Sandpoint Getaway

After returning from camping and doing something like five giant loads of laundry, we packed our bags for another weekend away. This time our accommodations were a slight improvement from the tent trailer. Just slightly ;). We do love camping, but it was kind of nice to experience the contrast from dirt and lake baths to this...

In March 2009 the six of us stayed in the same resort just months before Clara was born. Anna and I were both pregnant with the girls and let me tell you, this time (with four kids) it was a little bit different than before.

First of all, the weather was really different. In early March it snowed most of the time and we actually cross country skied out the door of the condo. This time we swam, biked, walked around downtown, and enjoyed the glorious sunshine. Last time we leisurely shopped and ate out. This year did not involve too much leisurely shopping & the only eating out we did was stopping to get ice cream cones downtown (but then again our meals made in the condo were quite delicious!). I'm pretty sure last time it was really quiet. And full of adult conversation. We enjoyed adult conversation this year but it was significantly less quiet ;). Oh yeah, and last time I got a pedicure at the spa and Jono got a massage. That definitely didn't happen this year. Yes, I would say our two trips were pretty different. And honestly, as much as I loved our time in 2009, I would never trade it for all the fun with four kids we had this time around!

Here are a few highlights (okay, a lot of highlights) of our time with the Hook crew in Sandpoint...

Cousins & best buds

Enjoying the beach adjacent to the condo

Loving time hanging with Nana

This little Mister LOVED the pool 

Dressing alike at every opportunity

The boys - soaking in the sunshine at the pool

Our little slice of heaven

Oh Chunky McChunkerson!

Hunter & Caleb - best buds too!

Cousins!!

Evening stroll through town

Notice Clara in this one :)

Goofs

Below the Cedar Street Bridge 

A little badminton

The view from the beach

Evening beach exploring

Papa, Nana & the four little munchkins

Our little fam

The whole crew :)

What a glorious time we had. Being together as a family is always precious and we were so thankful for the memories we made and the time we shared!

Camping at Beaver Creek

It feels like I have had the "camping with kids" conversation over and over lately. Yes, we are slightly nuts to take little ones camping a few times each summer. And yes, as crazy as it feels at times it is totally worth it.

When we took Clara at four months it was easy. But that was just because she was an easy baby (Mr. Calebo, not quite so much). She slept something like 200 hours at night (or 10ish) and coo'ed lovingly during the daytime hours. Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but it was just easy. Easy.

When Clara was fifteen months, it was not easy. She was a mess almost the entire time but that paled in comparison to her nighttime behavior. She freaked out when she awoke during the night and made the trip quite insane (mostly for Jono who drove her around in the middle of the night and then slept in the car). If we were going to throw in the towel, this was the year to do it. Instead, we went twice that summer. Slightly nuts? Probably.

When Clara was over two it was still messy. It was also a little less crazy than the year before in the sleep department. But my 20-something week pregnant body made up for any sleep improvement by waking numerous times at night to squat next to the tent trailer. Not fun. 

When Clara was three and Caleb joined in on the action (this year!!), it was pretty great. Messy, sure. A little tiring, yes. But this year Clara actually played (like all day long) with her friends. Caleb kind of needed to be held continuously to avoid getting really dirty, but he was at a great age for camping. 

Next year? We'll be back to the one year old craziness (the hardest camping age, I think). But we're officially committed. And if we've made it this far, there's not turning back. ;)

Here is our weekend camping with our friends the Rockwells, Gutmans, and Pickerings at Beaver Creek, in pictures. It was a wonderful weekend of sunshine, beach time, hiking, food, campfires, and endless play for the kids.

Around camp...

And just one shot from our upper Priest Trail hike...

Little evening soak after putting the kids down (pretty much the most awesome picture. ever.)

Beach time...

The crew of ladies (Rhiannaon, Steph, Shelley, Carly & yours truly)

The crew of kiddos (yes, twelve of them!)

Photo shoot

In late June we had family pictures taken from a sweet friend of mine, Angela with Stillpoint Photography. Some of my favorite pictures (which still adorn our walls) were taken when Clara was six months old. I adore this stage (of sitting and not yet moving) and I wanted to make sure and capture Caleb at the exact moment in time too.

Although we have some great pictures of the kids, we rarely take pictures of all of us together and let's just be honest, Angela is awesome. So I'm really glad Jono agreed (despite his reluctance - not with Angela but just with photo shoots in general) to family pictures. It was my mother's day present, after all, so he kind of had no choice ;).

In all honesty we're so happy we captured this stage. It is so hard and so good at the same time. And I want to remember these sweet moments of the 6 month/ish stage - even when I look at these photos and remember having to bribe Clara with ice cream and nurse Caleb mid-shoot in hopes for just one or two good ones. Sheesh.

Here are a few of our favorites. Now on to deciding which ones to order!!

Thank you, Angela! You are wonderful and talented and oh so patient!!! Check her out here.

P.S. Yes, I see now how ridiculous our patriotic family looks. I wasn't going for red, white & blue and am kind of embarrassed of our color selection ;). The individual shots look fine but the whole family ones might just need to be printed in black & white!