Hiking to the top

During nap time, Chad, Jim and Faith hiked up to the top of the dunes. It is very hard work...sometimes it feels like you take one step and slide back down halfway! It also gets very windy up there. Faith was a tough cookie...the sand stings pretty good when it hits you!

Jumping!

We always have fun playing on the dunes, and this time we got some fun photos. Our favorite is still the one of Jim jumping over me from the earlier post.

Nicole and I take a turn

Chad and Jim

At the end of the day, there was always plenty of stuff to take back to the campsite!

More on camping

We spent three days at the Great Sand Dunes National Park down by Alamosa, Colorado. We went with our friends, the Cormans. We have talked about them before, they live right down the hill from us, and are on an extended furlough from ministry in Malaysia. It has been such divine timing to have them in our lives. They have so much encouragement and wisdom to share with us! They have two kids, a boy Joel's age and a little girl (named Kenya!) who is six months. We had a wonderful time with them!

Joel, Faith, and Kaeden

We have been to the dunes in the past, but always in the autumn. One of the great things about going at this time of year is the snowmelt creates a shallow creek at the base of the dunes. It makes an awesome place for kids to play.

Kaeden ran and ran and didn't stop!

As did Faith, aka "Hollywood"

Joel and the caterpillars

Around the campsite and along the trail to the dunes there were tons of these little green caterpillars that would be out on the end of the branches of all the little bushes. The kids have lately gotten into bugs and worms and creepy-crawlies, so the caterpillars were a lot of fun for them. Here are some cute pictures of Joel checking them out.

Oops! They squish!