Family Time in NY

First ride at the Ulster County Fair 

One of the best things about vacation as the children get older is watching their relationships with each other blossom and grow. Jack and Eliza are more similar in personality than Ben, but they all played together so well this time. Benjamin has more than once been lamenting that Jack is not here to play with.

E was an expressive little rider 

Sassy ones

All three of these littles made it around Lake Minnewaska this year too. They probably went twice as far as we did really with all the running back and forth and up and down rocks along the way. Honestly, it was exhausting. Keeping these kids moving in one direction was like herding cats. 

So many rocks to climb on...no, let's keep going!  

And baby Ryan made it around the lake too, but that's because he's the best baby in the world. Seriously. Neither of mine were this pleasant to be around at this age. Lucky mama. 

Baby Ryan before baptism

We got to visit with lots of other long lost family as well on this trip. Aunt Kathy (who visited us in TX a few years ago) and her daughter Kim (we were pen pals in middle school!) and her two kids came down from Maine and Aunt Peggy and her family came in from CT. I loved hearing Aunt Peggy's stories about her sister-in-law, my Grandy, who died when I was about 12. Since I only knew her as a child, I had a good but very narrow view of who she was as a person. I appreciate having that view expanded by people that knew her in different ways.

Everyone's crazy about baby Ryan 

These second cousins have some interests in common

At the fossil place

Family time this year also included a visit from JB's parents--more pics from their visit next time--and Hank helped get the music going on one of our last nights in NY. If I knew how to get a video on this thing I'd share some of Eliza's and Jack's dancing--it was truly glorious.