (Part 2)

After breakfast on Saturday, we headed up to the Bear Caves for a hike. The trailhead was walking distance from our cabins so we didn't have to deal with piling our army into cars. Herding cats . . . 

Love is tying your wife's shoe while she carries your child.

The Bear Caves are awesome rock formations that reminded me of our ski at Rock City State Forest. Meg and Charlotte taking a rest.

Corey and Charlotte on the big assent.

Char took the smart route under the log.

Our group heading up.

We made it to the caves!

My attempt at a picture of Lucy sleeping in the front carrier. Selfies with an SLR are not easy!

That's more like it.

Those little specks up there are Ned and Kevin.

Oliver up top, Corey front and center.

Kevin and Henry.

Elliott checked out the cave entrance.

Elliott was happier scaling the big rocks with Jesse.

He slid down on his booty, giving his jeans a run for their money.

Elliott, Jesse, Charlotte, and Corey.

Allegany State Park.

We paused for some photos on the log seat.

I love Char's hiking stick.

Teddy. This kid has amazing facial expressions.

Henry.

Check out Kevin and Devon in the background. They were amazing. Helping kids. Keeping kids from falling off cliffs. Bringing fun. Scaring off a bear (more on that later).

Penny climbing rocks. Holly did quite a bit of rock climbing when she was this size.

Just a head in a crevice.

The kids loved climbing the big rocks. Once again, Kevin running safety.

Hiking with kids is more like wrangling. Chuck and his gaggle.

Charlotte and Meg.

Ned was the big kid on this trip. Here he is showing off his balance skills.

With my noodle bug.

Devon and Kevin being awesome (once again) with Oliver and Teddy.

Taking a breather.

The kids climbed on a log and we had a little photoshoot.

Ants on a log!

Ned and his people.

Teddy decided he was done and ejected stage right.

And Teddy reappeared, thanks to Chuck.

A GIF of the action!

I'd like to think this was a special conversation.

Cousins.

Teddy, how big are you?

This was his response. We were in hysterics.

Lucy woke up smiling after a nice nap.

Cool mushrooms on a log.

Penny walked for most of the time.

So Holly took Lucy for a ride.

Meg and Charlotte making their way back to camp.

Charlotte went to check up on Lucy.

Hugs!

They snuggled in the hammock, too.

ASP 2014!! (Part 1)

In 2011, we went camping at Allegany State Park for the first time. There were five of us: Mike, Holly, Ned, Jesse, and me. I was pregnant with Elliott at the time. We skipped 2012. In 2013, we had 15 adults, 7 children, and 3 babies in utero. This year, we had 14 adults, 8 kids, and 3 dogs. We added two families and lost a few to scheduling conflicts, impending babies, and moves to India. Excuses, excuses. 

We had a blast. Taglines for 2014: "The year we saw a bear." #miketemple

Packing lightly is not my strong suit. Fortunately, my husband is an awesome packer. Allegany, here we come!!!

We made our annual trip to Walmart on the way down and met up with the Ortmans. Chaos ensued. Lucy took a ride in the new keg bucket.

Elliott helped unload the wood.

Ned, ready for hunting.

Pumped to be camping!

Before long, the fire was going and food prep had begun.

Master fire tenders.

This contraption was Lucy's home for the weekend. She loved being part of the action.

Sneaky Penny can scale a table and steal things in the blink of an eye.

Stella!

Teddy made a beeline for mud puddle.

It seems Elliott had ditched his boots by then (maybe two hours into the weekend).

What?

Chuck and Adrienne, Friday night grill masters.

The dinner scene.

Lucy and her feast.

We went from filthy carnival kids in Colorado to filthy camping kids. Well, kid. Lucy stayed pretty clean but Elliott looked like this for most of the weekend.

I love this picture. There are cute pictures of Elliott eating corn last year.

Fast forward to Saturday morning. Mike got snuggles with Penny and Lucy before breakfast. Lucy looks quite skeptical of life.

Teddy and Oliver, ready to take on the day.

Next up . . . the hike!