Big Springs in the Tahoe National Forest

Packing in

getting packed and ready to go

heading up the road to the trail head

almost there

Chilli all packed and ready to go

We ate very well thanks to camp cook Uncle Gary

Chilli eating dinner in the meadow

Butter and Chilli on the High line

Our Camp

The horses and mules grazing in the meadow

Arriving at Big Springs riding though the meadow where the horses will graze.

Remmie and I filling the jugs of drinking water from the spring.

Day ride to upper Whiskey creek

heading home

packing out

Every year for the past thirty years Rob's uncle has been doing pack trips into Big Springs (near Lake Tahoe) and for the past few years I have wanted to go but have not been able to. This year I finally got to go and it was well worth it. I saw some beautiful country. It is a six mile ride into the Tahoe national forest, and it was a beautiful ride. We took fourteen head of stock nice riding animals and five pack animals. The ride in was nice and cool and it had rained the day before so the trail was not dusty. I realized the first night I should have bought a warmer sleeping bag, I froze. The next night I put a manny tarp on top of me and I was warmer. The forest service had suspented all fires other that developed campsites, so we went without a fire. It made for some cold nights.

We got our drinking water from a spring. It was ice cold and some of the best water I have tasted. It is also where we iced down our beer. There was also a creek near the campsite, Whiskey Creek. That is where we did our fishing and bathing. It was coooooold. The water gave me the worst headache when I was washing my hair, I don't think I have ever taken a bath so fast. It was a wonderful four days I can't wait to go back next year.

Newport 2009

I am a little late in posting some of theses pics, we have been gone off and on all summer. We went with my parents on our annual Newport Beach trip, and were gone for two weeks. We had a great time, it was very relaxing. We got to see Faith Hill at the Hollywood Bowl it was a nice concert. Uncle Phil babysat the boys for us, (Thank you Uncle Phil,) they had a great time with Uncle Phil. He took them to eat at Ruby's on the pier then they went to the Balboa fun zone. We took the kids to Legoland and the aquarium next door. The kids had a great time at Legoland, the parent wished that beer was sold there.

On Sunday we had a little family reunion at the beach house, it was great to see all the family. The kids had fun playing with their cousins. We also celebrated some August birthdays since everyone was there. We don't get to see my dad's side of the family very often so it was nice to visit with everyone.

The best thing for me was getting to see the dolphins. On Wednesday we saw them just off shore when we were at the beach. The next morning while we were having our coffee on the deck my mom spotted them in the bay. Rob, the boys and I hoped in the boat to get a closer look. I got some good shots and the neatest thing was when Connor shouted "mommy look" I look down to see a dolphin swimming under our boat on his side looking up at us. It was really breath taking.

4th of July

Mt Lassen at sunset

The boys and the cousins waiting for the parade

Connor tubing

Rob's cousin Kaysi and her husband Nick ready to tube

Rob's cousin Brandon wakeboarding, the boys thought he was so cool doing all of his flips.

Getting ready to fish with dad

the boys waiting to go for a ride in Uncle Brian's boat

For the fourth we took our annual trip up to the cabin at Lake Almanor. Last year we were not able to go due to all the wildfires. It just did not seem like the fourth last year. We were so excited to go this year. The town of Chester has a 4th of July parade every year and the boys and all their cousins love to go watch and collect the candy that gets thrown from the floats. The boys are at such great ages (six and four) they are so easy to travel with. Rob keeps asking me "are you really sure you want another one?, This is so easy and nice." I just choose not to think about it, and when I do I come to the realization that they are not that little for long.

In years prior the boys have been content to sit in the sand, build sandcastles, and play. This year all they wanted to do was swim in the lake. Sometimes I think they are part fish. It was nice I sat on the dock with my ipod and book while they swam away the day. When we would take the boat out to fish Chance would hop off into the lake on the opposite side Rob was finishing from and hold onto my legs and swim, he couldn't get enough.

