Dance recital pictures

Jenna didn't want anyone to see her in this lovely blue dress--but Mom's like to post these things! :-) She is in the back row, 2nd from the right. Rebecca is in the middle row, 3rd from the left.

The Annual Spring Camping Trip

Each May, we camp at Sam A. Baker State Park in Southeast Missouri. We have a "core" group of 4 families that go and usually several others. This spring it was just those 4 families plus Allison's parents--a small but close knit group! (small compared to the trip last fall where we numbered 52!)

Sam A. Baker has a nice level bike path that takes you to the nature center, creek and camp store, and there's a nice hiking trail to the shut-ins. There was quite a storm Friday morning as we were enroute, so the river was up several feet and there were some trees down. BUT--while we were there the weather was GREAT! We got a little drizzly rain Sunday night (it wouldn't be camping without some rain sometime along the way!) but we had sunshine Monday morning so everything was dried out for packing up.

One of the fun things we did was shooting off a "bottle launcher." The Gaines saw it on "Ask This Old House." It was a PVC pipe that they attached a 2 lt. bottle to, used a tire pump to add the pressure, then they pulled and string to launch the bottle about 80 ft into the air. To add to the fun, there was water in the bottle, so whoever did the pulling of the string, got a shower. We ended up losing three bottles in the tops of the pine trees, but were able to shoot down one with a sling shot. We were working on one of the others when we realized that it was sitting about 5 feet from a hawk's nest. We noticed it when the momma hawk flew in to feed the babies! Needless to say we quit shooting the tennis ball at the pop bottle! The third was way too high in the tree to be able to get it down. I'd love to hear the stories people make up, trying to figure out how a pop bottle got to the tops of the pine trees! LOL!

Camping at Sam A. Baker State Park

Bike riding is a major activity while camping. Here's Matthew learning how. Once when he was climbing on, he said, "HAT!" so I guess he's already learned the rules about always wearing a helmet! (no, he can't actually ride, but he did enjoy being pushed around. He loves riding in the cart behind Kenny! (no pictures of that though) :-(

Hiking with Daddy.

Sitting on the waterfall en route to the shut-ins. A beautiful hike!

Throwing rocks at the shut-ins. Matthew definitely is right handed with writing/coloring, but he's a "switch-hitter" with his rock throwing. As you can see in this picture, he's demonstrating his left handed skills.

Because of the wet conditions, every rock Matthew picked up had mud on it's bottom side. He's smudged it on his face here.

Our whole camping crew--front: Allison Bruno, Peggy Austin, Beth Branson, Laura, Adelia Gaines, Row two: Stan Austin, Anna Mae Bruno, Drew Branson, Katie Bruno, Meredith, Will Gaines, Rebecca, Kenny, Back row: Charlie Bruno, Emily Bruno, Andy Gaines, Megan Bruno, Rachel Gaines, Jenna, Clarissa, Mary Kate Gaines, Melivin Branson

We traditionally stop with the Bransons for lunch at Elephant Rocks State Park on the way home. Here are Kenny, Meredith, Rebecca and Drew Branson way up on the rocks.

and zoomed in, so you can see their smiling faces!

Meredith is the flower girl--again!

This past weekend, Meredith had the opportunity to be a flower girl again, this time for Cassie Leach and Andrew Smith's wedding. (Cassie is a young lady that we attend church with). She wore the same dress that she wore in Tim's and Katie's wedding last Sept. , removing the black sash and replacing it with a lovely cornflower blue sash and bow. The wedding was held at Little Prairie Bible Camp, where Cassie's parents are the care takers.

Here she is with Premier, the ring bearer. Aren't they cute? :-)