Girls backpacking trip

We finally got to go backpacking again!  We weren't able to go the last couple of years but we were able to do a 2 night trip with Auntie Kina on her birthday weekend! We tried to go to Shellrock Lake to try something new. Unfortunately, there was a wildfire too close so the trail was closed.  We headed to Packwood lake since it was close and we'd been there before.  Turned out to be a good thing.  We're not in hiking shape to do much more than we did.  The length was the same but the elevation change would've been triple what we did. Packwood Lake is the first place we went backpacking and it was... uninspiring.  Part of that was weather, the other was our campsite.  We were excited to be backpacking no matter which trail though.

We got to camp around lunchtime.  Since it was Friday we had a ton of choices of campsites. We followed the trail around the lake and found an amazing site!  It was down from the trail, you could barely see the only campsite next to us and we had our own private water entry.

The first thing we did after getting to camp was to put up the hammocks!  It was awesome that we had enough trees to put THREE up next to each other! A lot of time was spent in the hammocks.  Mostly reading, or in Kayda and Kina's case, napping.  Best last minute purchase of the trip for sure.

The smoke was fairly heavy.  We couldn't smell it but you could definitely feel it.

It was nice and toasty Friday so we spent almost the whole time in our swimsuits after setting up camp.

Our campsite...  It was empty a ways to the right.  Then there was a big divide before the next useable site.

I got an expandable 2 gallon jug.  We filled it twice.  The first day Kayda insisted on doing it all herself. Saturday we worked together.

On the hike in I had mentioned that people recommended bringing a floaty but I didn't want to carry the weight.  Kina simply said that we did, in the form of our sleeping mats.  We kind of forgot about it that day.  However, Saturday we decided to give it a go.  

It turned out to be AWESOME and it was warm enough that they dried out quickly for bedtime.  Just in case you were wondering...mine won.

The smoke cleared up just in time for us to be leaving.

We took this picture so we could remember exactly where to find the campsite. We've decided this will be our annual trip. Forget having to find a new one.  We love this spot!

On the hike back we found huckleberries and wild blueberries.  I take after Papa G and thoroughly enjoyed "grazing" on the berries on the way back.

Side note: We found it really entertaining that the boys went camping with Daddy's family.  Daddy would only camp if they could be in the trailer.  Then the girls went backpacking!  Talk about role reversals.

Boys Trip To Packwood

Uncle Pat rented a lot in Packwood and invited everyone to come.  Since Mom and Kayda were backpacking, the boys headed up.  Uncle Pat's Family, Grandma and Papa Hanis, Uncle Greg and Aunt Liz, and Uncle Scott's Family were all there part of the weekend.  They squeezed 3 trailers, all the vehicles, and 3 tents into the lot.  

Daddy had fun reminiscing about the old days he spent in Packwood.  His grandparents (Baba and Grandpa Hanis) owned a lot and cabin in Packwood (High Valley) for over 30 years.  Daddy spent a lot of time there growing up with his parents, brothers, grandparents, uncles/aunts, and cousins.  

He went around showing the boys where the cabin was, the creek they would play in behind it, they walked along the dike that divided the lot from the Cowlitz River, swimming in the community pool, eating pizza at the Packwood Pizza Parlor, and golfing at the nine hole course in the High Valley community (they were able to play two 9 hole rounds).  The boys also had a blast playing with their cousins, as always.  It was a quick trip but fun.

Getting ice cream in town.

The cabin in the back (which was an old water pump shed that was hauled up, and the mobile home to the right (you can see the window and deck.

When Daddy was a kid, where everyone is sitting used to be the main channel of the Cowlitz River.  You could not swim in it as the rapids were to fast.  Now, it was perfect for sitting and playing in.

Butter Peak

Carson's 10th Birthday!

Today Carson turned 10!  We officially no longer have any single digit ages in our little family.  Carson has determined that he isn't ACTUALLY 10 until 10:17 p.m. 

