Campout with the Barkers

One of the benefits of our new “temporary” place is its location…nestled into the beautiful forest not too far from the Palisades and West Point.  The church building over which we live sits on something like 16 acres.  There is a groomed soccer field behind the building, and a small river.  The kids have loved being able to go outside and play – without too much supervision.  There is dirt, rocks, woods, sticks, and everything a kid could want.  Except friends.

So…we invited our friends the Barkers up to visit.  The plan was for the guys to “camp” out back with the kids, because this is something that apparently all guys want to do.  The wives and newborns were sleeping inside!  (And Liberty joined us).  We enjoyed grilling a meal, and then playing in the river the next morning.

One of our blessings from living in Brooklyn is having the Barkers for friends.  We will desperately miss them when it comes time to move into the Bronx.  Thankfully, it’s still the same city so we can get together sometimes!

Our borrowed tent came sans poles, so Ben somehow hooked it to the soccer goal posts to keep it popped up!
Ethan, Nehemiah, Adelei, Elaine, and Nolan

Nolan, David, Ethan, Adelei, Liberty, Nehemiah, Ben, & Elaine

These pictures are from just our family enjoying some river time from the days before the Barkers came to visit us!

 

This one.  He’s not my water baby.  He will sometimes dip his feet into the water.  But he LOVES to throw rocks!

She discovered that it was a little cold!

The “big” kids

Buckets are always entertaining.