Thalia loves to go look at nature... to find banana slugs to kiss. This year, it rained practically the entire time everyone was here. However, on December 26th, we had a little break in the rain so we took off to a local community park - a gorgeous park - a park full of redwoods and some trails to walk on.I wanted to get a group shot first, so that was what we did before anyone got wet or muddy - or both. Donnie and Thalia were doing a little exploring while I was getting the tripod set up.
and a little rough-housing and smiling for the photographer...
I told everyone to arrange themselves in front of the greenery... actually, there were few places where there would not have been greenery, but I had a spot picked out.
I had to test the timer...
This was our first attempt. Thalia noticed the dogs weren't looking at the camera!
Everyone was back in position but they knew it wasn't 'time' since I wasn't running over... but the timer was going off when I wasn't planning... so we had a few mess-ups...
Here's the one we chose!
Lindsey, Donnie, Joshua, Erica, and Thalia took off for the trails. Oh yeah, Blu took off too - on his leash, of course. Emily wasn't sure she wanted to do any hiking, so she, Gabe, Mom, Biscuit, and I stayed back.
What a great time to take a few more photos...
Emily and Gabe
Me and Emily
Gabe told me to "show some teeth" in this shot. 
Me and Mom
Mom and Emily
Me, Mom, Emily... Gabe was trying to get all the combinations possible.
Mom started telling some story...
and Gabe had the camera...
"Spit it out, Saddie," he said as he took picture after picture after picture...
"Put that thing away," Saddie finally demanded.
Well, he didn't put it away, he just redirected it toward his wife.
and his mother...
and back to his wife... who fortunately, is use to his antics...
Wanting to get all the combinations, he gave me the camera back so I could take a photo or two of him and his Saddie...
Gabe, Saddie, Emily
...again...
I can't remember if Mom or Emily took these shots of Gabe and I. I imagine it was Emily.
...forever the ham...
...sometimes he can be just plain ole sweet...
And of course, to get all the possible combinations, we had to include Biscuit.
Ok...enough of this. I decided to run ahead and try to find the crowd on the trail.
It didn't take long to find them.
It was a bit cooler in the shade of the redwoods...
Isn't this beautiful?
Blu loved it.
I stopped Erica and Lindsey for a photo or two. One with the hat, one without.
A redwood forest...it's so beautiful...
Joshua was instructing Thalia along the way...
As we came to the end of the hike, I ran ahead, well, maybe I walked quickly ahead. I don't actually remember running.
I took some photos of Lindsey coming across the grassy plain... Um, I wonder if this would be called a 'plain'? Probably not, it's probably just a field, or a grassy area. Who cares, I took photos of her walking across whatever it was.
Look at this HUGE tree. Isn't it awesome?
When I took this photo of Linz, I knew I loved it the second it was snapped. I told Linz that and she wondered what it was about the picture that I loved so much. I don't know, I just love it.
Once we rejoined the Saddie, Gabe, Emily, and Biscuit group, well, only Saddie was there. She was "all by her lonesome." She had been deserted... abandoned... left behind.
Well, if the truth be known, Gabe had gone to find the men's room.
Saddie and Linz ... with the hat...
...and without...
When Gabe and Emily had gone to find the ... facilities... they had discovered this other little short trail that gave a great view of the town. We all, including Saddie, ventured along the path to see the view.
Linz and Donnie
Heading back... at this point, Saddie was w-a-l-k-i-n-g.... 
As we headed back toward the car, Saddie decided she would run. Gabe and I both about went into cardiac arrest, trying to stop her, telling her NO, DON'T DO IT! She looked at us like we were crazy and INSISTED it didn't hurt. So she ran...
"See? You all think I can't do anything!"
It was a great time at the park... lots of visiting, some hiking, lots of photos, and Saddie taking off on a sprint...
and not one single banana slug.
