1 day ago
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Quick Trip to Grandpa's Cabin
Jason was down from Oregon this weekend and talked us into a very quick trip to the cabin. We were there for less than 24 hours, but it was totally worth it. We had dinner at the Strawberry Lodge. (FYI stick with the all you can eat fish fry on Friday nights, and DO NOT order the open face roast beef sandwich - NOT GOOD AT ALL - fake mashed potatoes, fake gravy, fake meat too I think!) The weather was beautiful, and the kids got to see deer, elk, and even a culture - really a vulture, but Tate called it a culture. We got to enjoy a short thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon, and then it was back to the valley heat. Oh-well it was great to get away!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Labor Day Camping
So we've been going camping every Labor Day weekend for quite a few years now, and it rains every year, but we still go, and we still have a great time! This year we went to one of our favorite spots at the base of snowbowl. We had about 35 people, family and friends, and a good time was had by all. I've attempted to put the pics together in themes - there's a ton of pics thanks to Sara - I only took 4 the whole trip - oops. In no particular order here is our Labor Day - enjoy!
GUNS
The new obsession for the McDowell boys this year was paintball guns and everything that goes along with it. (I think I much prefered the frisbee obsession from the few previous camping trips - less dangerous and less expensive!) Getting the game together was no small task. They had to fill tanks, calibrate guns, choose teams, decide rules, and adorn themselves with all sorts of gear. Had I actually played perhaps all the work would have seemed worth it, but I did not, and it just seemed like too much caos. Anyhow they all had a blast shooting each other and then bragging about how many times they got each other, and how no one was able to get them.
Of course the little boys had to get in on the action too, and had a blast shooting up the trees.
The little boys also couln't have been happier to pick up all the unbroken paintballs.
DIRT
It's a given - with any camping trip dirt is involved and in this instance MUD too. I can't believe we didn't get more pics of the dirty kids, cuz they were all filthy, but here are a few of Jack.
And we must not forget Uncle Brent who rolled his quad in the mud.
RIDING
The kids had an absolute blast riding the quads and the 3 wheeler. Jack walked around all day asking anyone and everyone for a ride.
Tate got pretty brave on the 3 wheeler this year and probably got close to top speed in first gear - he doesn't know it can shift any higher - and he probably doesn't need to know yet! He only crashed once, because he opted to use his foot as a brake rather than the handle brake. He ran over his leg, twisted his arm, and bruised his ego pretty bad. (no real injuries)
This is about how many kids tried to jump on anytime anyone went on a ride - no joke!
FOOD
Curbside dinner on the way up consisting of McDonalds for the boys, A&W for John, and KFC for me. So Healthy and Delicious!
I'm helping to prepare one of our wonderful camping meals.
Just kidding! I'm not qualified - they only let me do the dishes.
PB&J anyone?
GRANDKIDS
This is only a small sampling of the many, many pics we attempted to pose the gradkids for. They were pretty cooperative - sort of. Seven of the nine McDowell grandkids were on the camping trip.
GOOD TIMES
The best part of the trip was our new trailer! When it rained, I had the trailer. When it was cold, I had the trailer. When I needed to go potty, I had the trailer. When the boys were filthy, we had the tub in the trailer. It made camping so much more tolerable. I forgot to take a pic with both sides popped out, but there is a queen bed on the back and a king on the front - so nice!
Me trying to stay warm and not succeeding.
Crazy Tate and Matthew always have so much fun together.
The play-doh kept the kids busy for hours - every color ended up brown from all the dirty hands. We opted not to keep it for next time.
Cute Johnny with cute Jack and Max.
When Jack wasn't riding he was trying to find someone to play ball with him.
Jack exploring nature.
Jack in time out, and Max trying to make him feel better.
cute, cute boys.
Me again trying to stay warm, and this time dry - it rained everyday.
Story time
THE RIDE HOME
I think we actually wore them out!
GUNS
The new obsession for the McDowell boys this year was paintball guns and everything that goes along with it. (I think I much prefered the frisbee obsession from the few previous camping trips - less dangerous and less expensive!) Getting the game together was no small task. They had to fill tanks, calibrate guns, choose teams, decide rules, and adorn themselves with all sorts of gear. Had I actually played perhaps all the work would have seemed worth it, but I did not, and it just seemed like too much caos. Anyhow they all had a blast shooting each other and then bragging about how many times they got each other, and how no one was able to get them.
Of course the little boys had to get in on the action too, and had a blast shooting up the trees.
The little boys also couln't have been happier to pick up all the unbroken paintballs.
DIRT
It's a given - with any camping trip dirt is involved and in this instance MUD too. I can't believe we didn't get more pics of the dirty kids, cuz they were all filthy, but here are a few of Jack.
And we must not forget Uncle Brent who rolled his quad in the mud.
RIDING
The kids had an absolute blast riding the quads and the 3 wheeler. Jack walked around all day asking anyone and everyone for a ride.
Tate got pretty brave on the 3 wheeler this year and probably got close to top speed in first gear - he doesn't know it can shift any higher - and he probably doesn't need to know yet! He only crashed once, because he opted to use his foot as a brake rather than the handle brake. He ran over his leg, twisted his arm, and bruised his ego pretty bad. (no real injuries)
This is about how many kids tried to jump on anytime anyone went on a ride - no joke!
FOOD
Curbside dinner on the way up consisting of McDonalds for the boys, A&W for John, and KFC for me. So Healthy and Delicious!
I'm helping to prepare one of our wonderful camping meals.
Just kidding! I'm not qualified - they only let me do the dishes.
PB&J anyone?
GRANDKIDS
This is only a small sampling of the many, many pics we attempted to pose the gradkids for. They were pretty cooperative - sort of. Seven of the nine McDowell grandkids were on the camping trip.
GOOD TIMES
The best part of the trip was our new trailer! When it rained, I had the trailer. When it was cold, I had the trailer. When I needed to go potty, I had the trailer. When the boys were filthy, we had the tub in the trailer. It made camping so much more tolerable. I forgot to take a pic with both sides popped out, but there is a queen bed on the back and a king on the front - so nice!
Me trying to stay warm and not succeeding.
Crazy Tate and Matthew always have so much fun together.
The play-doh kept the kids busy for hours - every color ended up brown from all the dirty hands. We opted not to keep it for next time.
Cute Johnny with cute Jack and Max.
When Jack wasn't riding he was trying to find someone to play ball with him.
Jack exploring nature.
Jack in time out, and Max trying to make him feel better.
cute, cute boys.
Me again trying to stay warm, and this time dry - it rained everyday.
Story time
THE RIDE HOME
I think we actually wore them out!
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