We survived our first REAL camping experience this summer (just barely). We headed up to Lake Cascade with my parents for a two night camping extravaganza (it ended up being a one night stay, more on that later). We started off with a bang when Madison got car sick on the way up (it's a very windy road) and we had to pull over and change her on the side of the road...one outfit down and I am positive I didn't pack enough for her now! We get there and only one word can describe our campsite: stunning! We were right on the lake. We had to get creative when setting up our air mattresses (this family doesn't sleep on the ground!) because our pump decided to take a break. We ended up using the camp managers air pump. When Kaylynn saw the lake all she wanted to do was go swimming, enter the heroic daddy. This mommy doesn't swim in dirty lake water! Daddy and the girls swam while my parents and I fished. Kaylynn ended up having a blast fishing as well, and really fishing is way more fun when you can do it with a princess fishing pole! We spent the day fishing and digging in the dirt and having fun! Kaylynn is an okay camper but doesn't like to get dirty. Madison is an awesome camper because she absolutely loves getting dirty. Case in point, Kaylynn fell off her camping chair and cried until we picked her up and wiped her off. A little while later Madison falls out of the same chair and immediately started playing in the dirt where she landed! Crazy kids! We ate a super yummy meal and made cobler in a dutch oven and then somewhere around 10:00 decided to call it a night. And what a long night it was. Kaylynn and Madison wouldn't stop moving and had a hard time falling asleep. A storm came through that night so for a little while Chad and I sat there considering whether or not we should sleep in the van. Around three in the morning it was apparent that I was going to be sick. All in all I think I slept for about an hour off and on and Chad said he never actually fell asleep! That morning I was about as nauseous as one can get. Later everyone told me it was pretty obvious that I was not completely coherent that morning. My stud of a husband broke the camp up and packed everything and drove us home. The drive was awful. When we got home I crawled into bed and couldn't decide whether I wanted throw up or sleep more...
The day before our camping extravaganza we decided that we were going to attempt to go to Chad's best friend's wedding in Camp Sherman, OR. The day that I was sick Chad must have called Luke a few times, cancelling then saying we could come, cancelling...the next morning I woke up feeling great so we headed out on the 8 hour trip. The girls were awesome! The wedding was gorgeous and I had a wonderful time getting to know Chad's "brothers" from his childhood. In one of the toasts at the wedding he was called "the fourth brother" and Sylvia truly considers him a son. I felt so much love there! The wedding was in the most beautiful forest and Bethany walked across the river and down the aisle. A funny story from the wedding. We as a family believe in being modest and this is something that we have taught Kaylynn. Well Bethany's beautiful wedding gown didn't have sleeves, while Bethany is walking across the river Kaylynn says in a very loud voice, "MOMMY, BETHANY"S NOT BEING VERY MODEST!" uhm, yeah I pretty much wanted to crawl under my chair...
Enough writing, enjoy the pictures!
Camp Sherman, OR. It was a gorgeous setting for a wedding!
Luke and Bethany!
The four of us on the bridge.
It was a truly wonderful vacation and I am so grateful we were able to make the trip to Camp Sherman!
8/6-8/9 2010
