Camping at Spring Canyon

Just returned from an awesome week (well 4 days really) camping with the family and our friends Bree and Davie and their baby Major.
We left Monday morning for Spring Canyon on Lake Roosevelt, with the hopes of getting a camping spot since the sites were first come, first served! and an even bigger challenge of finding two sites next to each other since we were going with friends and one of the sites needed to be big enough to accommodate a fifth wheel (unfortunately not ours). We found sites--not next to each other, but across, so it worked.
While Levi and David went to get the fifth wheel from Bree's grandparents, who live nearby in Electric City, Bree helped me set up our camp. As we were setting up the tent, I thought about putting on the rain fly, but Bree convinced me not to as it was in the high 90s and not a cloud in sight. After setting up camp, I took the girls down to the lake for some swimming. They both did swimming lessons this summer and were eager to show me what they had learned.
Since we are now a family of 5, we need a bigger tent. Last year we went and bought a bigger one, but the zipper was broken when we opened it up, we returned it. This year instead of another new tent, we decided to get a second small tent and let the girls sleep in their own tent. I wasn't sure how they would do in their own tent, but they were great!
The girls wanted to make s'mores, but it was too hot for a fire, so we convinced them to wait. It was a very hot night and I was glad that I hadn't put on the rain fly, as we had a little more ventilation without it. The top of the tent is open with a screen, so it allowed more air to flow through.
Tuesday was a day for more swimming and playing at the park. Levi and David went fishing and while Levi caught a couple small mouth bass, they were too small to keep. Fortunately it was a little cooler Tuesday night, but still too hot for a fire. The kids were dying to make s'mores again, so we used the propane cook stove instead!
That night I was suddenly awaken by a pounding noise. It took me a moment to realize that it was raining very hard. As I looked up at the opening at the top of the tent, I was taken back in time to the day we set-up and Bree saying the chances of needing the rain fly were almost non-existent! Ha ha! But it wasn't as bad as I thought. I couldn't feel much rain getting in the tent. Levi was next to me and was hogging the sleeping bag and had it totally covering him. Well, the temperature had dropped significantly because of the rain, and I was cold so I grabbed the bag from him. This was when I realized that even though I was not getting wet, Levi was getting soaked, since he was in the middle of the tent, directly under the opening. I waited for the rain to let up and the ran out of the tent in search of the rain fly. As I was outside, I realized I was not the only person struggling to get the rain fly on! I got it put on, just in time for the rain to stop completely. Oh well, Levi told me I probably didn't need to worry about it afterall, since the rain had stopped, but I wasn't about to go back outside to take it off! I'm glad I didn't, it rained off and on for the rest of the night!
Wednesday was to be Levi's last day of camping since he had to work that night! David had him talked in to calling in sick, but I told him that he should go to work and save his sick time for when he really was sick!
We went out in Bree and David's boat and found a secluded beach to play on and swim! Jett had such a blast swimming and kicking his little feet (while wearing his life jacket ofcourse). Kaidyn even took her life jacket off and worked on swimming without it. When we returned to camp, Bree's parents had arrived from Spokane, so we sat to visit with them and the girls decided to go play cards. A few minutes later I heard this blood curdling scream from Jayd. She had been stung by a bee! It was a first for her so I wasn't sure how she would react to the sting. We put ice on it and I cuddled her. It started to swell, so fortunately Bree had some Benedryl. She took that and passed out. I let her sleep it off and when she woke she was better. No swelling and you could hardly tell where it had stung her. Thank goodness! Then we played a little game of whiffle ball and then it was bedtime, and since Levi had left, the girls slept in the tent with me and Jett! (and it rained a little more, thankfully I left the rain fly on!)
Thursday comes and it is time to pack up and leave. Bree and David helped me load the truck and we're off, but not before on more time at the playground. They had a merry-go-round there, and Jayd was dying to play on it! So I spun the kids on it. Jett decided he wanted to get off, but I didn't get it stopped in time, so a more-or-less fell off, which wasn't too bad except that he fell face first right into a puddle of water--the only puddle anywhere around the toy--he must have planned it!
All-in-all a fun, and eventful, camping trip! Can't wait to do it again!!!!

***pictures to be posted as soon as I find the cord that connects my camera to my computer!

Before/After

Well--the deck is 99% complete! I just have one more set of stairs to build leading up to the other side of the deck by the garage and it will be complete!! Can't wait--hopefully I can finish it tomorrow after Levi wakes up!

Before

After

2 adults---7 kids

Today we met my friend Amber at a park in Moses Lake. She was headed from Spokane to Leavenworth for a wedding and her boys needed to run around and her girls needed a break and to eat. It's crazy to think that between the two of us, we have 7 kids!!

Home Sweet Home!

