Glamping with the Williams of the North

We went camping with my BIL & SIL, Jake & Paige and our twin nephews outside of Salem. It was more like "Glamping." No dirt, no camp fire but a heated outdoor pool. Only my BIL brings a TV satellite dish, a vacuum cleaner and a smoker along with him when he goes camping. This is the first time that we have been to an RV Resort. It's a whole different world. Paige and I have noticed that career glampers are serious about how they decorate their spot. There are statues, flags and lights. I must acquire some "flair."

The weather was perfect. We had fun exploring the RV resort with the kids. After hiking around the resort it was time to settle in our camp chairs and relax with a beverage. Paige figured that since we were glamping that we needed a step up from just regular red solo cups. As you can tell by the expression on Rudy's face, Rudy thinks we are be over the top. It was a fun weekend. We celebrated the boys and Olivia's birthdays. Olivia and Vivian were thrilled to go home with Auntie Paige and Uncle Jake and spend some time with their cousins for a week. It was a great trip.

Wikkiup Reservoir 8 Day Adventure

We embarked on an eight day trip to Eastern Oregon with a bunch our friends and their family. We stayed at Gull Point Campground in the Deschutes National Forest. It was our first long trip in the RV without hook ups (no water or electrical available).  Thank goodness for our generator.  We had never been to Wikkiup Reservoir before.

This is what our campsite backed up to.  The reservoir was right there!  It was beautiful. Our friends had a boat so we went out fishing and the girls had fun riding behind the boat on a ski biscuit. It was the first time that the girls had been out in a boat like that other than Fleet of Flowers in Depoe Bay out on Coast Guard boat. The girls had a total blast! There were other children camping with us. The girls were not in the water were on bikes riding around the campground.

Everyone in our group took turns preparing meals so it was nice not to have to cook every day. There was no storage of food.  It was relaxing enjoying afternoon by the water.  I enjoyed reading and napping in the shade of the trees.

By day six I was ready to go home.  My feet were beginning to crack from the dust. The girls skin was  irritated from being in the water so much and getting sunburned. Thank goodness for a  tube of diaper cream. It saved the girls legs from the life jacket strap rubbing on their thighs. Vivian's tummy was hurting from the buffet of crap food and our little Pomeranian had the runs. I was beginning to run low on clean clothes. I was dreaming of a hot shower.

Many laughs were shared. Memorable campfires. Long walks around the campground. Delicious meals and tasty adult beverages while enjoying the sunshine of Central Oregon. It was a fabulous trip. We learned a lot about our new RV and made lists of what to pack for our next off the grid camping trip. I stocked up on moisturizers, aloe lotion and chap stick as well as bug spray and sunscreen. You can NEVER have too much!  

Olivia's 11th Birthday

We spent the past week moving Mr. W's parents into their new home in Central Oregon. We got finished just in time to celebrate Olivia's 11th birthday with cupcakes! We are going to do a little birthday party once we return back to the beach to celebrate with Olivia's friends. What a beautiful young lady Olivia is becoming. She is sweet, helpful and has a funny sense of humor. I look forward to what the new year will bring. It's going to be amazing!

My Chinese Fortune

I couldn't agree more.

Missoula Children's Theater: Wizard of Oz

I've lost track of how many years we have been participating in Missoula Children's Theatre when they come to the Oregon Coast. Unfortunately last year Vivian did not get a part. This year Olivia and Vivian were both excited to both get parts this year. They were both munchkins. It is amazing that such a fabulous show can come together in a week. All the grandparents from near and far were able to make it for both performances. It was a great show! We can't wait to do it again next year! It's becoming a tradition of kicking off the summer!

Just Like a Beach Boy Song

We celebrated the first day of summer surfing. Perfect day on the Oregon Coast. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Olivia was able to to stand up on her board. She was so excited. Vivian enjoy splashing the waves. The water was still cold but not as cold as it normally is. The air was warm and there was hardly a breeze.

Suttle Lake

Suttle Lake was our first big camping trip in our new RV. We went the first part of June right after the girls were out of school. I managed to snag the last available lake front camp spot in Blue Bay Camp ground. Blue Bay Camp Ground is located on the South shore of Suttle Lake in the Deschutes National Forest. Suttle Lake is 12 miles West of the super cute town of Sisters.

Our trip was five days, four nights. It was the perfect amount of time.  The camp ground has no hook ups and only vault toilets. It was the perfect first trip in our new RV. All I can say by the end of our trip was how thankful it was to have a generator.

Our trip was so relaxing.  The campground was not full and pretty empty as we arrived on Wednesday. The camp ground is one small loop. I felt comfortable allowing the girls to ride their scooters around the paved loop and explore on their own. The walkie talkie's that the grandparents gave us came in handy and now live in the RV.

This was our view from our picnic table. Mr. W was a little stressed as there was no internet access. He was unable to use his beloved iPad. He resorted to reading an actual book.  When we first got settled the girls had a few freak outs over bugs. Which I have no patience for. Seriously, you are 500 times bigger than a bug. I explained to the girls that bugs, getting dirty and peeing in icky toilets are part of camping in the great outdoors: SUCK IT UP.

It was interesting the first day or two were an adjustment to being unplugged and in the great outdoors which up to this point we had only taken the girls camping twice before when they were much younger.  At one point, the girls fighting and telling Mr. W and I they were bored I instructed them to go get dirty. Go play. Leave mommy and daddy alone. By the end of the trip they fell into the routine of playing on their own and okay with being dirty.

One day Mr. W rented a small boat and we cruised around the lake for a few hours. Both girls had another freak out.  Exposing them to the greater pleasures of the outdoors. Explaining to them that this is what life is about: trying new things and expanding your boundaries.  We ended up having a great time. We conclude that we need fishing poles and more time in the great outdoors.

My reading spot. I enjoying doing lots of reading and sleeping in each morning. I think I finished three books in our five day trip. My favorite part of the day was our evening camp fires. I am beginning to find that camp fire smoke relaxes me.

One afternoon we took a hike around Suttle Lake. It is a short two mile hike. We took Rudy, our Pomeranian with us. There were more freak outs about bugs. On our way back to our camp ground we explored the historic Suttle Lake Lodge.  Pretty sure the only person not complaining was Rudy by the time we arrived back to our camp site. Hiking, I will get my family to enjoy it one day.

I grew up camping at Suttle Lake with my family. It was cool to share another camp spot with my girls that I grew up visiting as a child. We have already discussed that we will be booking another trip next June to Blue Bay Camp ground on Suttle Lake. I can't wait. Next time we visit we will have our fishing poles and I'll buy Vivian her own bottle of bug spray.