Tony Grove Day

Heather invited us to join her Thursday hiking group at Tony Grove on August 1st.  I was nervous about getting back in the car for a couple hour drive early the morning after we returned from our trip home from CO, but I wanted to go to Tony Grove more than I wanted to not drive, and the kids were on board for the adventure, so we did it.  We were happily surprised to see not only Heather and Grace and Meggy (she just got home the day before!) and Grandma (who we were expecting to hike with), but also Kylie, and Evy and Bradley (their mom had just had new baby Magnolia the night before so Grandma was babysitting Big Bro and Sis), my cousins MaKinna, Macie and Emory, and my Elwood grandparents.  It was a regular party!  No one else from her hiking group showed, so we Elwoods made our trek around the lake, and then picnicked in the shade at our favorite spot by the huge log.  The flowers were absolutely spectacular!  I couldn't believe all the colors!  And the bright bluebird sky was perfection.  The kids loved splashing with cousins in the water for a while after lunch to cool off.  And then we snapped some obligatory log photos before heading back to Logan for a little while to play in grandma's basement with the dress ups and cars.  We made it home in time for some boxed mac 'n' cheese dinner (elevated highly by the addition of fresh-from-the-vine zucchini on the side) with Gregg.  It was a perfect day in my happy place!

Callie and Evy - hiking buddies!

Rock sittin' and snackin' for everyone!

Some post-hikin' rock sittin'.

Chow time!

Sistas!

Cousins!
(Emory, Macie and MaKinna)

Naptime for Mugs.

Swimmers and splashers.

Watchers and dryers.

Everyone is happy to have Meggy here!

Grands and greats.

Kylie, MaKinna, Macie, Heather, Kim, Emory, Grace, Sam,
Mugs, Evy, Bradley, Callie, Grandma and Grandpa

Only missing three of the granddaughters here.

Sisters!

Sisters and mom!

Cousins!  (Almost all of the grands - missing brand-new-less-
than-a-day old Magnolia!)

Cal brought her new nature kit and caught a cool caterpillar
to look at under the magnifying glass.  We left it there, but it
was fun to observe for a while.

And one more flower shot on our way out -
I just couldn't help myself!  Those paintbrush
are good for my soul!