Wintergreen Retreat: Playing Inside

After so much time spent in the great outdoors, we also needed plenty of time to relax and unwind indoors! The kids played really well together!
Gran and Pop with Anna

Gran read to each kid almost every day

Matthew became fully mobile

Matthew and Anna interacted a ton!

And Matthew loved to push Anna in her walker!

Pop built many a tower!

Look at Ben's gorgeous blue eyes!

Gran and Ben

Tim and Anna

Uncle Jon teasing Kate

Adorable Anna

Gran and Pop started most mornings with a visit from Kate and Matthew

Wintergreen Retreat: Playing Outside

We also spent plenty of time hanging outside with the kiddos. They all loved exploring a couple of different playground.

Ben loves to swing!

Uncle Jon and Ben

Anna is all smiles with her Mom!

Bubbles are always a big hit with Kate!

Especially if they are provided by Pop!

And Uncle Jon is around to play, too!

Wintergreen Retreat: Water

Another key to summer vacation success = Water!

And we had plenty of fun swimming in the pool and the lake!

Gran had fun playing with the kids both in the pool...

...and out!
Matthew is so happy!

Anna and Ben loved playing in the water and sand at the beach at the lake!

And Matthew loved being the captain of his little ship!

And Kate's favorite thing was the paddleboats!

Wintergreen Retreat: Hiking

One of our favorite family activities is hiking and we were able to get in several good hikes while we were in Wintergreen! Matthew was content to participate but he's out-grown the Baby Bjorn we've used for past hikes and we haven't gotten a proper pack yet. Big mistake!

The twins, on the other hand, are still Baby Bjorn-compatible!

Kate loved being the trail leader and tried hard to be the first to spot each blaze!

Wintergreen Retreat: Nana & Great Pop

Nana, Great Pop and Great Uncle Chris were also able to come out to Wintergreen for an afternoon! Such a special time for Nana and Great Pop and ALL of their great-grandchildren to be together! Doesn't happen nearly often enough!
Ben hanging out with Nana and Great Pop!

Nana and Anna

Great Pop and Ben

Matthew and Anna with Great Pop

Anna trying to eat the turtle from Nana and Great Pop

Wintergreen Retreat: The Gleasons

We are so happy that Gran, Pop,

Uncle Jon, Aunt Loren, Anna and Ben

were able to join us in Wintergreen!

Anna and Ben are exactly one month younger than Matthew

and it was so fun to have all the kids together!

We can't wait for Uncle Jon and Aunt Loren

to move to Roanoke next year

so that we can spend more time with them!

Gran and Pop
Uncle Jon, Aunt Loren
Anna & Ben

Matthew with his new pal, Uncle Jon

Picnic: Twins Style

Wintergreen Retreat: Visit from Abby

Grandma, Papa and Abby

were able to visit the first day of our vacation

on their way up to New York!

We hadn't seen Abby in AGES

and had so much fun playing with her!

Abby is so sweet with Matthew.

She loves entertaining him

and helping to take care of him!

Matthew was very happy to see Grandma!

Papa helped to supervise the arts & crafts portion of our afternoon.

It's the girls' favorite thing to do together!

We love you, Abby!

We can't wait to see you again soon!