Our first family camping trip was to Mt. Lassen Volcanic National Park. Jeffrey joined us for three nights under the stars. In fact, our little observer was the first to spot the wishing star in the night sky. During the daytime, we hiked to Bumpass Hell and back (boiling mud pots and steam vents), explored a lava tube, and took our boat out on Manzanita Lake. Humboldt really liked drinking hot cocoa by the campfire and sharing the back seat with both dogs on the drive.
We spent the first week of autumn visiting family since my mom's undergoing treatment for breast cancer and is not able to travel. Now we can fly from here to St. Louis with only one stop. Grandma Brenda took us to the Botanical Gardens to see pretend dinosaurs and play on the fabulous playground. Grandpa Ralph set up his model train in the basement and gave Humboldt rides on his tractor.
Humboldt went to his first field hockey game and first football game in Missouri. Isabella played goalie at a game at Parkway West, where I went to high school. Wolfy's team won an exciting away game. That's John and Julie sporting the orange and blue - Go Greyhounds!
We celebrated three September birthdays - Sydney's, Wolfy's, and Jeffrey's. We got to see some footage of Wolfy and Tim hang gliding, and I got a peek of Isabella behind the wheel; she and Anna both have their driving permits. Bo loved when all the girls babysat him.
