End of the year

This collage tells it all...great day had by all! Cheers to 2011 and warm wishes for a happy and healthy 2012!

PS - this collage looks a little funky b/c I smudged out our last names. I don't like to have them on here and this was the quick and dirty way to still get the pictures up. If you are looking at this, you can click the collage to see the photos larger. (and I know that the 6 people that read this know our last names anyway - my brain just likes to overthink things)

Hiking to a waterfall (in December!)

 Going on a hike with friends that we hadn't seen in months. Sun shining, breeze blowing, blue sky overhead...

 Found some great rocks along the way!

 "Taking a little rest"

 Awesome mom Trinity and her great (and adorable) girls, Addison and Hadley. Hadley is 19 months old and could not get enough of throwing rocks in the water :)

 Another rest shot...I thought he looked like he wanted his picture taken, handsome boy!

 Say "Cheese" as loud as you can! Up on some taller rocks to really make a splash with their throws.

 Having fun up a little higher and working hard to get there...

 Up close and personal with a smaller waterfall. Hadley LOVED getting wet. It was in the high 50's and she wasn't wet long, not that she cared. It's water, mommy! Luke totally avoided getting his head wet. Kind of like at bathtime :)

 We are in a cave! Looking so cute exploring the area like big kids!

 Waving down to our pals after Luke had me follow him up to a high point. It was sooooo pretty and fun to be in the woods for a couple of hours!

 More fun exploring...We found a hollow log that Luke was interested in, and when I told him that animals make it their home, he loved it. He decided that a raccoon and a bunny live in it together.

 These are at the big waterfall at the end of the hike. I love Hadley's interest in Luke and I love that you can see how much he enjoys being with these two girls! Hadley was cold and you can see her little fists clenched to stay warm. Her momma got her all bundled warm for the walk back to the car after these pictures :)

 Luke got the camera and wanted to take some pictures. I am glad that he captured a couple of us. It was a wonderful afternoon!

 Deciding whether or not he needed his sunglasses. LOVE THESE!

Thanks to Trinity and her girls for such a fun and memorable visit. It was a great day. Luke stayed up all the way home and through some errands even, surprising me. It was a great surprise though because we went on to have some fun searching for New Year's dinner items ("Mommy, you have to ask someone that works here" Luke's advice when we couldn't find sesame seeds) and taking more pictures/playing at home. I love holiday break!

Snow fun - Be quick!

We woke up earlier this week to a couple of inches of snow on the ground! Luke was running around yelling "Merry Christmas" and we got out to play for a while. Steve came out to take pictures because he said it looked so obvious that we were having a great time! Luke's favorite thing was Star pulling my gloves off and running around with them like she caught a rabbit or something. He laughed so hard. Today we are going hiking in the sunshine and high 50 degree day...Love southern Il. weather :)

Peace

One year later, sunshine, fresh air, peace. Love you, Luna.

The spot

Today we took Luna's ashes out to Little Grassy to give her a final resting spot. She was happiest there with our friends, her dog friends and the freedom to chase ducks (!), swim in circles around me when I would cross the lake, shark her buddies for a tennis ball or frisbee, scrounge some food from a picnic or roll in the dirt until she looked like a chocolate lab. Lake days are precious memories that I am thankful for and they are a memory of my first days getting to know Steve which makes 'the spot' all the more precious. As we drove out, I was sad again at the loss of Luna, but as soon as we let her go, we all knew it was the right thing to do.

It was a stunningly beautiful day (for any month, let alone December) and we enjoyed walking the short trail to the lake access. This spot is not fancy at all and when I first took Steve there, I think he thought I was nuts when we parked and had to walk through tall grass to the clearing. Worth it!  For the record, my being a little nuts is one reason he married me.

 The winter walk is much clearer and easier and we had a good time finding 'trophies', otherwise known as sticks to walk with and looking for clues.

 Star, of course, had a blast being with us for this adventure. She hasn't been to this swim spot much, but she soaked up the opportunity to swim and run wild for the hour we were there!

 I love this picture of Luke's sweet face against the pretty scenery.

It isn't fancy, but it is special! Throw down some beach towels, enjoy a cold beverage and dive into the water. Good stuff! Then have a dog dive in after you, scratch you for a ball, follow you out and shake off on you. Still good stuff!

 Love the devilish look in his eyes :)

 I am coming for you, Mommy!

 Gotcha...

 We played by the fire pit and pretended to cook rice and beans. Then Luke handed me some "red jelly beans' for dessert. I like the way he thinks! Daddy got some green ones. I never knew you could cook jelly beans over a fire pit!

 Explaining our snack...

 Happy chef!

 Wondering how he can get this stick back in the car? Really, he asked to take it home!

 Focused on trying to get the stick to budge...

 Luke had the camera. He is learning pretty well to center his subjects...

 I just cropped this one to make us closer, but he nailed this one. We were centered and pretty much in focus! He took it and said - "I did it!"

 One more each of Daddy - dang, he is good looking!

 and mommy...I got low to help get myself in the shot ;)

Heading out in trusted arms. It was a wonderful visit to Grassy. I was so grateful to go with Steve, Luke and Star, for the awesome weather, to watch Luke's comfort in nature and for the fun that we had along the way.