We were all hot and tired from an exciting day on the dusty trail and definitely ready for lunch. Some of our friends wanted to try out the new restaurant in the small town at the top of the mountain, but being Father's Day, it was packed. There was no way we would be seated and fed within three hours. So, we decided to go to the picnic area. But, being Father's Day, it was packed. There was no parking. Even in the No Parking zones.
Morons.
All the idiots parking on the road in the clearly marked No Parking zones made it difficult and in some places impossible for traffic to get through. This was a problem for our Jeep, which kept overheating and stalling.
We finally decided to go to Bigelow road. But, with our engine problems, we shortly lost our fearless leader. And, there were campgrounds, trails, and roads all named Bigelow. Finally, we just had to stop. The engine needed to cool, and our bodies needed fuel and rest as well. We found a nice shady spot to unpack our picnic and figured that sooner or later, our friends would find us.
Nicco thought, for some reason, that I was not as hot and dusty and tired as he was and that it would be perfectly reasonable and acceptable to use me as a chair. Ugh.
Patrick and Amber found us first. They stopped by to make sure all was well, went off to inform Darrell where we were, then went their separate way. They wanted to test out the climbing capabilities of their new Jeep.
The kids didn't really settle down for lunch...they nibbled and climbed, then nibbled and ran, then nibbled and climbed and ran some more.
Once we were settled in to a degree and pacified by delicious sandwiches and pasta salad, Patrice asked our EMT friend what he thought about the painful swelling in his finger.
Doctor Chad checked him out and told him to see a real doctor. This picture here reminds me of...
...this picture here. Hee hee hee. Mr. Rob laughed at the Daddies holding hands on Father's Day.
Laney was curious about the injury too. Maybe she'll grow up to be a real doctor. Or an EMT like her papa.
And, look who finally decided to show up! Darrell and his family found us and shared our picnic, kind of. Camden had his heart and mind set on Pizza Hut. There was no Pizza Hut at the top of the mountain.
So while his sister ate, he teased. It's what little brothers do.
Laney practicing her mortal combat skills with her Daddy. You know what they say,
the family that fights together stays together.
Mr. Darrell, Tough Guy.
The kids had their fill of snacking and went off into the woods. The woods are so good for kids. Yay, woods!
King of the Mountain!
For some reason, I just love this picture of Laney and Nicco. It makes me happy.
Running up the hill...
...and down again.
Twins!
With all the running and the up and down and back and forth and side to side it was hard to get all five kids in one spot together. Rob, our photographer for the day, finally managed to get them all within one frame.
Dev tried her very mightiest to knock this tree down with a stick.
She nearly hit Nicco in the face. Neither one of them was paying much attention to what was going on in their immediate surroundings.
And what's that I see, sneaking behind that tree?
Is it Bigfoot?
No, it's just Nicco!
The kids found treasures. Rocks. There are no rocks in town.
Nests.
Admittedly, I haven't seen nests like this in town. Our city birds don't work this hard. They make really lame nests that blow away.
Beautiful trees!
It was a refreshing getaway, in spite of the minor mishaps. We enjoyed the forest until we were all forested out, then headed back down the mountain.
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