We made it safely home--as if I had any doubts! But we had a fabulous trip! We did so much, but still I feel like we didn't do enough. I can't believe how much there is to do in Vegas--including getting lost at 2 am!
We went to a Tournament of Kings show in our hotel, the Excaliber. It was a dinner and a show with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and you had to eat with your hands. But it was very good! We walked most of the strip and made a point to visit as many casinos as possible. There were so many high-end shops, I wish I had more money for shopping. We went to the aquarium at Mandalay Bay, the Bodies Exhibit and Titanic Exhibit at the Luxor. We also saw the Blue Man Group at the Venetian. It was so awesome. So much color and sound and it was hilarious. We watched the fountain show at the Bellagio, the pirates at Treasure Island, the Moving Statues at Cesars Palace. Only in Vegas can you see Lions, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Sphinx and more in the same place.
Tuesday night we went to the Piano Bar at Harrahs which was a blast. It's amazing how much fun you can have with a couple of Pianos (and a few beers). Then we went to Toby Kieths bar and grill (also at Harrahs) and watched an amazing band--I even got Levi to dance with me (after a few more beers). At about 2 the bar closed and we headed back to our hotel via the monorail. Unfortunately, I got us going the wrong way, then when we got off to get on the monorail going the other way, we were informed that we had just got off the last monorail of the evening. We were about 7 miles from our hotel, and several blocks off strip at the Hilton. It looked to be a loooooooooooooooooooong walk! But Levi, my hero, got us a cab (the first either of us had ever been in) and we got a ride back. I was so grateful, the driver got a huge tip!!
Wednesday was our 9th anniversary, and we planned to do the Stratosphere. We got up and going about 7 pm, had a nice dinner. Walked down to the Stratosphere and I looked up and decided that I was okay just looking at it. It was very tall--and I am afraid of heights--maybe another time!
Like I said, we had a great trip, but I definately missed my kids.
I didn't get very many pics, but here are a few of what I did get.

Our hotel "Excaliber"

The Stratosphere--this is as close as I got!

Levi on the Strip

--at the Tournament of Kings

Las Vegas or Bust!

So tomorrow Levi and I leave for our trip to Vegas. I am so excited. First of all, it'll be our first trip alone since our honeymoon. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and I will miss them dearly, but it will be nice to do things with other adults just for adults, sleep in and not have to worry about diapers. Secondly, we will be celebrating our 9th anniversary while on our trip. It seems crazy how quickly the 9 years went, but yet, here it is--9 years and 3 kids later and we are still very happy and in love!!
I'm a little anxious about flying. I don't have a lot of experience with flying, but I have been assured that all will be well!!
We are going to go see The Blue Man Group, and there are a couple other activities we would like to do. Levi has been working on me to go on a ride on the Stratosphere. Have I mentioned that I am deathly afraid of heights and the Stratosphere is very, very, very, very, very, very high--but I am a very brave, and at times, very crazy--so we'll see.
I will have lots of pics to post and lots to say upon return, so until then . . .

Happy Independence Day!!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!! We had a BBQ with some friends and then Levi went to work. I got the kids some pop-its and sparklers. After dinner I let the kids do the pop-its. They all loved them, especially Jett. Anything he can throw is right up his alley. But I was a mean mommy and made the kids wait until it was darker to do the sparklers. When I finally deemed it was dark enough, we went out on the deck (it's almost done). I wasn't sure how Jett would react to them. When the girls were his age (about 21 months) they would have totally freaked with the "fire" of the sparklers, and they were still a little timid tonite (at 4 and 7 years old), but not Jett. He snatched that sparkler right out of my hand and went to work swishing it and flinging it in the air. He had so much fun and every time the sparkler went out he said "more" and was ready for another one. He was very sad when they were done. Then we sat on the edge of the deck looking towards Ephrata and watched 3-4 different fireworks shows. I don't know if they were for the different towns around us just fireworks that people bought, but they were pretty good. And after everyone, Jett cheered "wooooo" and clapped his hands and then said "more". Once again, he was sad when they ended. The girls enjoyed them too! Overall, it was a pretty good 4th, for not really having any plans.





Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!

THE DECK!!

We are FINALLY building our deck! Every time we do a project around here I always intend to take before and after pics, but I always forget. I actually remembered this time. So far I've only got before and during pictures, but we're hoping to have the deck done by Friday, so I will post the final after pictures then!

BEFORE

DURING


THE BOYS HARD AT WORK

The project has taken longer than I expected though. It took almost two days just to dig the holes, the boys kept hitting rocks, so some of the holes ended up bigger than needed because by the time they got them deep enough, they also ended up being wider after taking out the rocks. It'll be so nice to be able to go lounge on my deck and read, I can't wait!!