Our Annual Family Camping Trip

Each year in July we go camping with the Howard side of the family in the Thousand Lakes area of south-central Utah. I never would have considered camping a vacation but once we get past the packing and preparation part we are able to enjoy a week without the busyness of everyday life. This summer I noticed how easily the hard work and craziness in getting ready to leave (for both NY and then camping) are quickly forgotten and replaced with our children's excitement over the anticipation of family vacations and lots of memories. We made it SEVEN nights camping this year...in a tent!
One thing that has made camping much more appealing to me is the small fleet of four-wheelers that Alan's family owns. Since our boys were little they have enjoyed Daddy giving them rides on the trails. Morgan couldn't articulate what he wanted but after his first ride this summer with Alan, he would point to a four-wheeler and say broom..broom..like the sound a car makes. He'd have been content to spend his entire vacation on an ATV. I think it's so neat that the kids' 10-yr.-old cousin Brittney has her smaller-sized version. She was such a cutie giving Logan rides around camp.
This is the only opportunity Alan has to go fishing each summer and by the end, that's just fine with him. Sometimes there are plenty of fish for each person to catch. Other times the kids tire quickly of fishing and start throwing rocks in the fishing area and exploring the banks. Alan tries to keep it fun while teaching Dagan and Logan some patience. Their little faces light right up when they get a bite and are able to reel in their very own fish. Here is Logan waiting: I brought along some pine cones, peanut butter and birdseed and showed the kids how to make a bird feeder which they hung from trees they selected. Dagan and Alan had some one-on-one time throwing the football and playing a little baseball.
This is the second year that Alan, the kids and I went hiking at nearby Capitol Reef. It's both beautiful and unique.
We kept our hikes VERY short this year as the weather did not look too promising throughout the day. Alan and the boys at the end of one of our hikes:
We were so proud of the kids. They did really well. (Not even Logan complained that his legs were tired.) We picked something just right to build their confidence and enjoyment in hiking. Here I am with my boys:
Alan and I also took the kids on a mountain biking trail at Fish Lake for the second year in a row. Last year we did an easy trail and this year we challenged ourselves with a moderate trail (BIG difference). Dagan did FABULOUS, especially considering his is not a mountain bike:
Funny, funny story that I want to post before I forget it. The first part of the trail was a relatively steep climb. Logan as of July had still refused to learn to ride a bike so he was in the trailer with Morgan, which Alan attached to his own bike. Alan had to get off his bike and walk up and it was still really strenuous with the kids' trailer. Dagan and I were ahead, of course, and all we could hear was Logan complaining. First it was, "Dad I'm hot". Then "Dad, I'm getting thirsty." It was when we heard, "Dad I'm really tired. I'm trying to sleep in here and you're hitting a lot of bumps," that Alan proceeded to take Logan out of the trailer, explaining that if he was walking up it, Logan could lessen the weight by walking himself. Thank goodness we were close to the top because Logan cried and carried on the whole rest of the way, devastated that he had to walk too. I'm sure Logan learned a few lessons from this experience. Happy to be back in the trailer, not a single complaint was heard from him on the way back down. We had some snacks at the summit of Pelican Point, which gives an incredible view of Fish Lake.
Also at Fish Lake, we attend church. The service is two hours and since virtually everyone there is camping you are welcome to wear casual clothes. Below are Alan and the kids at the lodge after our church meetings: