Camping 2010

This year, for our annual camping trip, we decided to try Bass Lake, which is nice and close-ish (3 1/2 hours).  We also decided to stay in a cabin, which was fabulous.  I decided I don't want to tent camp again until the kids are all like, 7 years old!

Anyway, before Grandma Jackie left for camping, she dropped her fish off at our house.  Our dear friend who was staying at our house would feed them while we were gone, and then we would take over until Jackie came back (they were staying at Bass Lake for a week, and we only stayed a few days).  So, on Saturday morning, as Carey and I were busy trying to get things ready for us to get out the door, I walked into the kitchen to find that Seth had poured his chocolate milk into the fish bowl!  He kept saying "chocolate milk in there" and "chocolate milk goldfish...tell daddy".  That added a whole extra adventure to our morning (cleaning out the fish bowl), but it was pretty funny!

We went into the lake just about as soon as we got there.

I am following Seth SO closely because the kid would just dive on in...not really caring that he can't swim!

After playing at the lake, we went back to the cabin and let the kids have fun playing out in front.

Haley managed to climb the redwood tree!

That evening, our nephew Brannon came up to the cabin and hung out with the kids.  They LOVED spending time with their only cousin!

The next morning we spent some time hanging out at the campground before going to the lake.

Leave it to good old Uncle Nate to encourage climbing on the table (which, as Abby kept saying was "not very stable")!

Hot cocoa at Grandpa Steve and Grandma Jackie's site!

Seth absolutely ADORES Uncle Nate!

We spent the whole day at the lake, except for a short break for a nap in the car, and had a blast!

First of all, look at how ADORABLE Haley is in this picture.  Now, make note of the rock to the left of my head...our jumping rock!

As I was walking up behind the girls to take this picture I heard "I love you, Haley."  "I love you, Abs".  How sweet is that?

All three simultaneously sleeping...very unusual!

Look at the HUGE dragonfly that landed on Carey's hat!

Abby fell in love with the dragonfly and stood and talked to it for a long time.

That night we all had a delicious dinner at Grandpa Steve and Grandma Jackie's camp site, then went over to my parents' campsite (at a different campground) for s'mores.  From there we tried to go down to the lake to watch the meteor shower.  Too bad Seth FREAKED out and was screaming crying, saying he was "nervous".  His poor little heart was beating so fast, so we ended up just leaving before the girls got to see a shooting star:(

Enjoying dinner with Grammie Lori!

  The next day was another wonderfully fun day at the lake:)  A highlight from that day was when the girls swam (with their floaties) with us across the cove to the big rock (the one from the picture of Haley, Seth and I).  Last year when we camped, they would hardly go in the lake up to their knees!  Oh, and two great moments:

1) While we were on the rock, Abby was sitting on my lap, and suddenly the water around my legs was SO warm.  I asked her if she was peeing and she smiled and said "yep, I peed on you mom"!

2) There was a ladybug in the water and Haley was swimming after it trying to catch it.  Each time she would doggy paddle, it would go a little further in front of her.  It was SO darling watching her swim through the water trying to catch it!

Having breakfast with the company of Grandpa Steve.

One great thing about the beach we found was that someone had made this little rock pool.  The kids loved it!

Look at our little floater!

These plants were on part of the beach and had tons of ladybugs on them.  Haley spent a good half hour or so collecting them in a Starbucks cup.

Floating with Aunt Kelly and Uncle Noah:)

Our last day we played at the cabin for a while (well, the kids played and we cleaned out the cabin and packed up the van).  Then we went and spent some time at the lake before driving home.  This last day, both girls jumped off that big rock that was across the cove into the lake.  We were so proud of them!

Seth fell down the big hill in front of our cabin:(

 

 

Getting ready to go find Aunt Kelly's sunglasses from the bottom of the lake!

Seth screamed enough on the way there, that when we were camping, Carey and I bought a portable DVD player.  Look at their faces...worth all the money spent!