Farewell (Uncle) Kyle; We'll Miss You!

Yesterday was Kyle's last full day with us. We packed it with one last special meal, two more games of Trains (totalling 13 games this week!), a trip to the ice cream restaurant and a hike to our favorite local spot, Knight's Ferry. A bit chilly, but still sunny, we all loved getting out and experiencing this little part of God's dazzling creation.

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Ella proved herself to be quite the little hiker in training. Lots of Knight's Ferry is traversing across the big boulders and locating the worn footpath. She carefully and fearlessly climbed, always planning her next step before taking it and successfully uncovering the path.

Delia was so intent on soaking up everything around her. She studied the hawks circling in the sky, she pointed out the pretty colored flowers and rode along happily, often letting her joy spill out in random giggles.

Kyle used words like "natural beauty" and "peaceful" to describe the area. His life in downtown Chicago is jammed with grad classes, academic deadlines and papers whose page number total in the double digits. I'm happy to send him home with this little piece of tranquil yet grand California.

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Ella was so excited to show Uncle Kyle our family's "very favorite old tree!"

Our hike was perfectly timed to appreciate the wild flower bloom.

Ending the hike with a walk across the covered bridge.