Family week in VT

What a wonderful time we've been having, soaking up the summer weather, and the presence of so many dear people in our family. All 11 of us (Mimi and Papa Jack, John, Caitlin, Sam (7), Jeff (4 1/2), Nora (20 months), Matt, me, Lucy (6), and Clara (3 1/2)) headed up to VT for a week- our first time together in 2 years.

Roughhousing with Papa Jack.

There was a lot of the kids "rescuing" each other from his grasp.

With my niece Nora, who is the cutest little peanut ever!

Clara is quite attentive to Nora and protective of her. Tonight at dinner she was helping to feed Nora bites of food.

A walk behind our house in VT.

A national park pond nearby where we went swimming almost every day.

The kids had so much fun in the water and sand.

Nora was quite serious about her task.

The girls out number the boys now!

Little to Big.

There were many salamanders to be caught and held and given puddle homes, before being returned to the lake.

A highlight was visiting a local farm, where we got to see cows, pigs, chickens, goats, horses, and a donkey. Lucy and Papa Jack both got to feed a 10 day old piglet.

We also enjoyed homemade ice cream, cheese and milk.

The kids all fed the chickens from their hands.

This was the view behind the house- so gorgeous and green and peaceful. I spent a few moments out there from time to time, enjoying the beauty and the quiet.

Jeff proudly showing his salamander.

An even more remote lake that we drove to one day. It was the kind of place where you expected to see moose (though we didn't).

Clara getting a ride on John- who is an amazingly sweet and fun uncle!

Sam, as I caught him mid-bite.

Selfie of Lucy and I.

Lucy and Nora, getting ready to watch the 4th of July parade.

It was an awesome local parade; the floats/cars threw out tons of candy, and we also got squirted a bit with water guns. The kids had a blast and thought it was better than halloween.

Mimi and Papa Jack with their 5 grandkids.

And an amazingly good group picture of us all!