Diamond Lake/Crater Lake

We set out for Diamond Lake and Crater Lake to meet up with Doug's parents and his sister's family. Any trip south starts with ice cream at Rice Hill. Wayne and Martha were staying in their RV. We had several cabins to stay in (things were booked up so we had to stay in 3 different cabins for the four nights we were there). Things were complicated for me because my shoulder was really hurting, which is difficult when you constantly need to pack and unpack. However, the kids had a blast. We saw Crater Lake and drove around the rim. Deb, Andrew, Chris, Ellie and I all hiked down to the lake. That was quite a climb back up. We went fishing, one trip caught a lot of seaweed. The successful fishing trip had to leave at 6 in the morning and Deb caught all the fish. The kids loved the lake. We kept them out the first 2 days since there was a blue green algae advisory. But finally it looked clear (even though the advisory hadn't lifted) so they had a blast. They also loved time around the campfire! Great family memories!

Doug catching a big bunch of seaweed.

Ready to hike down there

Yes she swam in her clothes!

One night we stayed in a cabin about an hour away(that's a whole 'nother story). We had the best breakfast at Becky's! Tom and our family

The kids set up a play shop out in the woods. Only problem the mosquitos were AWFUL!

This was the successful fishing trip. Doug and I were not on that boat.

Ellie loved carrying the dead fish around.

Inside the cleaning station, Doug took these pics. I was NOT going in there.

This is what I call vacation!

They loved the bumper boats.

Jack especially loved digging in the sandy beach area!

Evergreen Water park

Doug's sister and family came from North Carolina. Before our family vacation they came to visit and see the deck. We decided to take the kids to the new water park at the Evergreen Aviation museum in McMinnville. The kids had a blast. Ellie and Chris are fearless and tried every slide. Jack and Andrew stuck to the pools. Everyone loved the wave pool, including me. That is until a wave tipped over my innertube and I landed on my right shoulder on the bottom of the pool. I immediately felt it give and knew it was hurt. Right now it is a week after the injury and I still have very limited mobility in my right arm, ugh! Hopefully it will heal and this will all be a silly family memory. But the kids loved it and loved being with their cousins.

Still smiling here, maybe 41 is too old to hanging in an innertube in the wave pool.

CAMPING!

We had our annual friends camping trip over my birthday weekend at Detroit Lake. Camping is a ton of work, but so many great memories. The highlights this year: Great weather for boating and swimming, lots of laughs around the campfire(think Pancho and Sam on their boy weekend), a birthday cake and fabulous presents courtesy of the Detroit Lake gift shop, and of course the kids having so much fun. Now the lowlights involve the incredible amount of packing and unpacking. Lots of work but I know the kids look forward to this trip every year, so yes we will do it all over again next summer :)