If you read about our last camping trip, then you know that it didn't go so well. Let's just say this one was a complete 180 in the other direction! Everyone came home healthy and injury free! Vance still has all the teeth he left Santa Clarita with, and no chins have been cut open.
This was our first "real" camping trip with our new trailer. Without a doubt, having a bathroom with an actual door on it, a microwave, refrigerator/freezer, A/C, and walls that don't have to pop up and down far exceeds sleeping in a tent. For those of you out there saying "Come on, that's not REALLY camping," I would beg to differ. This is the way to go! More power to you who brave the whole tent thing. Good grief! Let's just say we are very thankful to have such a nice way to camp in the great outdoors without actually having to sleep in the great outdoors. I don't know, bears eating me while I sleep and bugs biting me to death doesn't sound inviting.
We went to Big Bear Lake for 5 days with two wonderful families, our dear friends the Tubbs and the Brooks. My sis, Karen came up with Emma and Drew for a couple of nights and stayed with us. It was so nice to be able to have a trailer big enough for all of us (well, Drew wanted to sleep in their new Jeep, so he did!)
We have known the Brooks family for many years, and the Tubbs for maybe 2 or 2 1/2 years. They both have wonderful families and are just such easy people to spend time with. They each have 7 children, whom my kids absolutely adore. So our group of three families was a cool 23 people.
We spent the weekend fishing, swimming, boating, eating, and jetskiing. The boys could fish just steps from our campsite, which was right on a cove of the lake at a private RV park with a marina. They really enjoyed that a lot, and Vance caught two fish, one of which made for some good eatin' one sunny afternoon. The other boys caught various small fish and a couple of crawfish. We rented pontoon boats one day, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed swimming and fishing off the boats. The weather was perfect, and the lake beautiful. Dave drove one boat, and Robert the other. The little kids all got the chance to drive the boat, which was a highlight. A relative of Todd's allowed them the use of their three seater jetski for the weekend, so we all had the opportunity to enjoy using that several times over the course of the weekend. The boys all had a blast riding the waves, as they have never been on anything like that before. We also visited the Moonridge Animal Park, which serves the community by rescuing wild animals, rehabilitating them, and caring for them. We saw a snow leopard, Grizzly Bears, Bald Eagles, foxes, raccoons, and many more "special" animals. One of the bald eagles had double cataracts, one bear three legs, etc. We all enjoyed the experience, and it was very educational for the kids. We're hoping it will prepare them for starting school next week...OK wishful thinking!
Evenings were spent cooking and eating, playing games around the campfire, and just chatting. Todd and Robert stayed up late one night watching the meteor shower (the one that never happened) and solving the world's problems. Us old people just went to bed exhausted! Oh, and we did play a mean Sequence tournament. Suffice it to say, the women won again. Those poor guys, cheaters never do prosper. Just kidding! We just so much enjoyed being in the outdoors and being with these wonderful Christian people God has sovereignly brought into our lives. We have so much to learn from them, and are so blessed to have them as friends. What a fantastic long weekend!
Vance's favorite camp activity: Jetskiing ($3/gallon)
Luke's favorite camp activity: Playing with Hunter, Cody, and Jimmy (the cost of some fishing poles and dirtbike toys)
Austin's favorite camp activity: Playing "The Name Game" around the campfire (paper, pencils, and some fire wood)
Dad and Mom's favorite camp activity: Sleeping in a real bed at the end of the day (priceless!)
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