Camping in Detroit Lake

After our rafting trip, the McKibben's had to go back home the next day.  The Guthries went to Seattle for the weekend to spend some time with Alex's brothers and sisters.  They came back Saturday night.  We went to church on Sunday and I got a new calling that was completely unexpected--I was released as the YW 1st counselor and called as Primary President.  Yikes!!  I had served before in primary as a teacher, chorister and secretary, but never President.  I had been in YW for a few years and I was a bit nervous to go back to primary because I had been away from primary for awhile.  Luckily, I was able to re-call the counselors and secretary that were currently serving in primary, and they are such a huge help and blessing!  

Anyways, after church we were planning to go camping with the Guthries and Grandma and Grandpa in Detroit Lake!

Sunday July 12th

 Hanging out that evening after getting everything set up and after eating dinner.  

 This summer, the lake level was at an all time low--60 feet below normal levels! It was strange seeing the water so low!

Lydia, Noah, Bella, Devon and Paige

Monday July 13th

We spent most of the day hanging out and relaxing.  This is after breakfast, just visiting.  

The 3 younger kids were having a pine cone war with Uncle Alex.

On the left, the kids are getting to attack Alex with the pine cones.  

Defending himself with a racket.

This is how many pine cones they collected.

Checking out the lake, just behind our campsite.  The thing on the right is the dock that is supposed to be under water.  

Noah driving Garrett's remote control car around the tent. The 4 teenage girls slept in the main tent, Alex and Devon slept in the smaller tent and Savann slept in the trailer with us.  Jim and Georgia stayed at a nearby hotel.  

Later in the evening the kids decided to go swimming, so here they are blowing up inner tubes. My girls just reading.  

This is looking down on them swimming from up by our campsite.  Noah and I came out to watch them because he didn't want to swim at first.  But after seeing them, he wanted to go down there and swim.  We had Jim drive us down in their car.  

After dinner, chatting around the fire. 

Tuesday July 14th

We rented a pontoon boat again like we did the year before.  We had such a fun time that we wanted to do it again.  

We also rented this inner tube to pull behind the boat.  It didn't go very fast, but the kids enjoyed being pulled along.  

We'd cruise around the lake for awhile then find a good spot to stop and swim.  

Feeding the ducks

Feeding himself a snack.

All day long Alex kept saying he was going to flip my raft over--and I didn't believe it.  But, sure enough he and Alyssa flipped me over.  We don't have a picture of it, but we do have video.

Everyone back in and cruising around the lake some more

Noah taking a turn at the wheel. 

Paige and her long legs.

People had gotten out to swim, but we felt we were too close to some rocks, so they drove the boat a little ways away and everyone hung onto the rope for a little ride.  It was so funny watching the video of it!  Grandpa Jim is the very last one with his legs up in the air!

Lydia going for a ride

These tree stumps look like little alien monsters with a lot of legs coming to attack us!  Kind of a funny sight!

Still beautiful!!

We had to have the boat back by 5, so we started heading back to the docks.

Love this cute picture of my boys.

They tried to get me in the picture too.

Unpacking the boat.  Today was Sydney's 16th birthday.  Maggie had made her a cheesecake before we left home, so we ate it tonight and she opened some presents.  

Wednesday July 15th

We packed up and left this day.  Savann had some doctor's appointments, so they left a little earlier than we did. 

We did get this cute picture of Maggie and Lydia before we left though.  

Camping at Detroit Lake

Since we had been gone all summer, we didn't have any opportunities to go camping.  We made sure that we had a reservation at our favorite place, Detroit Lake, when we got back.  We headed out on Aug. 24th, in the afternoon.  As soon as we got there and got things set up, the kids wanted to go down to the lake to swim.  

A lovely view on our way down to the lake.

It's so gorgeous here!

Having fun in the inner tubes!

Noah deciding if he wants to go in or not

We stayed for about an hour or so and then headed back to camp to have dinner, then s'mores, then off to bed.

August 25th

Usually when we come here, we just play in the lake with our inner tubes and blow up raft.  This time, Garrett decided to rent a pontoon boat for the day so we could "cruise the lake in style".  We loaded a cooler with our lunch and snacks and took off around 10.  I have to say it was the funnest and most relaxing day!  We absolutely loved it!

Three cuties

Garrett really liked the pontoon, but was wishing for a little more speed now and then.

Mag and Lyd

Of course they brought their barbies in case they got bored.  They soon lost interest in those.

Me and my scooter

We cruised around for awhile

We came upon some ducks and fed them some bread.  My kids giggled and laughed and had so much fun.  I guess I've never taken the younger ones to feed ducks.  We used to do it all the time with M&L.

Another great view

We finally found a place to stop for swimming.  Lydia was the brave one and jumped in first.  It was REALLY cold!  She's so cute with her puffy cheeks!  They were still swollen from her surgery.

Paige and Lydia

Noah and Bella thinking about getting in

then Maggie

and Bella

Noah didn't ever get in.  It would've been too cold for him anyways.  I stayed on the boat with him.  It was still quite cloudy and was too chilly for me.  

We cruised around some more and ate lunch, then found a different spot.  By then it was warming up more, so I got in the lake too.  It was still pretty cold, but I stayed on the inner tube the whole time. I'm not much of a swimmer. 

Noah kicking back in style

Drying off and warming up

Found one more place to swim.

We had to have the boat back by 5, so we started heading back--giving Maggie an opportunity to drive.

The boys

Garrett dropped us off at the dock closest to our campground and then took the boat back to the marina where our car was parked.  It was such a fun day.  I think we'll have to rent one of those every time we go to Detroit Lake!

August 26

We were supposed to stay 2 more days, but the Youth in our ward were having a lake trip at nearby Hagg Lake for an activity that evening and Maggie really wanted to go to hang out with her friends.  So, before we even came out, we decided to leave Tuesday afternoon.  I found out Tuesday morning that they had to cancel the activity.   They closed the lake because 4 members of one family had drowned in the lake the day before.  They had closed the lake to search for the bodies.  It was so so sad.  None of them were wearing life jackets, which is so awful!  Despite the activity being cancelled, we still left in the afternoon because we had appointments for Maggie and Lydia the next day for a check-up for their wisdom teeth.   

So, we spent the morning playing around with toys and cleaning up breakfast.  

Then we took the kids to the park to play for a little bit before leaving.  

It was such a fun trip, but too short.  Sadly, that was the last time that we have been camping.