Deer Creek Evening

We just got back from Lake Tahoe yesterday. Tomorrow is Jahde's birthday and we had plans to meet up with everyone for an evening of canoeing and paddle boarding at Deer Creek reservoir to celebrate. Lucy and I were out running errands when we pulled into the driveway to see that Dae was mowing the lawn and had the truck and canoe all neatly strapped down and ready to go. A rush of thankfulness and love enveloped me as I quietly smiled and watched him out there working alone. Lucy immediately exclaimed, "Oh!!!!...Now I know why you love him so much! Look at how cute he is!!"

She is so right.

We all wanted to bring Jack. He had just barely gotten home from a 10 day sleepover away from home and away from us. We missed him and we didn't want to leave him just yet. We brought his doggie life vest, even though you don't see him wearing it now, he was most of the time. Damon ended up getting yelled at for bringing Jack in the water and even on the beach at all, so we had to tie him up the rest of the time. 

 We still ended up having a lot of fun and the kids were out on the water practically the whole time.

Angora Lakes; Land of the Fairies

The trip to Angora lakes proved to be more fascinating than I ever imagined. I was in a different world, that's for sure. Let me tell you about it...

Today started with quite a bit of lounging and fooling around.

We took a bathroom stop during the drive up to the trailhead of the lakes and ended up momentarily redirecting and following the sound of a nearby river. The kids played in it and found a couple lifeless crawfish, which they had never seen before. They found them excitably disgusting. 

The trees were towering.

 Not only were they tall, but some of them had small clumps of peculiar moss growing on them, something I have never seen before.

As soon as we parked and I looked at the trailhead I was instantly excited. All around me were giant trees with even more bright green moss covering them. Was I in the land of the fairies?

Not only that, but there were clouds spread thick across the sky, yet the air was calm, undisturbed, and serene. I knew today was going to be a perfect picture taking day.

On the way up the trail...If only pictures could do justice. 

 This first lake we were completely alone. All the other hikers passed by it, which is fine by me. We played with the minnows and fed them giant sized black army ants.

 Minnow watching.

Below: I spy with my little eye...

F is for... 

 FAMILY.
Or Farting Fieldtrip.

 To the second lake...

The kids watching illegal cliff divers and a hippie woman doing yoga poses on a giant boulder, dressed in a bikini.

That evening we checked out a really good German restaurant. It was nice and quiet there and the chef brought us a game of scrabble. Deac piled all of his food together in his bowl before he dug in. It made us all laugh.

German macaroni + beef sausage + green beans = YUM.

Fallen Leaf Lake

Gluten free pancakes with apple sauce, peanut butter and jam, and yogurt in a cup.

Hike to Fallen Leaf Lake.

Zephyr Cove

We played at Zephyr Cove today while Dae played the disc golf course that ended right at the lake. The plan was that we would play in the water and then he would meet up with us and we would play some more with him.

After a while Lucy and Deac were so cold and didn't want to get wet anymore. They laid in the sand trying to warm up(without beach towels) until Dae showed up and got in the lake.

Then they were right back in the water with him, freezing to death for a bit of fun.

Dinner that night at Chimayo BBQ Tacos. They had some of the best grub I have ever had. We actually ate there two nights.