Labor Day Weekend and a girls night!

We have been keeping crazy busy here getting ready for our trip and getting all the regular everyday life stuff done.

There is so much to do to get ready for a big trip like this, but I am
jumping
out
of
my
skin
with excitement!!

It is less than a week away!!
I have mainly been busy getting our B&B's reserved and picking up all those little extra things that we will need, like a pocket translator, (Since neither Kevin or I speak another language--yes we are going to be "those" people the ignorant American tourists!!) travel pillows, lightweight clothes, special travel bags, etc. This is turning out to be quite an expensive ordeal...but I think it is totally worth it! (I hope I am right...I mean it's Europe...surely I'm right!!)

Over the holiday weekend went camping (as planned) and I was very happy to get away and enjoy the outdoors. On a trail with mom and dad...and Kevin-he never wants his picture taken, so I just took it anyhow while he was walking in front of me...don't you love how he has his phone still with him (although we were expecting Kelsey and Travis anytime so I guess it makes since, but really is that neccessary!?!)

Mom, Dad, Kevin and I went up on Friday after work (Mom actually went up on Thursday to save a spot for us because you can't make reservations so you just have to get up there early and get a spot, I am glad she did because it was full by Friday mid-morning!!)

Saturday Travis and Kelsey came up and we did some hiking and made s'mores around the campfire, but we started getting sprinkled on so we didn't end up singing around the campfire-which I missed!!
These are the pictures we took at Benton Falls where we hiked to on Saturday afternoon with Kelsey and Travis. Last time we went Kels & I climed up the falls (with Kevin and Andy), but this time we let our boys have to fun and kept our feet on more solid ground and took the stairs up the trail to meet them at the top!!
It rained off and on throughout Saturday night and all morning Sunday so when it finally stopped for a moment we broke down camp and went on home early so we could get everything dried out. (I don't think we have ever been camping where we didn't get rained on!!-We have all the luck...but I will say that the outside world is so beautiful after a nice rain. All the colors seem richer and fuller and so beautiful...but we were wet and ready to go home!)

Although I was sad we got rained out, this did leave us Monday to get everything cleaned up, some errands done and we got to stop by and visit with some great friends who were having a cookout on Monday afternoon before getting back into the regular work schedule again yesterday.

However, I still didn't get a card out to my Grandparents who celebrated their 58th Wedding Anniversary on Monday...I am becoming so forgetful. Well, let me rephrase that...I have ALWAYS been forgetful, I am just getting worse at leaving reminders for myself. I keep missing everyone's birthdays, anniversariess, etc. (And people say they get forgetful when they are pregnant, I am going to forget who I am or something once I get pregnant because I am already super forgetful!!)

Kevin had to go out of town for work for a few days (he left yesterday and will be back tomorrow-he is in Boston and got to go to a game last night at Fenway and was so excited about it!) so Kelsey came over last night (after school and work) and we did some sewing!

I love girl time,
especially SISTER time
and having sewing time in the mix just made it all the sweeter!!
(Too bad Betsy and Mare couldn't be there...although then I don't know if we would have actually gotten any sewing done, we would have been too busy talking!!)
We had so much fun working late into the night...but I am old and eventually had to turn in for the night so I could get some sleep! (Since I had to get up and going this morning and get to work!)

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend and I hope everyone is having a great week so far!