...to enjoy the weekend with the Whitlocks!

...so fun to see old friends.

The kids fell right into their groove...

and Kristen and I didn't miss a beat.

On Saturday, the weather was warm and it seemed like it would be a good idea to shlep the crew to the Fort Drum Maple Syrup festival.  They all loved the event!

In addition to learning how maple syrup is made there was a special exhibit of animal hides and skulls local to the Fort Drum area on display.  These kids could not get enough of these!  Dead beaver, possum, fox, rabbit, squirrel, weasel, wolverine...

Blech.

There was a short optional hike with 'interesting' facts and displays including deer carcasses and a dead porcupine.  The kids LOVED it!

There were other 'more mundane' things to note on the trail as well...

a beaver cut this tree down

Games and prizes and face painting and free maple syrup cotton candy were added bonuses!

The best part was just rolling in the muck...err...snow.

The rest of the weekend was full of buddy time, gaming and movies for the kids...

These two were inseparable the whole weekend.

Such a fun weekend!  I am so thankful she made such an effort to come and visit us here.  And I am so sorry she had to help shovel the 6+ inches of freshly fallen bleepedy bleep bleep snow...in order to leave this frigid tundra.

What a trooper she was!

And the memories made this weekend were priceless.