Which means lots of pictures coming soon…like these from our first stop: the New River Gorge Visitor Center in West Virginia. I loved the beautiful garden

and the stunning view…

(Wish I’d gotten a better picture of it!)

Jane’s favorite part was the science mystery game inside the center

but what the younger girls liked best was the big mound of dirt in the parking lot.

Of course!

Beanie: "People shouldn’t say you CATCH YOUR BREATH. You don’t ‘catch’ it. You SEND IT OUT."

I missed out on participating in the Loveliness of Babies fair over at Elizabeth’s blog this morning, but that’s all right…we’ve been just a tad bit busy here. If I ever find my card reader, I might have some lovely baby pictures of my own to post, but later, later. Right now I must get back to the loveliness of unpacking. (Ha.)

Rose: “Mom! I just saw either a horse or an elk. I couldn’t see the head or the tail, so I can’t be sure which. It was definitely brown, though.”

Beanie on Emeril: “Wow, he must be a professional!”

One hotel, two pizzas, eight children, a thousand giggles, one stern phone call from the front desk.

Friends worth driving to Kansas for (even if we weren’t just passing through): priceless.

Looks like we’ll have to head to KS City for Mass this morning. Might also be able to squeeze in a quick hello with some friends there, and then it’s on to Kansas and an overnight rendezvous with Karen E! Color me a-cited!

I think it was over at Lilting House that I was rhapsodizing about that fine invention, the breakfast buffet. I forgot the best part of yesterday’s morning repast. The food was in the hotel lobby, the tables in a small adjoining room. I filled Beanie’s plate and told her to go find a place for us to sit. When I entered the dining room with my own full plate, I was surprised to spot Bean chowing down at a table occupied by a large party of senior citizens. Everyone at EVERY table was grinning with amusement at our happy Bean and her hard-boiled egg.

“Oh!” I cried. I had to laugh. “I told her to find a seat. Guess I didn’t specify AT AN EMPTY TABLE!”

Rose: Even though Beanie can be annoying, I wouldn’t want her to be eaten by a shark.

(I’m sure we’re all glad to hear THAT.)

(And actually the kids have all been great.)

I will just write titles and let you fill in the blanks. Like:

Spilled milk is blue under blacklights

or

Pinkeye and red nose

or

It’s really cold in the parking lot at three in the morning

(Note to self: don’t leave contact lens case in car.)

Rose: What do they have in San Diego–wolves, foxes, or coyotes?

Me, thinking it’s the setup for a joke: Um, coyotes?

Rose, dead serious: Oh great. From bears to coyotes! That really is out of the frying pan into the oven.