-Jarel-Amy-Makena-Kali-Tyler-Hailey-Braxton-: Annual Camping Trip

The past 3 days we spent up at Redman camping with family. We look forward to this camping trip every year. It is nice to get up in the mountains and have a good time. We decided to camp at a different site this year then we normally do because we didn't want to be by the river this year. Too scary with all the little kids. This camp site turned out great. Lots of trees to shade us and to keep us dry during the rain (We haven't had a camping trip in a long time with rain). On one of our walks, Kali noticed that her earring was missing. I thought we would never find it. Besides we didn't even know where she lost it at. As we were walking back to camp, Jarel said maybe she lost it by the hammock...it was a good thought, even if it was there would we be able to find it...with all the dirt, rocks and pine needles. We got back and I went over and bent down and noticed a shiny spot and there was the back of the earring, then I moved some pine needles around and there was the front of the earring. Wow, we found it! An answer to a simple prayer. I didn't want to have to go get her ear poked again. We sterilized it and put it back in her ear. It didn't happen just once, but a second time and we found it again! Kali would wrap herself up in the hammock and I'm guessing the string would just go around the earring and when Kali got off the hammock, the earring would come out as well. After the 2nd time of having it put back in her ear...she was much more careful on the hammock. We enjoyed good food, taking walks to spot deer (not too many this year, but we did see a doe with 2 fawns), feeding ground hogs, walking around Silver Lake, feeding the ducks, going to Brighton store for a treat, playing on the hammock, sitting by the campfire at night, roasting marshmallows and hotdogs, playing with cousins, cool days and nights and just taking a break from the routine of life. It is always so fun to go up there! Thanks Dad and Mom for planning this for us!

Ground hog going for the French Toast Tyler dropped on the ground

Makena...taken by Kali

Grandpa...taken by Kali

Makena, Ryan and Gretchen

Ryan and Tyler...Tired boys

Ryan, Kali and Gretchen...taken by Makena.

Gretchen

Tyler trying to feed a ground hog...unsuccessful, he couldn't hold still long enough to get one to eat the peanut butter off his stick.

Grandma and Grandpa...taken by Makena

Trying to catch a ground hog. This year we camped at a different spot and there weren't as many ground hogs available. The kids didn't catch one this year...but they tried very hard.

Tyler and Hailey taking a bath. Hailey was so cute to watch and loved the warm water.

Tyler in the tub...LOVED it!

Kali enjoying the warm water

Hailey playing with the car

Cute kids being silly and having fun

Makena and Tyler wanted a picture taken with Mickey Mouse mountain.

Tyler and Makena on a "big big rock"

Chipmunk...there were quite a few of these around our camp

Makena taking a warm bath in the bucket. She didn't want to get out!

Kali following her string
Grandma and Grandpa put together a string maze for the kids. They each had a different colored string strung throughout the trees and rocks. They then followed their string until they got their surprise. They had a great time with this!

Makena following her string through the trees

Tyler getting himself wrapped up

Gretchen and Makena making crafts

Tyler and Grandpa with Tyler's car...that was his surprise at the end of his string

Makena with her craft she made

Jarel and Hailey

Tyler, Jarel and Hailey having some treats

The fam with Uncle Bill...It was a surprise to see him up there. He knew we were going camping but didn't know the exact dates. So he thought he would come up to walk around the lake and to just see if we would be there. It was perfect timing...we got on the boardwalk at about the exact time and he spotted us! It was fun to see him and spend time with him. He pointed out stuff that we hadn't seen before.