Saturday, July 3rd-Day 2, Crater Lake

This is a panoramic I took on the observation deck

Day 2 was definitely more promising than day 1. We woke to sunshine, blue skies, and most importantly, warm weather! We ended up going back up to Rim Village to check things out a bit more. Jake was totally in love with the room off the observation deck. It told all about how Crater Lake formed (it was a volcano that imploded). It didn't take Jake long before he was telling everyone all kinds of facts on Crater Lake LOL. He was so funny. We hung out around the campsite in the afternoon. I allowed the kids to finally play in the snow banks around our campsite because I wasn't fearful they would freeze to death. There were still a lot of campsites that were SNOWED IN. Yes, this is July, people.

This pic is alittle out of order, because I forgot to add it below, and it's a pain to move, so here it is...We were roasting marshmellows later after dinner. Liv didn't want to try one. I was trying to give her a taste and decided to be mean mom, and put it to her lips. She freaked out, as you can tell. Yes, I know, I'm out of the running for Mother of the Year. Blew that back in January-No worries here...

Ahh...Pure beauty!

I love this pic =)

Jake, climbing on some old tree trunk sticking up in the walkway.

The kiddos with Wizard Island behind them.

we went for a walk in our campground. This was snow on the side of the road. Craziness!

Jake and I playing pokerkeeno (notice the snow in the background and the fact that we're wearing shortsleeved shirts and a tank top LOL)

Liv, chillin'

Josey, standing in the snow, no shoes on.

Again, the kids with no shoes on. I take that back, Jake has no shoes, Liv does lol

Jake, "helping" Liv over the snow in our campsite. He SAID he was helping her, but what he was really doing was what I call "border collie-ing" or in layman's terms, forcing her to go his way no matter what because that's what he wants, not what she wants.

Want some snow, Mommy????

Now, this is the cabinet for the campers to put their food in...

We just used it to keep the kids in....

More snow, IN our campsite

Our campsite....

Yep, we were that close to FLUSHING toilets LOL

Our trailer =)

Friday, July 2nd-Day 1 at Crater Lake

SO, Brett and I decided to take the kids to Crater Lake for 4th of July weekend. Back when he and I discussed this (which was back in December) we knew the snow took a long time to melt up there, but I don't think we even considered the fact that there would still be THIS much snow. I, as usual, obsessed over the weather forecast. To say I was thrilled that it was going to be over 70 while we were there would be an understatement. The day before we left, it said that Friday would be partly cloudy, chance of showers, and 68 degrees. Not bad, right? So, as we're driving closer, we start seeing bits of snow on the side of the road, that increased the further up the road. To say I was panicking would be an understatement. All I kept rolling thru my head was, "the damn weather channel lied!" I saw all my hopes for this being a fun vacation slide right down the hill, the closer we got.


This was how it was looking when we were climbing up to get to the camp site. I wish I'd thought it thru more, so I could've brought their snow boots. As it was, I was wearing Flip Flops LOL

First glance @ Wizard Island on Crater Lake! Beautiful, but man oh man, the wind was blowing and it was FREEZING! You could see the sun trying to make it's presence known, to no avail.

Another cool shot of the sun trying to break thru...

We got out to take pics, and Liv decided playing in the snow would be a good thing lol

This was what we saw walking down to the observation deck @ Rim Village. And we were told this was GOOD lol

Later on in the afternoon, this is what we saw-Finally! Sun is out, and things are looking UP! Can you believe how blue the water is? It's unbelieveable.

Ahhh...Beautiful!

Thursday, July 1st-Jake attempts to wear my roller blades...

Jake's become slightly obsessed with my roller blades. They are in my closet and he always tries to put them on and wear them. Brett and I were across the street, talking to the neighbors and all the sudden, here comes Jake, in his boxers, wearing my roller blades. The poor kids tries and tries, but gets no where. I had to chase him into the house (without the roller blades on mind you) so he didn't break anything before we left for Crater Lake LOL

Saturday, June 26th-Parade Day!

This is why I love my town. The shut down 3rd Street (the "Main" road going thru town) for the parade they have for the Crooked River Round Up (ie the big event-The Rodeo lol) I just love the fact that they do these kinds of things. You don't find that too much anymore.

The kiddos, waiting patiently for the parade to start

Waving at the horses

Me and my boy =)

So, afterwards, we decided to go to the park, where they had a festival, live music, etc, for the kids. Jake and Liv had fun, but were ah...alittle crazy. Can you tell?

Liv and her friend, Sammy, were rocking out to the live music lol

Wednesday, June 24th-So...tired...can't...make...it...

On my way home from picking Liv up from the sitter's, she fell asleep. Now, mind you, the sitter is literally 6 or 7 minutes from the house. Apparently she played very hard. She fell asleep 2 blocks from the house. I got her out of the car. She walked thru the garage, laundry room, then laid down right in the playroom. Why she grabbed the table, I have no idea, but I find it mildly amusing.