Yesterday we had to finish our camping recovery program.  Then we played Dino-opoly (I hate any monopoly games so it's my best gift for him).  Later Leelan, Avry, Kristee and Zach came over for a few hours.  The kids had a great time running around.  The weather was too yucky for any pool time though.  

Today we started with presents (I swear he was going to bounce out of his skin).  Then he worked his way through playing with each thing.  The boy is loved and had many wonderful people thinking of him.   Kayda gave him the gift of time in the pool.  Dillon has an ear ache but Kayda said she would play in the pool for at least 20 minutes.  They switched over to the hot tub and lasted a little longer though. 

We ended up having dinner at Red Robin with Grandma and Papa H. 

I got my hands on some relighting candles.  It took a good long while until he could get them all to STAY out. 

Lake Chelan

Time for our annual trip with the "summer friends".  Though we saw them a couple of times outside our summer trip over the last year.  We were headed back to Chelan this year.  It seems like we end up there about every other year.  This was our 10th trip together.  All because my parents didn't seem like they wanted to go to Lake Chelan and I invited people I barely knew along.... It worked out in the end. 

Unfortunately, we didn't pay attention to the dates and we ended up with a shorter than normal trip.  We made the best of it.

Kayda gets the option to bring a friend since they have the two boys.  This year we were able to arrange flying Ari up from Las Vegas so she could go with us.  They wouldn't give us passes to go get her from the gate, even though she's a minor.  So we had to wait at baggage claim.  Kayda hid and when we saw Ari snuck up on her with a hug.  She had two nights with us until we headed out.

The kids find interesting ways to entertain themselves.  We would let them go to the lake without us, with the expectation that they couldn't swim out to the dock until we were there.  We were a couple minutes behind them usually.  When I came down one time they had found a giant floating log.  They had a great time with it. 

The kids loved going to the volleyball court to play.  They really played volleyball, rode bikes, played Pokemon Go, played corn hole, and swam.  

Of course we HAD to do a day at the waterpark.  The kids are getting a little old for it though and wanted to stop in the late afternoon. 

If you get there fast enough they have free surfing lessons.  It's half an hour with 12 people taking turns riding...or trying to ride.  We got there early enough for Daddy, Kayda, Carson and I to try.  We couldn't convince Dillon to try. 

Daddy made it up but was shaky.  By his third turn he was doing fairly well. 

Kayda and Carson weren't able to stabilize once they were away from the wall.  I love this picture of Kayda, she looks fierce...but she's actually falling. 

Carson made a couple seconds but couldn't hold it. 

I actually surprised myself and was able to get out to the middle first try.  I let myself fall because I wasn't sure how to turn and was conscious of other people wanting turns.  Ended up being frustrating.  I only got two turns and some other person got 4 because I got messed up in line having to change boards since it was bent. I was excited to try turning that last time.  It was a bummer. 

Carson decided it would be fun to ride his bike into the lake.  We didn't care since it's a hand me down from Dillon and already pretty beat up. 

This year the dock was damaged.  It has taken on water so it sinks low with very few people on it.  They were actually able to rock it back and forth with big groups so that it tilted way up out of the water...until someone slipped and took out 3/4 of the people on the dock.  Excuse the random people on the dock with them. 

Jenn brought glow sticks again.  The kids had a great time going around the campground and even had other kids meeting up with them. 

We all played catch phrase and had a good time of it.  There were plenty of things they didn't know since the game is from the 2000's.  

We played the game spoons...with forks.  They loved it.  Until the adult left.  You really need a decent chunk of people to make it fun. 

The guys didn't take a "my two dads" picture this year.  It felt "forced" since we were all excited about it.  Instead we get this... they must be having relationship problems. 

Ari had to head home the day after we got back.  First thing in the morning. She missed her orientation to come and actually starts school on the 9th!

Think we're planning something bigger next year since it's our "ten year anniversary"!