The kids go Camping

I am thinking that I will get some pictures at some point but didn't want to forget to include some of the summer fun that the kids had without us.  The first weekend (18-20) Kate stayed home (and got sick) while the older two went camping with Grandma and Gram on a bike adventure in Snoqualmie. Then they came home and were home (and sick) for a few days before going camping again, this time all 3 of them. They went up to Birch Bay with Grandma and Gram and had a wonderful time.

Camping

We took a quick overnight camping trip not too far from Jaydon's school so we could make it work on a school night. Grandma kept the girls and I just brought Jaydon after school Thurs and took him back in Fri morning. We had a good night and the kids had a lot of fun running around the campsite.

We had a great time!

Pics from Grandma

Grandma emailed me a bunch of pics she has taken the past few months and so I decided to plunk them all in one big post!

Grandma took the kids on a mountain bike adventure - they were recovering from illnesses so it wasn't the biggest hit but they still had moments of fun.

Camping - they took 2 camping trips with Grandma and Gram this summer. They had a fabulous time!

Lots of reading time (the kids were super into the A-Z mysteries)

Kate and E both fell asleep in the chariot.

Auntie Jenny, E, Kate and Me taking a canoe ride.

Rock climbing

E's Halloween costume

Ice cream stop on a bike ride.

Lucy backpacking.

Meadow Lake Fish Camp

We left Kamloops and headed up to the Fishing Camp, up past Little Fort.  The drive was pleasant, the last 4 miles were truly off roading and I am thankful I had my book for the places that seemed a bit freaky trying to avoid huge holes and ruts in the gravel road while going up or down a steep hill.  The minivan handled it like a champ - and Jeremy drives really well in it. 

We arrived in our cabin and it was definitely rustic. We had beds galore, a bucket of water, two camp lanterns and a wood burning stove. Jeremy kept the fire going for us in the evenings and through the night so we were quite pleasant in our cabin though we didn't spend much time in it.

We found the life jacket shed and were ready to head to boats

First a few practice casts in the yard.

A picture of the main lodge, a delicious breakfast and dinner were served here each day and there were functioning bathrooms and showers to make it easy camping.

We are off to Meadow Lake, the lake right behind the lodge.

Brenna and Nona Lainie were ready

Kate liked the row boats

The back of the lodge as seen from the lake

Getting ready to fish

Brenna, Papa and Nona

Wendy, Greg and Caedan

Lucy with the first catch of the trip

Looking in the fish bag

Lots of bunnies hopping around the camp much to the kids delight

A firepit with marshmallows the first night - delicious.

When we weren't in boats or hiking to lakes the kids could be found running around playing in camp

Kate practicing her casting

The next morning we walked to Flapjack lake (5 minute hike) and took the boats out there.

No catching but fun fishing.

Grandma and Gram

Finally when we were pulling the boat in to head back Jeremy found a school of really small fish, he caught a few and it was fun to see them and let them go.

Frogs - as the days warmed into afternoon there were frogs all through the grass, the kids had a fabulous time catching them and building frog homes for them, I am sure the frogs weren't as thrilled about these homes as the kids were.

Brenna and some pretty wild flowers

And we're off for our next hike to another lake. I can't remember the name of this one but it was about a 30 minute hike in (and 20 out, we had to hurry for dinner).

Nona, Greg, Caedan, Brenna, Lucy, Jaydon, Wendy, Jeremy and Kate

Dad and Kate

Taking some family pics in front of the boats at the lake, it was so beautiful!

The Chambers Family

More playtime after dinner.

There was this super cool rainbow in the sky and pictures do not do it justice.  It was a full double rainbow but then the lower of the two is what you see in these pics and it was a rainbow that had multiple layers of each color touching each other, at least 4 layers could be seen in person.  I had never seen anything like it.

 

 

Dad and Jaydon went out to try and snag another fish after dinner.

 

Success!

The next morning found us rowing around on Meadow Lake again.  Dad took the older kids and fished with them while Kate and I enjoyed just rowing around in our boat, holding a fishing rod with a big blue fish at the end.

Greg and Brenna enjoying the water

Such a beautiful place to enjoy a vacation

We then decided to hike to Lost Horse Lake (about 15 minutes) and have a picnic lunch.

The camp sends everyone off with a sandwich and thermos each day so we added some other goodies from our supplies and enjoyed a feast in the sunshine.

That evening we got out the squirt guns and the kids had a blast squirting each other (and the adults)

 

Uli, one of our hosts and the chef extraordinaire made a fun fish birthday cake for Jaydon to help us celebrate his birthday a little early with the whole group.

 

Big family style meals were a hit

Jaydon trying out the loon hat

Enjoying another campfire on our last night.

The last morning we took off after breakfast and some fun group pictures on the deck.

Grandma, Jaydon, Jeremy, Kate, Lucy, Sarah, and Nancy

Nona Lainie, Greg, Brenna, Wendy, Caedan, and Papa John

Our whole group

Uli and Francesco, our hosts, joining the picture on the far right

The kiddos

On our drive out of camp, you can tell we were in a remote area, not a road to be found, even when it hit 100% calculated it was just our car.