Eighteen

Hannah turned 18 a couple days ago.  She graduated from high school 3 weeks ago.  We had a graduation party 2 weeks ago and her Aunt Lucy made the best photo cookies!  They tasted so good.

My cousin Beth came from NY.  It was so good to spend time with her...and it was her first time meeting George.

Her 11th grade English teacher, who is also an amazing person & knits.  Below, her kindergarten teacher, then we homeschooled for 10 years.

 Those cookies again...so pretty!

And with her cousins!  They are all going to be taller...genetics from their papa.

The babies and their papas.  I wish I'd taken more photos.  None of the chocolate fountain, which was really so pretty & fun!

Rob grilled hamburgers.  We had a simple spinach, red onion & feta salad.  And fruit salad.  I made strawberry cupcakes.  And a chocolate fountain.  We dipped marshmallows & fresh strawberries.

My little sister flew in from Portland, OR.

And took this photo of our family of 6:

She already has 21 credit hours, through participation in the college credit plus program.  Her overall GPA was a 4.33, such a good student!  She's worked one job for 3 years and another for a year.

Hannah plans to move in with Grammie and go to college.

Mammoth Caves

Did you know that Mammoth Caves is a National Park?  It's the longest cave in the world, over 400 miles and still unchartered sections, every year they discover more.

Hannah & Olivia got many junior ranger badges at the other NPs (national parks) we've been to, so they helped Paul work on his book.

They went on the Star Chamber lantern tour. If you're over 16, you can go on a tour without a guardian.  Each cave requires a purchased ticket, but there is no admission fee, as there are with the other NPs.  There are plenty of other things to do, hiking, listening to ranger talks that we enjoyed, that were free.

The 6 of us went on 2 tours together, Mammoth passage (which is a path that leads to some very large areas, hence the name...there are no wooly mammoth bones found in the area!) & Frozen Niagara (lots of stalactites & stalagmites).

Filled up my Nalgene water bottle many times!

Had the breakfast buffet on Tues. & Thurs. morning.  The Green River Grill has sausage from a local farm.  Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, peppers, biscuits & gracy, custom omelettes, I got one with fresh mushrooms, onions, cheddar & fresh spinach. In all we paid under $50 (I think children under 5 were free, the girls $7.95 each, $12.95 per adult) and we ate enough so that we didn't need lunch!

Junior ranger "swearing" in!

And we got home...and had Hannah's graduation party!

Post partum

This book The First Forty Days by Heng Ou, is still good for me, full of stories of the need for nourishment, healing and recipes. Post partum recovery should be slow.  I am a breastfeeding advocate.  It helps your body do what it should & is the best food for your baby.  I made broth yesterday using the bones leftover from grilled pork ribs we had, and added an onion & carrots.  I drank a cup of it with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt...so good.  Next, I want to make the gooey brownie recipe.

Today marks 7 months since George's birth.  He has 2 teeth, started eating whole milk yogurt, also he likes applesauce.

Hannah had an award ceremony today.  All the students wore their cap & will be graduating in a few days!  She was presented with a book from her AP Literature and Language teachers for her engaging participation in discussions.

Outdoor baby, he was so happy to be in the grass.