Day 5

On our last full day we decided to go explore an area that was new to us. We heard that it was just a little walking trail around an inactive volcano and thought it would be a fun way to kill time before dinner.

Little walking trail was an understatement... it was a hike!

It was fun and it wasn't a hard hike, but we weren't prepared. Charlotte and I were wearing flip flops! It took way longer that we thought it would and dinner was pushed back about an hour.

Lila was way too slow and spent her time either on Nick's shoulders, or my back. Not the most comfortable way to hike when it got steep, but we made it work.

After dinner we started packing up what we could to help prepare for our long drive home the next day. We were able to leave the next morning by about 10 am, which I was
impressed with. I was a little worried about packing the van all by myself (Nick packed it for me the night before we came) but I managed to get everything back home! We were sad to leave as always, but Daddy was waiting for us at home which gave us lots of motivation to get back.

It was a fun year, I'm glad I went ahead and took the kids without Nick, and as usual, we are already looking forward to next year and hope that everyone can come!

Day4

Burney Falls!!

I almost skipped this trip this year. I wasn't sure how I would get Lila down the trail, but Grandma offered to come in the car with us and play with Lila near the water while we hiked down to meet up with them! Thanks Grandma, I'm glad we didn't have to miss out on it!













Above, Aaron and Isaac are tiny little spots right by the waterfall









Nick and Charlotte. I love this picture

Day 3

Time for the Lava Tube! This is a fun tradition for our kids, I will be sad when they aren't so excited about it anymore. We rounded up all who were willing and headed out. Here is Lila waiting for us to get our act together.



Inside the cave it is cold, so we bring sweatshirts with us, but it was hot out in the sun. Lila didn't care though and insisted on wearing her sweatshirt AND hood!



I was holding Lila the whole time and didn't get any pictures inside, but we saw a mouse that we chased around with our flashlights! The kids thought is was very funny.







A very bad picture of all of us









Back at camp we had some ice cream..... every time this happened we had to completely change Lila's outfit!





Aaron got a couple of fishing lessons from Great-Grandpa Siggy!











Of course we swam some more too!













One of my favorite parts of our camping trip each year is going on long walks with Nick down the road that leads up to the camp grounds. I thought it would be fun to take my kids this year instead! Aaron and Charlotte instead chose to stay with their older and cooler cousins, and Elsie and Lila didn't even make it out of the campground before they said they were tires and wanted to go back!







My cute babies walking to the bathroom


...and back!




I could eat that baby up...