Saturday, July 21, 2012

Camping

Our family just returned from a mini-vaca campout. We usually go a few to several times a year, but I was really much too sick to care earlier in the year. This peaceful little spot is on Bull Trout Lake--less than 3 hours from our house. The setting was gorgeous and the weather just about as perfect as it gets. If you were warm, all you had to do was find a shady spot and if you were cool, a light jacket and a spot in the sun were the cure.


Another view of the lake. My camera batteries were dead, so these were taken with my husband's iphone. I thought they turned out really good though. The clouds were beautiful!

In addition to the standard camp food fare, we enjoyed fresh squash from our garden at home. We fried it with potatoes, a few jalapeno and some cherry tomatoes. Served it with pork chops. It was so yummy! I also did breakfast burritos one morning this trip. They were yummy too--and so simple!

This picture reminds me of Sound of Music for some reason. I've actually never read or seen it, and don't even know what it's about-- but it just looks like a younger version of the cover picture.

This was little baby K's first campout. 19 weeks. We listened to the heartbeat again the day before and have an ultrasound scheduled for the 9th of August. I am anxious to take a peek and make sure everything is looking good. I'm also anxious to put everyone's mind at ease about baby's gender. ;)

There are natural hot springs nearby to where we camped (about a quarter mile hike). There are several pools and one makeshift bathhouse. Of course, the dr wouldn't let me in the water. It ranges from 104-180 degrees. That's pretty hot. The girls soaked their feet a while and they had the softest feet ever!

Inside the bath house. =)

The girls looking out of an old homesteader's cabin near the lake. I've been told it was built in the 1880's. The old black cookstove is still there and the loft. It's really quite amazing and looks like something right out of Little House on the Prairie. We just so happened to have Mary, Laura, Carrie and Grace along.

It sets in a beautiful meadow surrounded by mountains and trees.

My girls have the most amazing daddy! They did catch a few fish, but between the four of them, most of his time was spent either baiting or untangling line.

Kaite loved watching all the little animals. We saw several deer, but I think Kaite's favorite was the little 'quirrles as she called them. They were abundant and if you sat real still they would crawl right over your feet.

Another lovely lake shot. This is Marin Lake. Very near to Bull Trout Lake. There are several small lakes just a few miles apart from one another.

We tried something new in the line of roasting this year. Strawberries dipped in marshmallow creme and roasted over an open fire really are amazing....especially if you aren't really a s'mores type of person.

I'm always so thankful for a chance to spend quality family time minus the distractions of cell phones and internet. There is something so beautiful about the unspotted creation of God's great outdoors that just makes your heart full.

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Monday, July 16, 2012

Happy # 10!

Our bubbly, bouncing Kalli turned 10 on Saturday.

 Love the blue eyes and the dimple!
 She is crazy about butterflies!
 It's hard to believe that tall thin thing is the same little rolly polly fatso who arrived 2 and a half weeks late and shocked us all (doctors included) with her 8.10 weight and 22in length. She arrived screaming and has only closed her mouth briefly since. We love her bubbly spirit tho!
 We picked up the butterfly paper goods at the Dollar Store and added the ribbon and flowers from things we had on hand.
 The original idea for the grape butterfly appetizers came from pinterest, but I must say ours turned out much cuter!
 The cake was a bit of a flop, as the icing slid like crazy, but she was happy with it.
 I think her butterfly sunglasses from a friend just might have been the hit of the party.....
 .....of course there was also the butterfly flip flops, wind-chimes, hair clips, candle, notepad and purse. =) I never knew there were so many butterfly things out there until she requested a butterfly party and we started looking. She also got something she has been asking for a long time--Bell and the Beast Barbies!
 She was a little disappointed at the rain, because she wanted to play outside--but about the time we were ready to play, the sun came out and there was a beautiful rainbow! You should have seen the smile that brought!
 The girls made coffee filter butterflies,
 and after the party, daddy played baseball with his girls.
What a fun day!
Happy Birthday, Kalli!

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...and underneath are the everlasting arms...Duet. 33:27