Well, it is hard to believe that we all went camping for a week and survived. It seemed like it went by way too fast. We set up camp on Tuesday, July 6 with lots of tents and two canopies this year. (They were great and provided lots of shade for us that live indoors and never see the sun - indoor office workers!) I believe the pictures tell the stories - we had lots of "F"un, "F"amily and "F"ood as Tyler B stated it with "F" words. We had fried chicken, funeral potatoes, corn on the cob, Travis's famous egg rolls and sticky rice, pocket stew of course, lasagna and french bread, and for breakfast's we had hash brown potatoes, scones and Brownings honey butter and huckleberry honey (yum!), eggs in a bag, french toast, pancakes, juice, and for desserts stupid cookies, smores and a first this year was homemade ice cream over cobbler - wow was it incredibly good and of course we couldn't have camped without Aftyn's "Fudge-in-a-bag" for all the chocolate lover's among us!
We did lots of hiking - Stanley lake hike was a new one this year, plus a visit to Redfish lake to let the kids to a art nature discussions with the ranger and to earn their "junior ranger" badges. After hiking each day the kids and the adults played at the beach in the sand and water - it felt so good to run my "peeling feet" through the sand - just like a manicure. We also visited the fish hatchery and saw some pretty good size salmon along with some that were spawning up the fish ladders.
All in all in was a wonderful year camping with family, friends and grandkids. I love the time that we spend together and hope that we have many more to follow. Thank you all for making this year very memorable and wonderful. Please remember that you all are very special and dear to our hearts and that we love each and every one of you!
Food - it's all about the food
Aftyn eating corn and enjoying time with her cousin Spencer.
Troy and Laura sitting around the tree enjoying the sun!
Grandkids listening to the forest ranger talk about art nature in the forest
Blake showing off his art design on the table - sticks, leaves, flowers, sticks, leaves, flowers - he was so proud of his artistic creation
All the kids after receiving their "junior ranger" badge
Tyler enjoying a little peace and quiet after giving all the kids rides on the four-wheeler
Who says that army men are for "girls" only
Yes - bathing is a part of camping, especially when you are only 1 years old - that sand in the diaper is torture
OK, yes we had to wash our hair - it is one of the great pleasures when you are a "tent" camper and their is no running hot water - wow does it feel good to have clean hair
Boys being boys (Blake and Adam) - best friends while camping
Tyler's new talent at camp - french braiding Neta's hair - it looked pretty good when he got down with it.
Alyssa working on her junior ranger badge with Dennis
Alyssa making homemade ice cream with Travis
Tanner - he's got the "eyes" - girls will follow him anywhere
Of course, camping would not be any fun without a little "hanky-panky" going on - ask Tracy and Tyler
According to Chuck it's all about the "Food" and spending time with the "boys"
Dennis and Jill at the fish hatchery
The whole crew at the fish hatchery
Famous pocket stew and Tyler's tongue
Tanner Barnett learning a new skill with the axe
Our wonderful canopies - shade from the hot sun
Blake learning proper tongue brushing from Chelsey
Brothers having a heart to heart discussion while eating homemade ice cream
Peek a boo with Kaylee and Laura
A good game of sequence - Melissa and Chelsey
Chelsey showing off her new braces
Bo getting a little "R&R in the shade - he worked hard at the beach chasing sticks and tennis balls
And of course - we always manage to hit someone's birthday every year
Ah - it doesn't get any prettier than this!
It sure was a lot of fun. I can hardly believe that it is all over and done with already. I'm actually pretty sad about that. We had a lot of fun and laughs and GREAT food (as always). Thanks Dennis and Jill for all that you do to make this a great once a year family gathering and for all the work that effort that you put in for it. You both are amazing people and I'm thankful that I get to be a part of your lives.
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