Saturday Shenanigans

Saturday we decided to go on a little nature hike. We lasted about 2 hours before our kids were tired & wanting to go home; they always do really well when we're out exploring :)

I took my camera along, it was the first time since my miscarriage that I had really even touched it. It felt nice to do something that I love to do, again. 

I do believe we've found the place for our pictures when the trees start turning colors! It was so beautiful with all the green, I'm sure it'll be just as fabulous in a month or so.

Love my family & the time we spend together!

the biggest slug I think I've ever seen. 

John tripped over his boots & fell. He hates having anything on his hands!

Making John's walking stick :)

He actually does walk with the sticks like a true outdoorsmen lol

Almost walked straight into this little web....

sooo many rocks... which one should he choose?!

he really likes sunglasses 

again he tripped & needed to wipe off his hands lol

I always enjoy showing John things that I know he will freak out about, like slugs & snails lol. He wants so bad to hold them, but he squirms & screams at their texture. Usually I can get him to hold a snail... only because he holds the shell with his thumb and pointer finger :)

Ellie was obviously really happy & carefree during our outing. 

John was obsessed with all the moss.

He was, of course, not thrilled with the texture of the moss.

Say hello to one of the spots we'll be using for our fall family photos!

Nathan would like me to add that he took this photo of John lol. He's quite proud ;)

Kind of tempted to do a head swap of Ellie on this one... its such a good picture other than her looking away.

John was playing with this little guy.
We were a tad apprehensive about it when the beetle flipped & we saw the metallic blue.
On Nathan's deployments to Iraq they told them to steer clear of the beetles with blue bellies.

Someone was getting tired :)

Love these things! They look like mini pine cones, right? Well, they don't grow on coniferous tress!
Did a little research on google & found out they were called Alnus sp. Alder

its been storming for days. when we were walking back to our jeep, we saw some more storm clouds coming

 I was just goofing off & took a couple snaps of Ellie through the crack between the car & the car door, hence the obnoxious silvery- white blur. 

We've just been enjoying the last two months left of our tour in Germany. I've been trying to get back into my normal swing of things & most days I do pretty well. But sometimes, without warning, I'll just cry. Usually seeing newborns out and about or pregnant mamas that I've seen while at the OB's office will trigger the waterworks. Hopefully that business will end soon. It can be embarrassing to start tearing up in public. So grateful for John & Ellie, as well as Nathan. He's been by my side & my rock & comfort on those really hard days. I love him so much & am so glad he's mine :)