Long Family Road Trip 2013: Day 10

Parker wanted to try out his raft first thing so I helped him drag it down to the lake.  He couldn't quite sit on it, but he did use it to hold his body up while he kicked. He seemed satisfied.

Long Family Road Trip 2013: Day 9

The day started out with the kids trying to climb a tree. They were determined to use the excess rope from the hammock to build a swing.  But the tree was so high, they had to throw the rope up to the top.  Then they helped each other climb the tree. Only Elizabeth was successful and it scared the shit out of us.  But they did build their swing. Our cameras were out of batteries when it happened so no pictures. Parker also got the idea he wanted to make a raft.  Everyone helped out for a bit, but the girls got tired of it.  It took Parker most of the day to pull it together but he was ultimately successful the next day.

Then I took the kids kayaking on the lake.  They wouldn't let the kids go together so I would ride one around and then come back and switch kids.  Probably the only exercise I got the whole trip. Which was fine by me.

After lying around for the afternoon, I took the girls out driving. I didn't have anywhere particular in mind, but when we ended up finding some snow by the side of the road, they were thrilled and we had to check it out.  They played on the snow for a good long time and then we drove on some more only then realizing the snow was everywhere. Keep in mind it was 90 degrees.  We also found a lake (Helen's lake) which was ice cold but so idilic that I knew we had to come back the next day with the boys.  I had never seen a lake so blue and clear.

This water was just run off from the snow just up the hill. It was flooded this day but gone the next.

We had ribs for dinner that night and they were fantastic.  I ate way more than I should have.

Long Family Road Trip 2013: Day 8

Day 8 started out with Michael heading off to do all the camping shopping.  He was going to use the dutch oven for all the meals so he went to the Walmart next door to the hotel to get everything. The kids swam in the pool some more and then we packed up the room and took off.  Since we did so much driving the day before, we only had a short drive (a couple hours) to Lassen.  When we were about 30 minutes away, we stopped at a lake to let the kids swim a bit. It was cold, but not too bad and they had fun for quiet a while.  

Then we drove just a bit farther and arrived at our campsite. It was just about the most perfect place you could ask for. There were 20 tent cabins, but ours, #11, was facing the lake, not too close to others and pretty close to the bathroom. There was a great store with everything you could want, including a hammock which I immediately got.  The cabin was great. Two bunk beds with a double bed under one of them and a double futon in the living room. No electricity, but perfect for sleeping.  The kids had tons of running around room and immediately took off to check out the lake.  

Michael put all the food away and I got the beds and clothes set up.    Michael taught Parker how to make a fire and he was pretty obsessed about that the rest of the trip. Michael made chicken and rice that night which I enjoyed thoroughly but wasn't a big hit with anyone else.  I was so very happy about the perfectness of the campsite and our cabin, I just couldn't stop smiling.