I'm Baaaccckkkk!

We took some time out of life to go on a little family vacation.  We left last Sunday and went camping at the Cove Palisades State Park in central Oregon.  We went with our good family friends, the Allens.  It was AMAZING!  Gorgeous!  Mike grew up camping for a week every year at the Cove.  He's always wanted to take our kids but we just haven't gotten around to it, until this year.  It was so wonderful.  Other than the fact that the campsite sits on a huge hill that we had to climb up and down every time someone had to go to the bathroom, shower, play, ride bikes, dump the garbage... well you get the idea!  However, the beauty and the fun lake were WELL worth the sacrifice!  We had perfect (HOT) weather.  There is a boat ramp and a cool swim area about 1/2 mile from where we were camping.  We headed to the lake every day we were there.  We would spend the day swimming and playing and eating.  Then head back to camp for dinner.

 

On Wednesday we rented a boat for the day.  I got some fun shots of the kids tubing.  Conner tried to get up on the ski's a few times.  He almost had it, but decided that the instant gratification from the tube was a lot better!  Caile DID NOT want to boat at all!  She screamed at me and hid her head the whole time but she did pretty well the last time we went out.  I was even able to talk Adrie into going out on the tube with me.  She loved it!  So, now Mike's trying to talk himself into buying a boat.  Here we go!  Actually, it was really fun to see him in his element.  I know that boating and skiing was huge part of his childhood so it was fun to see him experience that!

    

Here are some candid pics from our vacation:

 

I did not even think it was possible to get this dirty!!!  We called Caile the Dozer the entire week.  She loved to plant herself in the dirt and then use her hands to push it all over the camp site or beach!  Adrie just tried to take baths in it!

 

  

Conner built his first fire all by himself this week.  He really enjoyed that!

 

Crazy girls!!!

 

   

Mike enjoying himself.

 

 

Oh, if you're still reading this far, Conner got a call on his birthday from the principal of St. Luke Catholic School letting him know that he had been admitted for the school year!!!  What a fun birthday present for him.  He's really excited about making new friends and spending time with his old ones from there!