Camping With Cousins

So my niece Haley is basically awesome sauce!  And through a set of circumstances we became ridiculously close in the last two years of her high school.  That closeness led her family and mine to become more close than we had been.  It was such a good experience and it made leaving that much harder.  But before we left, we took a combined camping trip up to northeastern PA to the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site. 

Prepping for School Before/After

The week after we got home from vacation - Travis was home.  We played, went to the Turkey Hill Experience, fished, and started prepping for real for school, including the annual Father's Blessings.  I love this experience as I learn more about my children through Heavenly Father and their father as the mouthpiece.  As our neighbor, who is not a member of our church, once said after Travis gave her a blessing for healing "He really has a gift, Mary."  And he does, It's the Priesthood and not a day goes by that I'm not thankful that our family has full access to it. 

With those father's blessing, I think I garner as much peace of mind as the kids.  What I wouldn't do for my tiny babes who aren't so tiny anymore.  And as I am forced to introspection I can't help but feel pretty proud....first day pics

P.S.  They have all had hair cuts since.  They couldn't get me in the week before school started.