Every year, we spend time at my favorite place. This is where I wish I could spend the entire summer, as some families do, and it is where I always go in my imagination when I need respite. It is where I am reminded every year that the passage of time is something we all share, yet is something I resist. I think time isn't marching forward until I find myself in this special place and see that little has changed except each one of us.
There weren't as many shooting starts this year. I didn't see a single one, actually. But the stars themselves...they were all there in all their sparkling glory. And so were the mosquitoes. And the bats. There was a lot of snow when we arrived and a lot melted during the week. The sun was glorious, the wind gentler than usual. A thunder storm blew over. Lala paddled to the boat launch. Twice. And she lost her second tooth. (Bottom left.) We had some amusing games of Boggle. And Scrabble. ("Goy" and "fen," anyone?) We celebrated by dad's birthday. I hiked like I couldn't have had I been 8 months pregnant. We left the travel crib at home for the first time in 7 years. The kids were big enough to go out back to play on the rocks. (The rock was a bus, apparently.) Both kids fished. The old yellow canoe (which I remember when it was a new yellow canoe) had gotten a funky makeover. Kermit visited (he gives the weather report, of course). Mike brought his guitar, which brought back memories of when my dad always brought his. The lake water this year was cold. (Yes, cold water and mosquitoes due to late snows and late snow melt.)
Lala declared one dinner "lake wear." My parents and both kids have clothing/hats with the name of the lake on it, but Mike, Stian, and I don't. Mike wore a picture of the lake that has been in the cabin for years. Stian wore a stick and pine needles. I had pinecone earrings.
Bottom left, lost tooth. She saved it...wasn't certain the tooth fairy would come to the lake. Our tooth fairy brings a quarter per tooth. Apparently, she's a cheapskate, but Lala doesn't know or mind.
I bet you can't guess how old he is.
Set up out back, creating birthday cards next to a fallen tree root.
On the rock. I mean bus. Looks like Lala is driving.
I just love the reflections of the water on the trees.
The water was really cold. My mom got photos of Mike and me jumping in, holding hands. (No, I am not going to share those here.) Here she is, trying to get Isabella to go in. Last year, we all swam a lot. Not so much this year.
Peeing in the ferns. Sorry, couldn't resist this one. A little mamma torture for when he is grown up.
Our paddles keen and bright, flashing like silver. Swift as the wild goose flies. Dip dip and swing. Dip dip and swing them back, flashing like silver. Swift as the wild goose flies. Dip dip and swing. ~Author unknown - camp song.
Grandma and Isabella, putting some entries into Isabella's nature journal, and talking about bats.
My parents got the kids their CamelBak packs last year, before this annual trip. I cannot recommend them highly enough for anyone hiking with kids. Even last year, at 2.5 yr, Finn Luca could carry his own. It lets them carry their own water, snack, lip balm, sunblock, etc. I switched to Kiss My Face and haven't had any allergic reactions and it withstood mountain sun and the kids and I all liked the Kind brand almond and coconut snack bars.
Snow ball fight anyone?
Bella and Uncle Stian
"Mamma, I wish we lived here." Me too, kiddo. Me, too.
The water source was overflowing and hiking up the main trail, there were dozens of little and big streams that are normally dry beds. California is officially out of the drought.
My parents are awesome. 
Every year, we spend time at my favorite place. This is where I wish I could spend the entire summer, as some families do, and it is where I always go in my imagination when I need respite. It is where I am reminded every year that the passage of time is something we all share, yet is something I resist. I think time isn't marching forward until I find myself in this special place and see that little has changed except each one of us.
There weren't as many shooting starts this year. I didn't see a single one, actually. But the stars themselves...they were all there in all their sparkling glory. And so were the mosquitoes. And the bats. There was a lot of snow when we arrived and a lot melted during the week. The sun was glorious, the wind gentler than usual. A thunder storm blew over. Lala paddled to the boat launch. Twice. And she lost her second tooth. (Bottom left.) We had some amusing games of Boggle. And Scrabble. ("Goy" and "fen," anyone?) We celebrated by dad's birthday. I hiked like I couldn't have had I been 8 months pregnant. We left the travel crib at home for the first time in 7 years. The kids were big enough to go out back to play on the rocks. (The rock was a bus, apparently.) Both kids fished. The old yellow canoe (which I remember when it was a new yellow canoe) had gotten a funky makeover. Kermit visited (he gives the weather report, of course). Mike brought his guitar, which brought back memories of when my dad always brought his. The lake water this year was cold. (Yes, cold water and mosquitoes due to late snows and late snow melt.)
Lala declared one dinner "lake wear." My parents and both kids have clothing/hats with the name of the lake on it, but Mike, Stian, and I don't. Mike wore a picture of the lake that has been in the cabin for years. Stian wore a stick and pine needles. I had pinecone earrings.
Bottom left, lost tooth. She saved it...wasn't certain the tooth fairy would come to the lake. Our tooth fairy brings a quarter per tooth. Apparently, she's a cheapskate, but Lala doesn't know or mind.
I bet you can't guess how old he is.
Set up out back, creating birthday cards next to a fallen tree root.
On the rock. I mean bus. Looks like Lala is driving.
I just love the reflections of the water on the trees.
Peeing in the ferns. Sorry, couldn't resist this one. A little mamma torture for when he is grown up.
Our paddles keen and bright, flashing like silver. Swift as the wild goose flies. Dip dip and swing. Dip dip and swing them back, flashing like silver. Swift as the wild goose flies. Dip dip and swing. ~Author unknown - camp song.
My parents got the kids their CamelBak packs last year, before this annual trip. I cannot recommend them highly enough for anyone hiking with kids. Even last year, at 2.5 yr, Finn Luca could carry his own. It lets them carry their own water, snack, lip balm, sunblock, etc. I switched to Kiss My Face and haven't had any allergic reactions and it withstood mountain sun and the kids and I all liked the Kind brand almond and coconut snack bars.
Snow ball fight anyone?
Bella and Uncle Stian
"Mamma, I wish we lived here." Me too, kiddo. Me, too.
The water source was overflowing and hiking up the main trail, there were dozens of little and big streams that are normally dry beds. California is officially out of the drought.
My parents are awesome. 