Thursday, June 10th-My Mud Puddle Girl

I was outside, talking to my neighbor across the street. Liv decided to join me outside. It had just rained, and Liv was insistent on playing in the mud. I figured she'd get bored quickly, but no...
I don't have a picture, however, I found myself yelling, "DO NOT DRINK THE PUDDLE WATER LIV!". I swear...*sigh*

Mixing the mud

Stomp, Stomp, Stomp....

Little does she know, her Mama was the same way growing up. It's still hard for me to resist puddles after a good rain =)

Wednesday, June 9th-Jake's Last day of 2nd Grade (and his first day of K, first day of 2nd)

Awww...a blast from the past...My baby's first day of Kindergarten. Look at how tiny he was!!!

And here's his first day of 2nd grade

and last day...

He's getting so big!!

Going Backwards...Wednesday, June 3rd-First/Last Day of Pre School

Here's Liv on the first day of Preschool...

And on her last...She grew so much!

Tuesday, June 8th-Someone does NOT know how to put her swimsuit on correctly...

So, it was warm, and Liv wanted to go outside in the sprinklers. Well, I gave her a swimsuit to put on (a 2 piece) and went about my business of hooking up the hose to the sprinkler. Liv came outside, with her top on as the bottoms, and looked very perplexed. She then looked up at me and said, "Mom, is this how it's supposed to go?" I seriously almost ate grass, falling over and laughing. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny. I got her all fixed up proper and she went on her way. She hasn't made that mistake since ;-)

Sunday, June 6th-On our way home from Dilentment...and attempting a group shot LOL

So, on the last day, we decided to get out and get a group shot but neither Josey nor I could find the timer on my camera. These pics are what were taken instead LOL.

So, if you look in the background, I am dusting off the imaginary ants off her pants, while she's screaming, and Jake is pointing and laughing. Can you just guess who told her she had ants on her pants???

Hello? Is this thing on?!?!?!?

Got it! NOPE, not this time....

Now, I am attempting it, and failing...The kids are running around, Brett is getting eaten alive by mosquitos, and I am getting aggravated.

TA DA!!! It worked!!! lol

Saturday, June 5th-Dilentment Lake day 2

Day 2 started off way better than day 1. The kids played Battleship (which is way more sophisticated looking than the old version, but not made as well-shocking, I know) We had a pretty decent camp site, and NO MOSQUITOS!



We took Jake for his very first fishing trip. He was way excited. Josey and Brett fished, too. I sat back and enjoyed the scenery. Liv decided to go exploring. She thought the dead fish she found were cool. I'm just thankful she didn't decide to pick them up and play with them lol.
The kids, with their poles and tackle box, walking to go fishing. I had to call them back because it was too far to walk LOL

Josey, all hooded up, trying to fish. We never caught anything but had fun =)

Jake, trying his hand at it. He was more interested in throwing it out and reeling it in. Note, the beer by his feet is NOT his LOL.

Liv, helping "Grandpa Stan" reel in his fish. He caught 2 when we were there. He was just some guy, sitting on the dock, fishing in peace until we came along. Thankfully, he'd just had his grandkids there and didn't mind the intrusion.

When we got back, the kids were pretty insistent on going swimming in the lake. Seriously people, it was COLD! I think it may have been about 63 outside, but none the less, they were eager. We figured we'd let them get suited up and they would change their minds when they got down there. Little did we know they were tougher than we thought!

Josey, Jake, and Liv, all ready to go. Josey refused to pose with her life jacket on. Ahh, to be 12 again and care about that kind of stuff ;-)

Jake became a swamp logger overnight, apparently. He was loving these logs in the water. He and Liv stayed in the water long after Josey did. Of course, I had to stay down there, watching them, and freezing my backside off (though, there's enough to freeze off and still have some left over :p )

Jake, riding off into the sunset on his log LOL

Liv thinks everything is O.K. lol


Back at camp, I was loving that I had cell service, can you tell?!?!?!

There were holes in the fire pit. Jake delighted in sticking sticks in the holes, no matter how many times he got yelled at for it *sigh*

And ah, yeah...SO, we went down the road. We'd had so much rain, that the entrance to the campground was flooded from the lake over flow. The kids thought it was great (the road was about an inch or two deep with water) They are splashing around, having a good time, and I look over and see Liv, squating and peeing in the water! At first I thought, well, at least she didn't do it in her pants, but no, she did. Apparently she started to pee, realized she shouldn't, and pulled her pants down *sigh*

Here's my handsome river rat, playing with his plastic boat in the water. Both kids had SO much fun playing in this!

I just thought this was cute =)

Brett took Josey and Jake, separately, out to the lake to do some fishing at dusk. Josey caught her first fish!!! When Jake went, they were jumping all around, but Jake didn't catch anything.