Love a family Saturday :)

  Is there really anything better than just taking off for the day and having family time :) Work has been busy, we've been busy at home every evening even though we have been tossing in a swim daily when the weather cooperates ;) but it's still nice to just have fun and do something that we normally don't do every day.
  Kaya's first pick was the Farmer's Market. She loves to look at everything and everyone as well as get her free book lol In the middle of the farmer's Market is a park and that sure does not hurt her feelings LOL So off to the Market we went. Got there an hour before it closed and caught a good deal on onions, cucumbers and blackberries. Played at the park while having a cold lemonade. 
   After talking we decided to hit Spring Mill for the rest of the day. They were having Pioneer Days and the village was "alive" so why not??! Kaya had fun feeding all the geese (although she was getting a bit close for my liking). Then we checked out the bridge and trail. Then to the village to look inside EVERY cabin, tour the garden and check out crafts, quilts and food being made. She always enjoys the candlemaker but she wasn't there today. Then we hiked back to the one cave and waterfall. Very nice to cool down for a few. Of course Kaya had to have a little walk through the creek ;). On the way out of the village we stopped at Donaldson Cave. All the caves in this area are closed due to White Nose Fungus with Bats (areas are trying hard to save the bats and their habitat) but you can walk into the front of the cave.
  Man alive..I forgot just how many steps down it was to that cave!! Kaya was a trooper and handles the rocky part of the trail well. Inside the cave the temp drops alot..the water running out of it is only about 34 degrees!! and Kaya had fun checking out the inside of the cave, listening to the water rush "back in the dark", and seeing all the rock formations. The hike up was much kinder to Kaya than us hahaha but we all did it! Kaya had a blast and was pretty quiet on the way home! She did tell us more than once that she "had a grreeeat day" but was pretty wore out.
  Once home we decided on slow simmered bbq ribs with a salad for supper (Uncle J choice) and Kaya ate really well! I had old bananas that were too ripe so we made up banana bread and froze one of the loafs for later. Then we took the blackberries..they were pretty ripe...and made an awesome blackberry crisp for Steve. He gave it two thumbs wayyy up.
  Busy day but wouldn't trade it for anything. Love family time, stepping away from chore lists and stresses and just being together. We are very lucky that we roll with the flow of life and our life is not only blessed but usually peaceful but it's still nice to just have time together. Love having Kaya beside me in the kitchen. Yes, she is known to spread flour all over while stirring, not always hit the bowl with her egg lol but it's precious time I wouldn't trade for anything. It brings back memories of me helping my own Mom cook/bake and memories of standing at both my grandmas apron tails helping out. It's not "just cooking" it's sharing life, making memories, learning a new skill and new things, and having fun. Kaya has always helped put up veggies and fruits and to cook. I don't let her near skillets or that sort but she loves to mix up ingredients or find new recipes. 

Feeding the geese. They loved it, she loved it..I told her to keep a distance lol

Looking down the "bend" of the cave. You can hear the loud rush
of water wayyy back in there. Water runs from it constantly. We only looked AT
the bend we didn't venture further than the main area in front.