Tevis Austin

Under the Covers and A Lost Tooth

Just a few weeks ago I spent a couple of days visiting Marblehead, OH.  I was asked to do a wedding there.  The wedding was for someone who I knew that was a junior higher several years ago when I lived in Lima, OH. 

It was a beautiful setting, and thankfully the weather was nice.

Brendon and Megan sat in the back row during the ceremony and enjoyed taking pictures.  I think Megan believes that weddings only take place outside.  This wedding was only the second one we have attended as a family in a couple of years, and both of them have been outdoors.

I only wish I had some pictures of my time with Megan immediately after the ceremony while the wedding party was taking pictures and everyone else was in the reception hall.  She kept wanting to walk down the aisle and dance in the gazebo.

The next morning Brendon lost his first tooth.

However, it was the night after the wedding that will be a night to remember for years to come.  Now some of you have already drawn the wrong conclusion.  After my family was in bed at the Lighthouse Resort, I thought for sure Megan must have placed one of her bedtime animals at the foot of the bed under the covers.  She insisted that she didn't so Tami reached under the covers only to find the briefs that someone else left.  We all immediately got out of the bed.  The kids were laughing, and Tami and I were trying to get over the fact that the sheets had not been changed. 

I called the front desk, explained the situation, and listened to the guy ask me, "So what do you want me to do?' 

Really?  I mean seriously?  What do you want me to do? I still can't believe he couldn't figure that one out on his own.  I guess next time you go to a hotel, don't forget to check under the covers before you get under the covers. 

Incredible

For the past 10 years I have gone on a variety of outdoor trips with the three people in the picture below.  We have taken backpacking trips, canoe trips, and caving trips together.  Some trips have only involved the three of us.  There have been other times when we have taken teens, young adults, friends, and sometimes people who just want to see what backpacking is like.

Many times I have thought that the pictures and memories we have had couldn't be any better.  Once again, this past weekend had to top the list. The weather was great, the fall leaves were in view, the trails were challenging, and the scenery was incredible.  

We traveled to the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia and hiked on the Seneca Creek and High Meadows trails. 

There were so many water falls along the Seneca Creek Trail.  One of the falls dropped more than 30 feet into a pool.  Here are the two people who traveled with us this year.   

The High Meadows Trail was not clearly marked like the other trails.  At times we climbed very arduous terrain, but the views along the way were amazing. 

Our climb took us from around 3100 feet to 4100 feet where we were near the highest point in West Virginia.

We would hike deep into the woods and then come out into huge meadows with breathtaking views.  Here is the view as we started the descent back to our camp site. 

Milestones 2

Well we recently passed another one of those mile markers along our journey.  Megan started preschool.

She wanted her picture leaving the house just like her brother when he started kindergarten.

Megan really likes her teacher.  After the first day, Megan said she felt like she knew her teacher just like her Thursday school teachers last year.

  

Of course we had to go to lunch together after the first day to celebrate.