We are back!  We survived and enjoyed an entire week in the backwoods of Virginia.  No cell coverage or internet service for miles…no phones, no TV…nothing.  I must admit, it was lovely.  Apparently the world does keep turning without email, blogs, and facebook!

We left early Friday morning.  Cora was riding facing forward for the first time and she loved it!  It was a 10 hour trip and she did not cry one time.  At one point the air conditioning decided to quit working.  I was worried Cora would melt in the heat but our baby is a trooper.  What could be more fun then wind blowing in your face?

We arrived at Bear Creek Lake State Park around 5.  The rest of the family was already there.  A swarm of cousins ran to greet us.

The cabins were lovely…big, clean and well maintained.  They all had huge wrap around porches with rocking chairs.  Much time was spent sitting on these chairs…rocking back and forth and catching up.

The kids spent a lot of time scaling the rails or playing on them.  They were finally caught by Aileen about 12 feet in the air…on the wrong side of the rail.  I snapped this picture of them right before she found them.  They were not pleased to have to pose for this picture.

We went to the beach the second day we were there.  Cora loved the water.

We had a fire for marshmellows and smores.  These two pyros especially enjoyed it.

I kept seeing them burning stuff…What better use for a grill then to melt plastic soldiers?

Now for many, many pictures.  I took hundreds..these are the favorites.

Dad reading his bible.

Babies.

Children.

Family.

Friends. (Our very dear Ashley came all the way from Canada to see all 25 of us!)

And finally.  Two of the funniest pictures from the trip.  Will and Cora…they are two peas in a pod.  She steals all his toys and he beats her up.  Look at the grin of satisfaction as he pulls her over!

More on Virginia still to come.