Weekend Camping Trip

Grayce and I drove down to Shaver Lake (a little over an hour east of Fresno, in the Sierras) for the annual Allen/Goosev camping trip. For those that dont know, my family has been going camping there for over 35 years, so its quite the established tradition. Unfortunately, Tim had to stay home because of work, so we really missed him. ;( We arrived Friday late afternoon and left on Monday, but it took until Sunday for Grayce to get fully adjusted. I must say, camping with a (almost) 2 year old is quite the challenge. I really didnt expect it to be as difficult as it was and thought that without Tim, my family would be there to help - but Grayce didnt really let a single person take care of her outside of her mommy. We have been going through a bit of an attachment to mommy lately, which I love at times, but other times its merely impossible to accomplish anything or get any sort of sanity (which I was looking for on this trip)! The phrase of the month has been "Up on Mommy," I probably hear it 20 times a day. But outside of all of those challenges, Grayce got to get dirty without consequence, play at the lake, go fishing, and so much more. It was a good trip, although an exhausting one. Here are some pictures that I took during our time there.

Night 1 discovering how cool flashlights are

Notice the fashion faux pas - Teva sandals with socks?? :) Given its summer, we didnt want to buy hiking shoes/sneakers just for one weekend! So we made due :) Belows picture was just about when I had to get over her getting dirty - it was going to happen for the next 3 days whether I liked it or not!! :)

Smokey shot of Mommy and Grayce thru the fire


Day 2 Beaching it on the Lake

George, Gregs, and Uncle Petes boats on the beach. The rock in the back is where a lot of people go to jump off. Unfortunately, one 16 year old boy was trying to swim from the beach across the way, didnt make it across and drowned while we were there that day ;( We saw the sheriff come try to revive and save him but he didnt make it. So tragic. ;(

Greg and Uncle "Ick" with their matching hats

Here's a picture of Grayce at the lake from last year - WOW how fast they grow!!!!! She was just learning to walk back then.


She was SOOOO tired, she fell asleep within 1 minute of getting on the boat. I tried to keep her awake so she could nap back at camp, but she couldnt keep her eyes open no matter what position she was in. It was the first time that she was so passed out you could do anything to her & she would still sleep. We took off her life vest and waited for the boat to get unloaded. This lovely picture was taken during that time (look how tall she's getting!!!)


Enjoying the Campfire

Day 3 - Good morning little one!!

Look! Nana and Papa got you a new fishing pole!! This was used to poke at the dirt most the weekend, but she got to take it out on the boat once too :)

"Fishing" with Nana

...and with Papa

...and with Mommy!

Mommy caught a fish! A Kokanee (more like a salmon than a trout)

Swimming with Mommy


Back at camp

My family from Texas and southern CA came to visit that night. The kids took Grayce to look for sugar pine pine cones (my first non-contested break from Grayce for most the weekend). Grayce came back with a little pine cone just her size! :)

Look Mommy!! :)


All the kids with their pine cones

Coloring & stickers with Mavreck & Uncle Rob

By Monday, Grayce was ready to go home and see Daddy and Tex. I could have stayed a bit longer, but all good things must come to an end...that, and I had to work the next day :) Before we left, we did our traditional stop at Hungry Hut for a shake and some food. Grayce's first time having a shake from there (last year she was only 9 months). We split a fresh bing cherry shake - yum yum!!!!!