camping at Bull Trout Lake Campground

We enjoyed our first camping trip of the year with many Brooks family members this year.  We headed northeast to a campground between Lowman and Stanley, ID.  We were extra fortunate to have Kurtis' Aunt Patty and her granddaughter Raquel along with us.  Get ready for picture overload!

We had to buy Clara a few new bits of gear for this camping trip.  She got her own chair, her own sleeping bag, and her own lifejacket! 

The reason I look so happy here is because this was the moment Clara decided to drink milk again, after two weeks of NOT ONE SIP OF MILK AT ALL!  I found this "sport bottle" with a picture of Elmo on it and thought I'd give it a try.  Who know why she decided to drink milk that night, but she did.  I was thrilled to win that battle that she was drinking milk!

siblings Jeff and Patty

Clara giving Pop a tour of the campsite, naturally!

Clara was so happy Raquel came to Idaho and camping with us

Clara really adored Rocket!

Saturday afternoon, while the menfolk fished, we girls headed for some beach time at Redfish Lake

the lovely Sawtooth Mountain Range

Grandma and Clara

Raquel tried out paddleboarding

It took her a little while to get warmed up, but once she did, I think she loved it!

My fave pic of Raquel!

Our sweet little camper, COVERED in dirt and grime!

the troops

bath time

the whole fam damily

And the weekend ended with this...less than a mile into our drive home, this is what we saw!

a visit from Teenie and the boys.

Teenie came for a visit while Steve was busy harvesting up north in late July.  It is always fun to have them here.  I sure wish they lived closer.

During this visit we didn't do anything exciting.  We just stayed at our house or Mom and Dad's and enjoyed each others' company.  To be honest, with three kids under three years, that may be our best option!

Here we are hanging out our place!

 Gwen kept her eye on baby Will so we Mom's could have a little break.

Apparently I got a little too close to him for Gwen's comfort.  She took her babysitting job seriously!

Here we are at Mom and Dad's.  Opa read the older babes a few books.

 Will is the cutest 7 month old I know!!!

 Look how Clara is holding this piece of food  (I don't remember what she was eating). 

 One word...HAIR!  Love it!

 As you can see, Clara and I can never get enough of that baby!

A visit from Uncle Arlen.

I'm so behind on blogging.  These pictures are from mid July when Kurtis' Great Uncle Arlen (and Clara's Great-Great!) came for a visit, as he does each summer.  We always eat well, DRINK well, and enjoy the lovely summer evenings together.

Clara really grew to love Arlen this visit.  She saw him quite a bit, because I started teaching summer school while he was here and Grandma Janet and Arlen watched her during the morning for me.  She would go up to him and reach her arms out and ask to be "bup" (picked up). 



Christianne and Clara reading some mags

Clara is good about stopping to smell the flowers...always!

kiddie pool time

Clara spotted an airplane, one of her fave things to do

this is what happens when we're all together...we all stand around watching C

Thanks for another great visit Uncle Arlen!  What fun we have when we are together!