Every year there is a fireworks show off of the peninsula across from where the cabin is. It is a great fireworks show and all we have to do is sit on the deck and we have a great view. A lot of people take their boats out and watch the fireworks on the lake. It looks like sea of lights. This year we decided we would try it out. Rob, I, and the boys took our boat and Rob's Aunt and uncle and their family took their boat out too. When we got out to the peninsula Rob's uncle dropped the anchor and we tied up to them. The boys had fun hopping from boat to boat until the show started. It was a great weekend we had a great time hanging out will all the family we can't wait for next year. We feel so blessed to have such great vacationing opportunities.

The garden

Some of the tasty green beans

Our garden is finally starting to produce. I have been getting green beans for a couple of weeks now. They are great producers I get about two handfuls every day. The soybeans are not doing so well the leaves are turning yellow. Yesterday I picked some cucumbers, lemon cucumbers, and yellow squash. They are so good. I am surprised that the tomatoes are taking so long, it is probably because of the lack of heat. This week should be nice and warm so the garden will get some much needed heat. I can't wait to move on to our property and start a bigger plot next summer.

Dillions Beach

The Dolphin!!!!Those of you who know me well know I was so excited to see this.

The Native American Village

Piont Reyes National Park

This is the view from the house

The near by town of Tomales, cute town

For father's day weekend and to keep with celebrating my birthday we went Dillon Beach with some friends of ours. They had bid on a beach house in a silent auction at a fundraiser and won a two night stay,they asked if we would like to go with them. It was a great weekend we had a great time. It was nice of them to invite us. Our boys are close in age and play well together so the boys had friends to play with. It was quite cold but we still enjoyed ourselves. Saturday we packed a picnic lunch and headed out for a road trip to Point Reyes National Park, about a forty five minute drive. It was beautiful there not a windy and a lot warmer. The drive there was also a beautiful drive along the bay. We kept passing hole-in-the wall places selling BBQ oysters and the guys were drooling. We did get to stop at a nice restaurant on the way home right on the water it was so nice and everyone minus me got to have BBQ oysters (i am not a fan of oysters)I stuck with the clam chowder, which I didn't get much of because Chance decided he loved it too. At the park we to a little hike to see the Lolku Indian village, the kids were so excited. I love to go to places like that with such history. The boys enjoyed learning how the Native Americans used to live. The loved the sweat house. After the hike we found a nice table in the shade for our picnic. Afterward we hoped back into the car to drive to the Light house, but it was so windy. The guys got out of the car to check it out but the hike to the Lighthouse was too far and it was way too windy you could lean against the wind and it would hold you up that's how windy it was. So we didn't get it the boys were disappointed. On the way back through the park we found a beach(Drakes Beach) that had cliffs that sheltered us from the wind so the kids could get out and play in the sand. While we were there we saw seals and dolphins it was really neat. It was a really fun weekend Thank you Tyson and Teena for inviting us.

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Last Thursday was my birthday, but I started celebrating on Tuesday. Tuesday my sister in law got the girls together from our bible study and we went to Chevy's on the river(pictures to come). The big surprise was that my in-laws had rented a limo, it was a great time. We had a great dinner and laughed until our stomachs hurt. On Wed. I got to go to the DMV since I am a procrastinator and waited until the last minute there was no appointments available before Thursday to renew my license, (My wonderful friend Teena watched the kids in the car so I didn't have to worry about them) so I had to just show up and hope the wait was not too long. I waited for an hour it could have been worse. I wanted to keep my old picture it was actually a good one, I was nice and tan from our honeymoon in Jamaica and my hair was longer, but alas they said I had to take a new one. On Thursday we went to Logan's Roadhouse after picking my brother up at the airport(he was in town from Tulsa for a wedding) I love Logan's they have a bucket of peanuts at every table and you just throw the shells on the floor. It keeps the kids busy until our food comes. I finally got an ipod for my birthday, I love it. I have to laugh now when the kids ask "Mom do you have your ipod we want to listen to....." so different from when I was their age and I am not that old!!!

Memorial Day Roping and BBQ

This weekend Rob's cousin hosted a roping and BBQ at her house. We roped all day, then we branded her new steers, and afterward there was a BBQ. It was a good time and good food. The boys had a great time running around and playing with all the other kids. They came home tired and filthy. Once the sun went down it got a little chilly so we sat around the branding fire to warm up, and the kids ran around in the arena.