Camping
We went camping near Bear Lake, up St. Charles Canyon last week. Because Richard is new to the Seminary profession he hasn't had a lot of time to take off this summer. But we decided we needed some family time before he goes back to school this fall.
The first night, we got in a little later than planned. I made the fire while Richard set up the tent and we had a quick dinner of roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Olivia was good to not get too close to the fire. The main thing we had to worry about was her wandering off down the road.
She also did great and slept nearly the whole night. Part way thru she got cold and needed another blanket. The next morning I woke up to a sweet little voice, "Mom!"
Coming back from the bathroom.
We weren't planning to but we ended up going on a tour of Minnetonka Cave. We did it several years ago and thought Olivia might like it. She did. But being 6 months pregnant, I didn't. I don't know, something about those 888 steps in and out left me. . .exhausted!
After lunch and a nap for Olivia, we headed to Bear Lake.
It was absolutely gorgeous! This picture doesn't do it justice but the water was so blue and clear and beautiful! Until we got there. Richard and I joke, but it really seems like every time we go to Bear Lake, even if there's clear skies when we're driving up to the water, as soon as we get out of the car, thick clouds roll in, usually accompanied with wind. Well, this time was no different. But we just played and had fun anyway.
As always, Olivia loved the water.
She actually stopped playing in the sand to pose for a picture. Little goof!
Showing off our tan lines. As you can tell, I've kind of neglected the sunscreen this summer. Oops!
.jpg)
After a couple of hours we went back to camp and relaxed.
And played.
Then we got the fire going for some dinner. In the meantime, Olivia kept herself entertained with a little 'Patty Cake'.
We had the most delicious tin foil dinners.
And a practically perfect peach cobbler!
The gnats were awful. The sun had just gone behind the mountain and given us some relief when the gnats showed up. They wouldn't leave our food alone and it was so hard to eat. I mentioned to Richard, "If the pepper moves, it's probably a gnat." The food was so good, though, gnats and all!
We went on a fun walk after dinner to Blue Lake, which always looks a lot more green than blue to me.
.jpg)
On our last day, we had breakfast, packed up and started down the canyon to head home. In the car we were talking about a moose we had seen in the "blue" lake the day before on our way to Bear Lake. At that time we had stopped and taken a picture but it was far enough away that it was pretty blurry. While we talked, we just happened to be driving past Blue Lake again and I glanced over and saw a moose (the same one, I imagine) in nearly the same spot as the day before! This time we parked and hiked in to get a better picture. We took turns staying with Olivia in the car because we thought she might make too much noise and scare the moose away from or towards us. We were only 20 or 30 feet away and it was awesome!
It was a much needed get-away for all of us and we are now rested, rejuvenated and ready to start back to our crazy schedule in a couple of weeks.
The first night, we got in a little later than planned. I made the fire while Richard set up the tent and we had a quick dinner of roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Olivia was good to not get too close to the fire. The main thing we had to worry about was her wandering off down the road.
She also did great and slept nearly the whole night. Part way thru she got cold and needed another blanket. The next morning I woke up to a sweet little voice, "Mom!"
Coming back from the bathroom.
We weren't planning to but we ended up going on a tour of Minnetonka Cave. We did it several years ago and thought Olivia might like it. She did. But being 6 months pregnant, I didn't. I don't know, something about those 888 steps in and out left me. . .exhausted!
After lunch and a nap for Olivia, we headed to Bear Lake.
It was absolutely gorgeous! This picture doesn't do it justice but the water was so blue and clear and beautiful! Until we got there. Richard and I joke, but it really seems like every time we go to Bear Lake, even if there's clear skies when we're driving up to the water, as soon as we get out of the car, thick clouds roll in, usually accompanied with wind. Well, this time was no different. But we just played and had fun anyway.
As always, Olivia loved the water.
She actually stopped playing in the sand to pose for a picture. Little goof!
Showing off our tan lines. As you can tell, I've kind of neglected the sunscreen this summer. Oops!
.jpg)
After a couple of hours we went back to camp and relaxed.
And played.
Then we got the fire going for some dinner. In the meantime, Olivia kept herself entertained with a little 'Patty Cake'.
We had the most delicious tin foil dinners.
And a practically perfect peach cobbler!
The gnats were awful. The sun had just gone behind the mountain and given us some relief when the gnats showed up. They wouldn't leave our food alone and it was so hard to eat. I mentioned to Richard, "If the pepper moves, it's probably a gnat." The food was so good, though, gnats and all!
We went on a fun walk after dinner to Blue Lake, which always looks a lot more green than blue to me.
.jpg)
On our last day, we had breakfast, packed up and started down the canyon to head home. In the car we were talking about a moose we had seen in the "blue" lake the day before on our way to Bear Lake. At that time we had stopped and taken a picture but it was far enough away that it was pretty blurry. While we talked, we just happened to be driving past Blue Lake again and I glanced over and saw a moose (the same one, I imagine) in nearly the same spot as the day before! This time we parked and hiked in to get a better picture. We took turns staying with Olivia in the car because we thought she might make too much noise and scare the moose away from or towards us. We were only 20 or 30 feet away and it was awesome!
It was a much needed get-away for all of us and we are now rested, rejuvenated and ready to start back to our crazy schedule in a couple of weeks.
Yes, one last camping trip! So glad you could go; can't imagine why you'd feel tired after all those steps? ha ha, I would not have even made it up there.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, pictures don't usually do the beautiful blue of Bear Lake any justice.