This is the best place I had to keep Alexandra. She sat in it a lot while we were up there. She also got carried around in the little backpack. It's turned out to be a lifesaver! We have had this little backpack since Athena was a baby. Alexandra really liked riding in it and didn't complain at all while I was walking. She didn't love just sitting in it. I'm hoping she will start walking soon so I can put her down when we go outside.
We arrived Thursday night and set up our bedding in the tent and unloaded everything else we had to bring with us to survive for a couple of nights. Then Jeremy and I and the kids all headed down to the lake so Jeremy could start to fish. He was really anxious to start fishing.
It was so cold on Thursday night that we all had to really bundle up. That is NOT my idea of a good camping trip! I was freezing! Even by the fire the kids had to wrap up. Here are Nathan and Samantha just trying to survive. :) (You'd better hope we never REALLY have to survive in freezing temperatures because I honestly don't think we could do it! - It was about 45-50 degrees in these pictures.)
We had a rough night on Thursday. The kids said they were warm, but I was awake for half the night because it was cold and my feet were numb. Then for the other half of the night I was awake because Alexandra woke up and was laying with me and couldn't sleep - so therefore, I couldn't sleep. By the time morning came I was so grateful to just get up and move around so I could try to warm up a little.
Friday morning we ate breakfast from the dutch oven and it was soooo tasty! Jeremy made his usual breakfast with hashbrowns, eggs, onions, bacon, and cheese in the dutch oven. After breakfast we cleaned up and headed down to the lake for the day. I walked down with Alexandra on my back.
This is the view from the trail as I walked from our camping spot to the lake. It's so pretty!
Here is the lake in the morning once I got down to it. The morning was cold, but everything was so crisp and fresh. Once I started moving it wasn't so bad.
At the lake, everyone had a chance to catch a fish. We were at the lake most of the day and we had lunch at the lake. Athena was the first one of the kids to reel in a fish using Jeremy's pole. What a fun experience for her! After she caught the fish she was really excited to be at the lake, fishing.
After Athena caught a fish, of course Samantha wanted a turn. She sat in the chair very patiently waiting. Jeremy left Samantha for a little while and told her to watch his pole and if it moved to pick it up because it was a fish. Samantha sat in the chair for a little while longer and just watched the pole. When Jeremy came back, Samantha was holding the pole and reeling in the line. Jeremy told her to put it down and she said there is a fish. He said no, there isn't a fish, the pole probably just moved a little in the water. Samantha was unphased and kept on reeling. All of a sudden she lifted up the line and pulled out a fish! It was so funny. I guess Jeremy should have listened to her. She is really good at standing her ground. :)
Nathan tried the little pole for awhile, but without much luck. Then he fished with Jeremy, using Jeremy's pole and was able to get a fish too!
Other than the fishing, the kids kept themselves entertained by running around playing in the grass with their cousins and whatever else they chose to do. For more than an hour Nathan sat by the side of the lake and threw rocks in. This picture is of Nathan sitting with Hunter, his cousin. I thought they looked so cute just sitting so nicely together.
Mike (Jeremy's brother) brought his boat up to fish in. Athena and Samantha are all ready to go with their cousins Amber and Heather.
Samantha did a great job rowing and didn't complain about her arms hurting at all. Halfway through they traded and Athena got to help row them back to shore.
Later in the day, Jeremy and I took Athena, Samantha, and Nathan out on the boat while Jeremy fished from the boat. I stressed to them the importance of not standing or moving too much so the boat wouldn't tip over. For a minute, Samantha and Nathan got into a little argument and started pushing each other. I told them they'd better knock it off and sit still or they were going to make the boat tip over. They both stopped immediately and Nathan sat still for the rest of the time we were out there. It was awesome! For that reason it would be nice if we were on a boat all the time.
Jeremy caught a fish while we were on the boat! Here he is removing the hook and getting ready to throw it back in.
Jeremy is all done for the day and heading in.
When we got back to our campsite we had our traditional golf game tournament. I drew up a bracket and everyone took turns competing while the others watched.
Here is Athena in action.
Jeremy snatched this picture of our evening cuisine. Dutch oven chicken and vegetables. MMMM!
Friday night was much warmer, but still no sleep. Nathan and Alexandra took turns waking each other up, which meant again, no sleep for me! I don't mind camping, but I HATE that part of camping. Kids who don't sleep. When morning comes, it doesn't matter how much sleep you didn't get - it's morning and you have to get up. So alas, when morning came, I got up.
Saturday morning we packed up and then spent time playing cards with the adults while the kids played. That was a nice break. I brought up a bucket and I gave it to Nathan. It kept him entertained for quite some time. He made it look like so much fun that a bunch of the kids resorted to digging for the morning. They got sooooo dirty, but at least they had fun.
I think the camping trip turned out to be fun, but I have to admit, I'm so glad it's over for this year. Hopefully in years to come we will get a little more sleep as the kids get older. I have to remind myself that it's all for the memories we are creating for the kids and the time we are spending together.
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