The day after Kim's birthday we started packing up for our annual camping trip with friends. We got to try out some space saving vacuum bags. This is a bag with several quilts.
Here is the same bag with all the air removed
Here is most of our bedding
The next morning we got the truck all loaded and set out
It was only a two hour drive so we were able to keep smiles on faces for lots of it
The view as we were nearing the camp ground
We stayed in a little two bedroom dry cabin
The kids wasted no time exploring on their bikes
We had some delicious tacos the first night
We checked out the lake
And sent up the drone of course
Everyone had fun visiting with friends
And we got a beautiful sunset that evening
I set up the camera our first evening to get some shots of the stars
There was some cloud cover and my lens fogged up because I didn't bring my lens warmer. Here is a little video of the stars.
After a refreshing sleep we were ready for the next day
Sitting around the fire first thing in the morning is wonderful
The first thing Henry did was get on the bike
Cracking some eggs for breakfast. One perk to the cabin was having electricity
Eating breakfast with friends
The kids found a tiny frog
While Kim and her friends did a little hike the men took all the kids to the lake.
This is the view they got.
Like a fish in water
The boys loved digging a huge hole
The kids had so much fun riding bikes and scooters around camp
We celebrated Nixon's friend Tanner's birthday
We got to play some volleyball
We got lots of time to hang around camp fires
This was the group this year
The kids were always busy and often hard to find. But don't worry, Lyza still managed to find time to read.
Some ice cream before we left
Here is a video of the camping trip
The next day was Henry's birthday and he turned 4!
He asked for Acai bowls and donuts for his breakfast
He helped decorate his cake
We walked to the forest park in the afternoon
And he got to open presents. Grandma and Grandpa Bullock got to watch him open their gift.
He asked for dinosaurs and Lyza delivered
He loves a good "mint-breath"
And he got a new train to replace the one he loved to death
And this bubble blowing dragon
And a new remote control car
He had a lot of fun opening presents
Check out that cake
Happy Birthday Henry!
Playing with his play dough
Kim got a home made fannie pack from her bestie Bessie
We got asked to our friends' house to try out their homemade slip and slide
It was a lot of fun
Check out this madness
We needed a fire to keep us warm after
Ice cream at the local grocery store
Here is Lyza in her challenge classroom. Challenge this year is at another school and she gets bused there once a week and the challenge kids are combined with other schools.
Kim and her friend Jamie Sue running in the morning
In a casual conversation with Nixon recently he mentioned back packing and asked if it was something that we could try next year. Well. we made plans and left a couple of weeks later to do an overnight backpacking trip to Revett Lake.
After a drive of about an hour and a half we were getting closer to the trail head. The last 3/4 mile stretch was a very narrow road that was not quite narrow enough for our truck (imagine lots of scratches in the clear coat)
Meanwhile the kids were playing with the pool and water balloons in the backyard
And eating popsicles
We made it to the trail head and I have a picture of my truck there to prove it
Then we hit the trail together
It didn't take long to get some beautiful views
This part of the trail was really cool hiking through the rocks
We could see the aftermath of a lot of downed trees from a windstorm earlier this year
Earlier in the year there are several water crossings but we only had one
He is really fun to hike with
This rock retaining wall stood out from the more natural trails throughout
We made it to the lake in exactly one hour
This is the camp site we chose and we were the only ones there!
Nixon loved walking around with his shirt off
Meanwhile Lyza and Kim had a date at a book store
We set up camp. That tent hasn't been used in over a decade.
Nixon explored the water
I got the drone up to get a view of the entire lake
Then we did some swimming
The lake was very refreshing after our hike and setting up camp
Then some more drone time
We filtered some water from a stream near our camp
Then we decided to hike to the other end of the lake and scout a trail to reach a nearby peak (I wanted to climb Granite Peak but we never found a trail that I was comfortable with)
We saw some streams as we explored around the lake
This was the view from the opposite end of the lake
After that it was time to head back to camp for dinner and a fire
The stars were beautiful. We could see the big dipper
If you had a hard time seeing it here it is highlighted in yellow
An airplane
Sleeping wasn't very enjoyable for either of us. I am definitely going to take a better sleeping mat for next time.
I got up at least an hour earlier than Nixon, which gave me some time to explore and fly the drone a little more
The sunrise was pretty
When Nixon got up we made some gourmet breakfast (oatmeal). Look at that morning hair ;)
After breakfast we took down the tent then did some exploring
We tried hiking around the other side of the lake but there were way more fallen trees so we didn't go all the way around
We went swimming one more time (not pictured), which was nice but much more chilly than the day before because it was earlier in the day and overcast
Then it was time to hike out
Here is a video of our trip. It was a success with some room for improvement (sleeping). I can't wait for the next one (but will have to since our Saturdays are currently full of soccer)
The morning we were at Revett Lake Kim took the kids hiking at Tubbs Hill
It looks like they had a good time
Now that Henry likes dinosaurs he gets to use the rug Grandma Bullock made for Lyza
When Nixon and I got home we all went as a family for a few more runs on the big slip and slide
Very creative Mason
The kids are back to school
Catching the bus
Henry got to check our some fish at the store
Mason isn't too sure about this 3 year old Kim watches every now and then
Henry got to go on a field trip to a lavender farm so he got all dressed up like a cute cowboy
Smelling the lavender
It was not his favorite outing
Look at that spider
He is adorable
I am not sure what these two were doing or where they were going but they are too pretty not to share
Henry has been doing some preschool and it is so fun to see him learning
It has been a while since I shared a moon shot. It looks the exact same as last time...
With all the other kids at school full time Henry has had lots of time to play and has been infatuated with his train and car tracks
A delicious fruit salad Kim made one evening
Henry has also been doing well on his pedal bike. He still prefers his balance bike so it might have to go missing over the winter?
Kim took the kids blueberry picking again
This looks like trouble
Lyza invited some friends over to watch Phantom of the Opera
Henry playing some games at the library
Kim and I went out for a date and the food was delicious. Kim got a grown up grilled cheese sandwich
I got fish tacos
Nixon and Mason started soccer for the fall season. Nixon's pictures were at 9 am with horrible direct light so my pictures are not as dialed in as I would like but he of course is a wonderful model
Here is Nixon's team
The lighting was much nicer for Mason's pictures
Here he is with his team
I got to watch Mason's game (it was at the same time as Nixon's so Kim and I had to divide and conquer)
I think he is trying to intimidate his opponents
He smiles a lot when he plays even though he is not always near the action
When the ball is near he lights up
And he still thinks that big kick is effective
Mason is much more comfortable on the defensive end of the field
His size comes in handy when he can nudge the other players away from the net
I try to focus on the joy he shows during a game rather than on the skill displayed
This video shows how proud he is when he gets to kick the ball
Nixon did great at his game. In fact, Nixon got three goals and his team won 3-2.
Check out the American Flag Mason made
Kim went to a comedy show with friends to celebrate a birthday
Then they went out to dinner
Kim and Mason stayed home from church the next day and Henry really wanted me to send this picture to her
Kim got a box of pears canned
I replaced my super long truck antenna with a stubby little one
This is what Henry looks like when he was to wait too long at the dentist
They learned about the letter B this day for preschool
Kim thinks she is pretty funny scaring our children when they come home from school
Henry was so excited to buy this with birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Keyes
If you stuck with us this far, CONGRATULATIONS! Your prize is a video of Henry after a yogurt drink exploded on him while he was opening it
Take care
That was a really fun blog!!! So fun to see how excited Henry gets for his birthday. What a fun backpack trip you had with Nixon. Beautiful place.
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