More Camping Pics

Camping

So we just got back from a camping trip. We haven't taken any kind of vaction in over 2 years and it was a long time coming! We went camping to Pinecrest. All of Krista's family was there, including her two aunts and their families (one which lives in Reno).

It was a blast! The weather was perfect, actually a little too hot if you ask me, but at least we got to hang out at the lake. The family had a dutch oven dessert contest...guess who won? Yep! We did. It was the first time we had ever used a dutch oven without the help of mommy or daddy to show us what to do! We made a very simple blueberry dump cake...3 ingredients and it was voted the most delicious! Ask me about my secret to great dump cake sometime. The kids had soooo much fun with their cousins, who they don't get to see very often since they all live in the Bay Area. I forgot how dirty camping is, but after 2 days I just gave into the filth! We made foil dinners one night. They turned out okay. The veggies were delish, but the meat was more like a hockey puck. Krista's Aunt Cindy (who lives in Reno) made a huge pot of spaghetti for the whole family (over 30 of us) and another night we had a turkey dinner. Yes, I said turkey dinner...it was Thanksgiving in July. She made it in a trash can...I guess it is some famous scout recipe. We had all the fixin's with the turkey. It was really good.

It was bittersweet coming home, but I was glad when we finally pulled into the driveway. And now that I have washed every bit of camping clothing and sleeping bags and towels, etc. I feel like things are getting back to the crazy-normal pace. Mike wants to go camping again...this summer. Yikes!

So here are a few pics of our trip...mainly of the kids. They both got a little too much sun.

Happy 4th!

Here some pics by the pool and some of Katie in her 4th of July outfit! She and our dog, Lola, are best friends!

Summer Fun!

We pulled out the trusty blow-up pool for the kids yesterday. It couldn't have been a more perfect 4th of July. The tempertature didn't past 95 degrees and the sky was blue with white wispy clouds. There was even a slight breeze! What a change to the icky, smoky-filled skies we've had the past week. We barbecued brats (as in bratwurst) and ate a yummy picnic-style dinner complete with an awesome new pasta salad recipe I made, corn on the cob, lemonade. At sunset, we pulled our chairs onto the driveway and enjoyed frosty cold rootbeer floats...well at least Mike and I did...Colin dumped his out right after his first bite. When the sun went down, we lit off our fireworks along with some other of the neighbors. Mike's favorite firework is the Piccolo Pete (or Whistlers as they are called now)...I had to cover Katie's ears for these ones! I love the "flowers" and Colin would take the blanket off his head to watch the fountain fireworks. By the time we got back into the house it was almost 10pm! But is was a relaxing and fun 4th of July.

So here are some pics of the kids enyoying the cool refreshment of the wading pool!

Happy Fourth of July Everybody!



Stars & Stripes FOREVER!