Camping 2011

Over a month ago we went on our annual family/friends camping trip. Same week in the summer, same location. Different memories each year.

When I began recalling the past camping trips here's what I came up with:

6 years of married camping

3 Summers I have gone camping while pregnant

1 Summer I was put on unofficial "camp bedrest" by my husband, being only 3 weeks from my due date. (With Ellie)

3 Summers my Mom came camping too!

1 Summer in a tent

5 Summers in our Shasta Camper

Up to 16 adults in two adjoining campsites

Up to 3 pregnant Mommas

Up to 6 children under the age of 3

1 Summer leaving a night early w/sick children

3 Summers of ATVs

3 Summers of Boats

1 Summer w/Canoe

6 Summers with row boat

6 Summers of MIL famous "Taco Soup"

Sooooo many memories!

This year none of our friends were able to make it, which of course made it different, but just as memorable--if not more! I love our little family time. Any family memories we make I cherish. We spent almost every waking hour down at the Lake. Our routine was the same each day:

Wake up with the sun.

Have yummy camp breakfast.

Change girls into swimsuits.

Lather them up and down with sunscreen.

Aaron would load up the girls in the row boat, at the steep edge of our campsite.

I would wave goodbye from the top.


They--he--would row all the way down to the dock.
I would go back up to camp, brush my teeth, clean up breakfast mess, change into my swimsuit, pack up a snack and drink bag, hook up dog to leash & depending on if we had remembered to throw them into boat or not I would bring 2 beach chairs down, walking along the road to meet them at the dock.

And look how super handsome and manly rowing can be....especially if you're rowing 2 of the cutest little girlies.



Grandpa Tom would usually meet us down there too. He is so hands on with the girls, I love it. They love the time he spends with them.



We'd play in the water all morning until snacks ran out, drinks were dry and we were all hungry again. Sometimes I would bring one of the girls back with me on the walk...which you'd think I would prefer the company...until it turned into a heavy bag of towels/sippys/wipes/etc on one shoulder, a sleepy hungry child on the other shoulder refusing to walk, and a squirrely dog on a leash wanting to chase passing chipmunks. Most of the time Aaron would just row them back to camp and I'd meet them there.

I'd make a yummy camp lunch (regular food is instantly yummy while camping) while the girls got changed. They'd nap, then as soon as they'd awake we'd repeat the morning routine...loading up into row boat, me following w/snacks and drinks...then we'd come back to campsite for dinner! After dinner girls would play in dirt, walk with walking sticks, go on walks with someone, help Daddy gather sticks for campfire, etc...
Always ending the evening getting "spit baths" with warm washcloths and wipes, and changing into jammies.

Oh how dirty these Littles can get!

Goodmorning sleepy head!

Another beautiful morning on the lake, Aaron & his Dad enjoying camp coffee!

Girls loved playing in the sandy dirt of our campsite when they weren't in the water.

A few times Grandpa came in the morning to visit girls who were antsy to get down to the water, or at least anxious to get their day started. He would offer to take them on walks, sometimes to go visit Grandma and her dog back at their campsite. I think this picture is so cute, here the girls are each showing him their respective knee oweies, before they begin walking in their PJs. :)

Back at the water!

A family of ducks often swam past us. A favorite gigglefest from us all would be to let the dog off her leash and she would swim after the ducks, wagging her tail like crazy, splashing in the water. We'd eventually get nervous she'd get too tired and drown, so we'd call her back to swim to us on the shore. Too funny.

Daddy tried snorkeling one day and found a really nice shell on the bottom of the lake. Audrey also "found" a rock for her Daddy. They exchanged their finds and Audrey immediately threw hers back into the lake. It was the thought that counts!

Trying her hand at "snorkeling".

Wading in the very shallow lake with his girls.

On the last night as I was finishing up dinner it began to sprinkle. I tried to finish up quickly and we both agreed maybe we should set up the table inside the trailer to eat there instead. Well it was a good thing we did, the girls played in there while we both rounded up a few things that shouldn't get wet and met them in the camper with a hot meal. By the time we all got in, it was down pouring complete with thunder and lighting over the lake! Very exciting, very adventurous..and unfortunately very scary for Audrey :( We spent the whole dinner explaining why and how we have thunder and lightening, how God was keeping us safe, and reminding nervous Audrey to eat her food while it was warm...she was very quiet & just wanted the same questions answered over and over again and the same reassurances that we were safe... poor little thing. She had been sleeping in her new sleeping bag in the new tent with Daddy, but chose that night to sleep in the "safe" trailer with Mommy & Ellie instead.

Waiting out the rain...

Thank goodness for smart phones and funny games like TomCat & Angry Birds... :)

Our humble abode.

On the last day, a very tuckered out little Ellie fell asleep with the lull of the sea water and the sun on her back, after 4 long days playing in the water...

Time to dry off then head home!

Another wonderful Summer Camp week!

Can't wait for next year when we add a new little camper to the mix!