Photo Safari with the Shorts

It was a beautiful warm day on Sunday at Smith Mountain Lake.

We put the Jeep top down, loaded up Louie & Sophia.

Invited Kevin and Kerry Short to join us...

and hit the road for a Sunday drive.

Kevin spotted this Eagle circling overhead

Peacock on Rucker RoadI found this road because the GPS said it was

the fastest route...That sign says, "one lane bridge"
Creek the 3 ton bridge crosses

Banded Water Snake that was in the creek

Cruising red horse sucker

Red tailed Hawk

All around the area are little cemeteries in front yards

6 Months Today!

We start the day with shots. Not exactly fun...but up hill from here!
Playing on Daddy while waiting...

Teething Rings

Sophia loves to play with these. (Gift from Al & Carolyn) it's almost
like she's doing a magic trick the way she moves them around!

Today weigh-in

Went to see Van weigh in at the Top 6 at West Point. Sophia of course
is napping in the stroller! :)

Home

Sophia has found her chair just as she left it. Playing hard at
home...nap attacked.

It's Back

The past two days the zerbert is cool. There's been a great deal of
spit on face wipes offs! We are headed south.

Weigh-in Day 3 Smith Mountain Lake

Steve weighed in 13-11 today,

which moved him into 13th place!

Very proud of the comeback!

Great finish for team Kennedy

Video from Hike

Hike On!

It was just us on the last hike

Sophia was so cute riding in her pack

Beaver note

Cool tree!

Serious hiking...I didn't get to see her face,

because I wanted her to look outward.

Once again, she was singing through the woods.

Louie checking the little waterfall for fish.

Pretty wild violet

Sophia's view of the stream from bridge

Always watching what Louie is doing

Louie on the bridge rail

At the cross of two trails

It was so hot that we did a shorten

version of what we had planned.

Take Off Day 3

I could have posted another photo of the breathtaking mountains lit by
the sun with the anglers ready to leave.
To me, before the cokes were in the boat...the rods & bait...before
the boat gets launched...there was a moment that melted my heart.
Steve & Sophia checked the weather forecast at our table with sleep in
their eyes. Getting the morning love to start the day! This is when
the day began...hours before all that tournament stuff. :)
Big fish wishes!

Hike to Turtle Island

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt,

finds tongues in trees,

books in the running brooks,

sermons in stones, and good in everything.

~William Shakespeare

This is actually my photo...doctored a little.

Love to look up at the treetops

The dogs were raring to go!
All through out the forest are tiny flowers
all different colors and shape.

As we were strolling, Norma noticed a 5 lined skink

on the back of Tammy's T-shirt.

Pretty cool!

More colors of the woods

This tree, when you first walk up to it,

Seems so wild.

All over the trunk are carvings of names...

Louie cuts to the outside before the bridge.

He was trying to be Alpha dog leader!

And it worked...Louie screaming

down the trail to the bridge.

When we came to the clearing where you can see in every

direction, I saw a familiar face.

I did my Steve call...it worked even over the motor!

Steve stopped in for a few minutes,

told us his catch for the day.

Kerry and Steve rode bikes to Turtle Island

Louie & Ali cooling paws

All you need to know without the journalist

Louie was waiting for Ali to bring the stick out of the lake.

Louie helping Ali bring it in...

or is he stealing it from her? hmmm

Ali's dance moves...shaking it

Hike buddies Tammy & Norma

Fern, there are tons in these woods

Team Kennedy

in my awesome boots, diaper backpack, baby front pack

Ali enjoying the ride back to camp

Poor Sophia sang herself to sleep once again!

Louie and Sophia passed out...good times!