Camping

It would seem that we've moved to Seattle. The rain has been relentless lately.

We've been waiting and waiting for it to stop so we could properly enjoy the campgrounds but with no real break or spring in sight we decided to enjoy the campgrounds regardless.

Luckily we had some fellow crazy-ones (MDH's brother and family) to join us on our escapades this weekend.

And

Luckily the rain did let up for a few hours so we truly did enjoy the campgrounds in style.

No pictures were taken Friday....too busy getting there, getting the masses fed, getting beds set up, visiting, eating junk and laughing to take pictures.

Truly we did have a marvelous time.

Doug and Michele met us at the campgrounds around 7 and we had a grand banquet of Hot-dogs and hamburgers.....well, mine was a chili-dog...yum.

The kids explored and played for a while and then we gathered at the campfire for roasted marshmallows, banana boats and campfire cannoli. Oh man it was all so delicious.

And I heard once that calories consumed around a campfire are only a fraction of what they normally would be so lets hope that's true.

We were also joined by another of MDH's brothers and family at the campfire.

After a campfire story by MDH we decided to go to bed.

The boys all stayed in one room (the top)

Doug and Michele and their girls took another (the middle)

and MDH and our girls took another (the bottom)

Around 4 am I heard some footsteps running down the stairs and an urgent knock on the door. I thought for sure Mr.Man had woken up and had an urgent need to use the restroom so I jumped up and opened the door to find no one standing there. Then I realized they were knocking on the door to the room above us. After that Sweet Cheeks joined us in bed because she was freezing and I didn't get much more sleep.

Around 6 the boys were up and ready to play.

By 6:30 everyone else was up because the boys were having so much fun it was impossible for anyone to go back to sleep.

We fixed breakfast and after devouring their food the boys were set loose to explore and play to their hearts content.

And this is when all of the pictures were taken.

Saturday morning approx. 8 am

The view from the bridge to the tree house.

Our cute niece. How lucky is Sweet Cheeks to have a friend/cousin just her same age to get into trouble with have fun with.

My handsome husband on deck.

Some of the kids playing Cowboy Golf.

What a fun game. Perfect for the campgrounds too.

Our boys and their cousins.

Mr. Man and his cousin Z cracked me up. They both showed up wearing crazy hats. Z's hat was Pluto and Mr.Man's hat was a cow, complete with a tail. It was totally unplanned, I have to add.

As I was walking by.

"Mom, take my picture" and then she posed.

Of course I have to take a picture of that cuteness!

Showing me a natural "land-bridge" over the koi pond.

examining the koi.

Cute cousins.

The new walk-way and deck.

Grandpa W. is always busy making improvements to the campgrounds.

View of the river from the new deck.

All of the kids were forbidden to go anywhere near the swollen creek/river.

Luckily they were all obedient. I promised them that if they even thought about going close to it the trip would be over and we would come straight home.

They listened and stayed far away.

It was so loud and intimidating it didn't look inviting at all.

The spot of white water in this picture would be about shoulder deep on me.

Normally there's just a trickle of water running through this area and we can walk straight across and climb up on the grassy area you can see.

The kids were impressed with the destructive power of the water. They couldn't believe the trees that it had brought down.

View from the new deck looking back at the tree house and a couple of boys setting up wood scraps as pins for bowling.

It was a wonderful overnight trip and the kids had so much fun with their cousins.

I know they played and explored their little hearts out because they were exhausted when we got home.