Video: Spitting

Might as well catch up on a few blog posts since we are all home for the next few days thanks to Hurricane Sandy or "Frankenstorm" as it is being called. Right now we are enjoying the excuse to be together, having electricity (at least for now), and Costco (since they were open this morning so that I could grab a few last minute things).

Livy likes to spit in the sink. I think she got it from watching Cody and Kylee brush their teeth. She's also been climbing up on any stool she can get her hands on these days.

Spitting seems to be the cool thing these days. If the girls hear me spit while I am running and pushing them in the jogging stroller they almost always have to spit right after. Or when we were driving early in the morning hours on our way to Shenandoah and Steve rolled down his window and spit. Five seconds later both Cody and Kylee asked to have their windows down because they really needed to spit. That was OK with us, but on the way home while on the beltway in classic DC traffic? Not so much. They said they really needed to spit but we didn't think the drivers in the cars next to us would appreciate that.

No wonder Livy likes to spit.

Shenandoah National Park

Last Saturday we spent the day in Shenandoah National Park. 

We left the house at 4:00 am so that we could see this...

The sunrise was amazing! We had a great view of the Fall colors and the sky while we ate breakfast in the car (because it was freezing and windy!)

If I had to think of a theme for our trip it would be: "FACILITY CLOSED"

(And when I say facility I mean bathroom.)

Heading out on our first hike: Hawksbill Peak which is the highest peak in the park.

"Facility Closed"

acorns are a great diversion for being cold and tired

leaves are good for that too. She carried this one to the top.

Almost at the top

We made it!!

Kylee had a breakdown near the top so Steve made a deal with her that he would carry her back to the car if she hiked the rest of the way up.

Steve got a really good workout.

dehydrated lasagna before our next hike up Stony Man

Another beautiful view (the trees and the little hiker)

Cody was there too but he was looking for a facility.

We're glad we made it in time to see the Fall leaves before it was too late. It was worth it!

Liv's Fat Lip and a Video

Livy was walking along our toy chest, slipped, and hit her lip on the edge of the chest. Once we decided that she didn't need stitches and the mess was all cleaned up this is what we were left with: one fat lip.

This is how it looked the next day.

And at the end there is a video of her saying "Mommy" broken record style. This is how it sounds when she needs something. And she doesn't stop saying it until you figure it out. Pretty funny.

Life is so good.

Great Falls of the Potomac

The Fall colors are just beginning here and the weather has been so enjoyable. Since we know it won't last we are trying to get out and see as much as we can. Yesterday we decided to go to the Great Falls of the Potomac (C & O Canal National Historic Park).

Livy's seat got upgraded! It was her first day facing forward in her car seat. (It's not quite first class, but it was pretty fun to have her a part of the family).

Cody took this picture. It's nice to be able to be in pictures every once in a while to prove we were there. I thought he did a pretty nice job too.

Cody took this one too.

And Cody took this one too. He said this one was his favorite because he likes big eyes.

Kylee did not want any pictures of herself. So we told her to hold up the peanuts and we would take a picture of those instead.

Checking out the falls from the overlook.

There are a whole bunch of Billy Goat Trails where you can scramble over rocks. Perfect for the kids.

Before heading home we decided to test out our new backpacking stove and a few dehydrated meals. The kids were super excited.

Boil some water, pour it in the pouch and give it a stir, wait 6 minutes,  and Voila! You've got yourself a hot meal. We were impressed at how delicious they were. Now we know we won't starve to death if we ever have to use our 72 hour kits.

Cody kept saying SPORK. He thought that was a pretty cool word and he was excited to eat with it.

There was so much to see and do. We'll have to go back and do more of the Billy Goat Trails when we have more time and we have a kid carrier instead of a stroller.

Hopefully the Fall colors will be more brilliant next weekend.