backpack

I lied! I do have pictures of our backpacking trip! Hooray. We did a tried and true hike this year and it was great fun. The weather was sublime, food good, campsite nice and kids GREAT!

Chase contingent. Next year Sarah is eligible to go - eek!

This hike follows a creek and has several bridges with just one bridge-less crossing. Unfortunately the one crossing was OUT OF CONTROL with water, so we all got wet, it was really cool though.

We hiked up to an old mine. We used to be able to go in, but they have since sealed it off. The kids were disappointed.

After the failed mine, we went up to the high lake to check it out. We have decided to rename it "Tick Lake". In about 30 minutes we found tons of ticks on each other - 3 in Nora's hair alone. Needless to say, we skeedadled and felt grateful we were NOT camping at the lake as we had first planned.

Emmy and Josh, bright morning faces.

Endless wet tennies.

Breakfast!

Diana is lovely!

Don't they look fresh and well rested?

Christian is HILARIOUS! He was so tired when he went to bed he threw a totally irrational fit because he wanted two sleeping bags! It was funny. It's amazing these kids do as well as they do with the sleep depravation summer brings.

Hiking out.

We discovered work of water fairies. Very gorgeous.

Frewell.