Jellystone- September 27 to 28.

We're always look for fun things to do with our NC friends.

As it turns out, there's a Jellystone Campground almost halfway between us.  We booked our sites for a perfect September weekend in the mountains.  Our site was actually a hike-up spot on a hill in the woods.  Away from the chaos, but it still offered good views of the festivities.

Number one being the kayaks and canoes.  Henry and Grace could have spent the entire weekend out here.

Bea was perfect camping.  She sat in her bumbo and loved everything Georgie did.  She also provided warm hugs on the chilly mornings.

Seriously, Georgie is SO funny!

June and Audrey regaled us with some songwriting.  

These two have a great grip on pop music and their songs involved a lot of "oh yeahs" and "oh baby's."

There was even a dance party on Saturday night! 

The kids were all so much fun on this trip.  We joke that the past 5 years of friendship with the Paytons has been dutiful obligation waiting for the time when our kids weren't all so crazy and could entertain themselves.  We've finally entered that time.  But then we had another baby.  Way to go.

On Sunday morning, Yogi came to visit.

Look at how excited these kids are.  At least Christopher looks pleased.  

That's more like it!

I loved all of it because I fondly remember going to a Jellystone Park as a kid and Yogi stole my Uncle Larry's beer out of the cooler.  (I also remember waiting by the gate of the water slide for the weather to hit 70 degrees so they could open it.  We were tough!)

Georgie finally worked up the nerve to go out on a boat, so Grace took her out.

Then she finished off the rest of the groceries.  What a bunch of ragamuffins.

June showed off some new jungle gym skills.

The weekend was extra fun because John, Christopher and Miss Juliet came along too.  

One last shot of all the kids.

And the whole crew.  We can't wait to go back!

After the Paytons left, we decided to do one last hike to tire the kids out.  I think it worked because most everyone was crying by the time we got back.

And in one more flash back to my youth, the camp store carried push pops.  It was almost like I'd ridden my bike the two miles to the camp store at Harrison Lake!