We HEART Tahoe!

We just returned home from yet another vacation.  It's quite the rough life we lead.  This time we joined Grandma Lala, Papa Rod, Auntie Ashley, Uncle Paul and baby Liam at the cabin.  A week at the cabin in July is always a good week. A crazy and crowded one.  A sticky s'more finger and sandy swimsuit one.  And always one that involves a lot of laughing, Lanza's take out, and late night conversation.  

So.  Beautiful.

We were able to see many of our good friends and family 

and it's always so great to catch up with everyone.

 GGMa looks as awesome as ever!

 The girls ADORE cousin Emma.

So does Natalie's AG Doll, Julie, from the looks of it!

 Cousins 

Cousins 2.0

Liam is the only one that looks related to me!

As usual, we logged LOTS of hours at the beach. The lake level is so low this year that our usual beach that we love wasn't quite as charming as usual.  But that led us to revisit another beach we love that we haven't frequented in a few years. The only bonus of a low water year at Tahoe is lots of room to spread out our towels and toys at Speedboat Beach, one of the most beautiful boulder filled beaches on the lake.

These girls of ours never stop playing in the sand.  I know one day they'll sunbathe on a beach towel and read a magazine and I'm so happy we're not there yet.  All day at the beach they play in the water, play in the sand, eat a snack and repeat.  They come home sandy, sun kissed and totally spent and, consequently, usually don't make a peep from dusk until dawn.  

It's so lovely of Lake Tahoe to wear them out so.  

Thank you, Lake.

This was Natalie's rock sculpture that we named,

"Natalie Rocks"

 Papa Rod found abandoned sunglasses as we were 

packing up for the day so we left it looking more

like "Natalie Rockstar"

 A self-dug, warm, murky "hot tub". Yum.

Thank you, Uncle Paul.  He let Natalie go for a spin

on his rented paddle board.  It made her day!

This year the girls had the added fun and excitement of chasing cousin Liam around the cabin.  That cute little kiddo can MOVE and they loved trying to catch him.  They just wanted to snuggle him and he simply had no interest in being snuggled so around and around they went.  Liam is obsessed with cars of all shapes and sizes so the constant highway traffic in front of the cabin was more mesmerizing than anything on TV.  The only time he was really content to be still and snuggled was when we were out on the deck watching the cars.  He'd say "cah" when a particularly interesting one caught his eye.  Now the girls and I say "cah" all the time when we're on the road.  Love you, Liam!

 Most of my Liam pictures are blurry.

Did I mention he doesn't stop moving??

Corey wasn't able to join us which was a major bummer.  He'd hoped to make it up for at least the weekends but work didn't cooperate.  While he may have missed a lot of fun, he also missed a week on a bony, springy hide-a-bed.  One night I went to bed in my own hide-a-bed and woke up with a kid on either side of me.  The only thing that makes a week on a hide-a-bed more uncomfortable is sharing said bony, springy hide-a-bed with one's bony offspring.

  While we made the most of family time together 

with a big old Audrey style family snuggle...

Papa Rod preferred to watch the family snuggling from over here.

 I could gobble this kid up if he'd only let me.

 One afternoon we decided to take the girls miniature golfing at a place we have been miniature 

golfing my entire life.  I actually think my dad miniature golfed at this Kings Beach landmark when he was a kid. We mentioned these notable family facts when we were checking in and the owner said, "well, then we have to take a picture of you all for our Putters of the Past wall."  So she did.  We are now on the Putters of the Past wall with our little Putters of the Future.  

 Audrey insisted on putting croquet style.  

We tried repeatedly to correct her swing but 

when she scored a hole-in-one using her method 

we just decided to let her run with it.

 Here it is...our claim to fame!

 At Log Cabin Ice Cream. 

This has been around almost as long as the mini golf place.

Loving Lala.

The cabin may be cozy when we're all there together 

but you cannot beat this view!

Until next time, Lake Tahoe!

Camping!

We camped last weekend with our good friends at the most amazing campground.  It had been over two years since we packed up the tent and headed for the hills, so I really wanted this place to be good!  It did not disappoint.

Gualala River Redwood Resort is tucked into the redwood forest about 3 hours north of us up Hwy 1 and along the Gualala River. The combination of a drought stricken lazy river to splash and soak in, a playground to discover, a trading post with everything from souvenirs to ice cream pops to visit, 14' wide old growth redwood stumps to sit on, fallen moss and fern covered trees to play on and climb in, and dense forest to explore, made it a winner for everyone! The kids left filthy and full...two signs of an excellent camping trip.

 This is called the Cathedral Tree.  

These 15 trees have grown out of one fallen tree

or one root structure.  

The central tree is no longer there so we

were able to climb inside. 

So cool.

When the kids are looking too big, the redwood forest is a nice place to take them.  They look a lot tinier next to giant trees.

 Redwoods are not the only giant things in this forest.

This would be a giant banana slug.

 This campground could not be cuter.

 Our careful consumer thought about this hat

for 2 days and then bought it as we packed up 

to go home.  She hasn't taken it off since.

 Camping with good friends is so lovely.

Camping with good friends who 

own a hammock is even lovelier!

 Corey made 14 hobo pies one night for dinner.

He did a great job and they tasted amazing

but he needed a drink and a nap afterward!

 Natalie made this time capsule rock and buried it under a tree.

She and Corey insist they'll be able to find it next year.

I sure hope so!
And now we HAVE to go back!