Sun, Sand and Schmitts

Tuesday brought a very special opportunity.  Steph officially moved away a couple of weeks ago and has been busy busy busy traveling with Bill to interviews, then to a family reunion, and is now at her in-laws' house in Hudson, WI - about an hour and a half's drive from Rochester.  Because I was going through withdrawals and we needed an official chance to say "see you later", Nolan and I drove up in time to have lunch and spend part of the day with them.  I looked forward to it all week.

We spent some time on the deck before coming inside for lunch.  It's always a party with this crowd!

Such a sweet shot of Charlie (Ellie and Claire were moving too fast to allow for any good individual shots this time around)

Look at those sitting up skills

Lily. Best dog ever.

 View from the deck.  Can you imagine????

After lunch, we braved the million-stair-descent and headed to the river.  With all of the rain we've had this spring, the banks were pretty flooded.  That didn't stop the kids from playing and us from having a great time together.

I took a ton of photos, but with this gorgeous scenery - and knowing this was our last hang out time for a long while - who can blame me?

View of the house, looking up from the beach

Throwing the toy for Lily -- a hundred times!

More toy tossing.

That's one lucky lab

Inevitably, a kid eventually had to go poo.  Instead of hauling her up the massive staircase to the bathroom, Steph is brilliant and simulated a potty right there.  So smart - and so funny!

Everyone inspecting Ellie's work

Steph, demonstrating her most honed survival skills, buries "it" in the brush to deter unwelcome wildlife inspectors.

And to keep Lily from having a snack.

Yes you, Lilymuhlilpumpkin.

And now the scene of digging a hole and burying the poo will forever be reenacted by these girls.  

Monkey see, monkey do!

I love these kids so much.

Then it was nap time, and the girls requested one more chance to howd, howd Baby NoNo.

Claire went first

Darlings, all three.

Then Ellie took her turn.  She's always wanting Nolan to turn his head and look at her.

This pic says so much -- Claire is trying to put her binkie into Nolan's mouth while Ellie tries to wrench his head around to face her so she can kiss him.

Love, laughter, noise, hugs and kisses.  That's life with these busy girls!

After we said goodnight to the girls, Nolan I went upstairs where Charlie joined us on the couch for some quiet book reading and Steph and I feasted on candy (as usual).  Sadly I didn't take any pics of those quiet moments, but it was perfect.

There are no words, Schmitt fam.  We love you and we already miss you desperately.

xoxo