And so it begins...: Where's Waldo?

Family camping is the best camping.
I mean where else do you get to really experience your raw self around the people that you love the most?! You know the self I am talking about. The not showered, oily hair, dirty fingernail person that true camping turns you into. With characters like that you just need the perfect setting...

This year we found Waldo.

Waldo Lake.

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It is amazing. I can't believe how many places in Oregon there are that just astound me and Waldo did not disappoint.

Camping is one of my favorite pass times. I love taking the boys. Even when they were babies it was fun to go out and sleep under the stars all nestled together.
Now that they are older it has gotten even more enjoyable.
Like most "family" trips, there is always the anticipation of the unexpected. You always have that lurking feeling that something is going to go wrong.

For the most part it was a nice smooth going trip.

There were way more mosquitoes than we anticipated (even if the website warned of their massive numbers), but there were also a billion frogs so they balanced each other out.

I had also gotten a phone call the week before saying the campgrounds water supply was broke. We were instructed to bring out own water. This was not that big of a deal for us. We have 5gallon containers and then some...still, it was a hiccup in our planning.

I was happy to see the layout of the campground. There was a nice amount of space in between all of the camp sites. this is a rarity now-a-days. It was nice to not feel like you were camping with your neighbors too!

The lake itself was incredibly clear.

I mean you could see 25ft down.

Bonus, it was shallow forever.

The kids could play and swim right there and it was nice and warm.

We are definitely going back to this place.

My mom and I arrived at the camp first. She quickly got her stuff set up, while the boys and I went to explore the lake. She took August on a little drive to see if she could get a phone signal to call Brent and my sisters to let them know we were here, and confirm they knew the camp ground and site numbers. (She gets a little paranoid)

It was very warm out, but the forecast said thunder storms...they were right!

Later that evening we did get a nice little down pour.

The kids were excited to wear ponchos instead of their rain coats.

Did I mention there were a lot of frogs?!

And here are some of the flowers surrounding the campground. I always feel like I am in a Dr. Seuss book when I see things like this. They were amazing to see all over the place.

The boys ransacked the cars for cups and containers for their little frog friends...

The tres poncho amigos.

That first night I didn't take too many pictures. We settled in and enjoyed each others company.

I was pretty pooped.

The boys were pretty excited to be camping where we actually get a fire.

When we raft we do not get fires and that means we also get NO smores...

This trip a campfire also meant...

you guessed it!

SMORES...

Brayden telling Elysia a very exciting story the next morning!

the boys wasted no time the next morning, they began the frog search as soon as they got up.

Tyler found a sac of frog eggs.

Brent and I brought the little raft, while Carleen and Eric brought their kayaks. We had a blast going out around the lake.

My hands and arms definitely got a workout trying to maneuver that thing.

grandma preparing the hot dogs

We walked down to the lake to get some pictures of the sun set. We took Lylah with us, while Cosmo stayed at our camp.

I love the little sliver a moon above August's head...

Smoochin in the sunset

Carleen and I tried to get a picture of us with the sunset in the background...We laughed at how much these shots ended up looking like we were photo shopped in with this background behind us.

Doesn't it look fake?!

then it was back to the camp for some of the smores. I did not take the epic smores pictures that I usually do. I kept blinding people with my flash. I haven't played around with this new camera enough to take these pictures. The settings are similar, but very differently placed. I'll work it out in time!

My poor sweet Bray fell asleep in the hammock.

the next morning we all had our puffy faces on!

August's was puffy from sleep and bug bites.

I realize sometimes when I am chasing the kids and watching them it is hard to stop and take in my surroundings. Thankfully my sisters are amazing helpers and often will take that time to give each other breaks and quiet moments.

There is so much power in nature.

The beauty of a single flower is enough to bring tears to my eyes sometimes.

Just knowing the care and precision that was used in our creation.

It is very humbling to know we are loved so much.

I reflected a lot on Matthew 6:26

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"

I needed to remind myself to breath and to trust in the Lord's plan.

Not that I am in some great turning point in my life, but the occasional moments of re-centering help keep me on the right track. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how important it is to have these quiet moments with ourselves.

I just love the different kinds of dragonflies that inhabited the lake. These little blue guys were all over.

Such a small little caterpillar.

Abram has finally grown taller than his dad. So he is over 6'2 now...

August called this the teenage mutant ninja turtle feet.

Brent had to leave the trip a day early so he had a good bye smore!

Reapplying bug-spray

Cosmo loves the water. If only he would come back when he is called he would be able to swim without his leash on.

Cosmo found this huge log and was fetching it like a stick! He was pretty excited about it.

Breanna built this serious sand castle.I mean she got really into it...

Jen went diving in the lake. She said at 40ft down it was still 62 degrees. She thinks that is why there were NO fish anywhere. She thinks they are down deep in the center of the river where it is colder. that is fine by me 62 degree lake...