Thriving

Some day we will launch our new blog, but for now one more post. I have come to the realization that life is busy. I am not getting as much done as I used to. With warmer weather comes a whole new schedule. We are outside more, garden work has begun, pool days have begun, Jonathan and Ben never stop moving. Yes, I don't really know why I feel like I am behind.


This weekend, we celebrated a milestone in our family. We took our first family vacation as a family of 7 and we didn't just survive we thrived. We went camping - OK it was in a cabin, but we were told there were bears in the woods. We had indoor plumbing and a shower, but we also did a campfire. It is my idea of roughing it! We went with 3 other families and had a wonderful time. Jonathan loved our cabin. He did ask to go home a few times, but was easily distracted. He loved having "his friends" show up at our door at 7:00 AM in the morning. He loved playing with his friends all day and sitting by the campfire with them. He experienced his first smore, canoe ride (which he LOVED), first game of capture the flag, and first time at the beach (really a lake with sand). At least they were all firsts as Jonathan Futing Shafer.

Jonathan has developed a fan club of sorts. As I said earlier, we went with 3 other families for a total of 16 kids among us. All of the other kids love to dote on Jonathan, who of course eats it right up. It is really sweet to watch the kids interact with Jonathan, talk with him, include him and look out for him. He is one blessed boy to have so many friends. It was a wonderful weekend. When we got home, Jonathan kept asking to go back to his cabin and he wanted to know where his friends were. Yes, we may not be getting a lot done around here, but we are having fun!