A Cold Camping Trip

This weekend we went to Cunningham Falls State Park for our annual camping trip there. We have been camping there every year since 2008.  After we set up our tent, we hiked up to the water fall.

This was Lydia's chosen hiking gear - a jump rope tied around her like a safety patrol sash and a pink sequin purse tied to that.  We were already hiking before I realized she had the purse with her.

After the hike, we walked down to the lake.  There were five or six kids playing in the water.  All of the adults with them had on jackets.  It was about 58 degrees.

The kids played on the playground and Josiah practiced his climbing skills.

We had delicious chicken fajita's for dinner.  While Chris grilled the chicken, I sauteed the peppers and onions on the camp stove and did jumping jacks in between stirring the veggies.  It was cold and windy while we were eating.

We huddled around the camp fire and roasted marshmallows 

The kids love roasting (and eating) marshmallows.

I woke up very cold during the middle of night, but I got warmer when I put the sleeping bag over my head. When Wesley woke up complaining of being cold, I told him to put the sleeping bag over his head (and said a quick prayer that he wouldn't suffocate himself).  Josiah stayed warm in his sleeping bag with a down comforter on top and Lydia had a quilt on top of her sleeping bag.

Once we were all up and out of the tent, Josiah cuddled in the down blanket by the camp fire.  We ate breakfast (bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches) around the camp fire.

We decided to try a longer hike in the nearby national park.  I knew we needed some bribes to entice Lydia.  She did a lot of complaining on the 1.5 mile hike the day before.  I bought two lollipops for each kiddo.

 The kids did great and Wesley and Lydia didn't complain at all.  Josiah complained very little.

Here is a family picture of us at Wolf Rock.

Under the rock on the left in the above picture was a snake.  I am proud of myself for knowing it was a rattle snake even before we saw and heard it's rattler.

A few years ago, during another camping trip, we saw two copperheads while hiking.

A beautiful view at the Thurmont Vista.

After hiking over three miles, Josiah needed a ride and then quickly fell asleep.  We were only about 1/3 of a mile from the van when he fell asleep.

So, how did we get the kids to hike 3 1/2 miles and then sit quietly in the sun for a few minutes.

Ice Cream!  We told them they could get ice cream if they hiked and didn't complain.

We hiked very slowly, at a two year old's pace, but we enjoyed being out in the beautiful woods together as a family.  It felt like a major victory/accomplishment/turning point to me.  Mainly because it gave me hope that there will be more family hikes in the future.

We wimped out on the camping though.  Rather than face another dinner in the cold and wind and another cold night in the tent, we packed up and headed home at 4:00. The kids were all begging to stay another night.

Big Truck Days

On Friday, I took Josiah to Big Truck Days out in Herndon. This was his second year going to see the trucks. I took Wesley and Lydia when they were younger.

Josiah wanted the door shut on this tractor.

We went right after his gymnastics class which is why is wearing workout pants.

He insisted on climbing up and down by himself.

He enjoyed playing in the bobcat.

Look at that concentration.

He very patiently waited in every line for his turn.

He looked so small in the big trucks.

I think he had a blast and I hope to take him again next year.

Last Day on Maui

I was a little unsure what to do on our last day. We had a 10:30 PM flight to Phoenix so we had lots of time. We decided to go to the Five Palms restaurant at the Mana Kai resort in Kihei. The drive there was beautiful because the road just follows the coast. We were talking about how pretty the water is and Wesley said, "It may look good but it doesn't taste good!" That made all the adults laugh.  He must have swallowed some water while playing in the ocean.

This was the gorgeous view from our table at brunch.

One of my friends says she thinks this is the most beautiful beach in the world.  The pictures don't do it justice.  It is very pretty the way it curves around and has palm trees down close to the beach.

Dianna and Wayne

Chris and me.  With a view to the north.  

I love this picture!  Josiah says that is his big smile.

After we dropped Chris' parents off at the airport, we went to the Maui Ocean Center.  It is a really nice aquarium. 

I saw one of these spotted eels while snorkeling in front of our resort.  I don't know the picture is vertical instead of horizontal like it is on my computer.

I love the look of wonder on Josiah's face.

He looks so small in this picture.

The kids (and adults) enjoyed the aquarium.

Like everywhere else in Maui, there was a great view.

 This is looking over toward Kihei where we had brunch.

At the aquarium, the kids, especially Wesley, started requesting seafood for dinner.  We drove back to Kihei and ate at Coconut's Fish Cafe.  It is very popular and I was grateful we got there right before the dinner rush.  It is like the seafood version of Five Guys.    It was delicious.

Luau

On Wednesday night, we went to the Old Lahaina Luau. This was the luau my guidebooks recommended.   It is expensive, $99 for adults and $69 for kids.  Josiah was free since he is only two and he sat in a high chair at the end of our table.  The price does include open bar. We were greeted with leis and drinks when we first entered.  It is a beautiful location right by the ocean.

They had activities for the children.    

Our kids loved this.

The band.

Guess what is in there.

Tasty pigs.   It is a Hawaiian underground oven, an imu.

Wesley wanted to buy a wooden sea turtle.  He really loves animals and I thought it was a nice souvenir especially since he saw a turtle while snorkeling.

I think Wayne and Dianna enjoyed the evening.  

Once the sun started to go down, it was time to eat.  It was a pretty good buffet.

As soon as we were done eating, Josiah put his head down on the table and said he wanted to go to bed.  He didn't fall asleep though and he was only somewhat interested in the show.  Lydia seemed to really like watching the dancers.

It was a fun night and I would recommend it.

Beach Time

On Wednesday, we rented snorkel gear from our resort and walked down to Black Rock.

The kids loved playing in the water and sand.

Wesley got a closeup view of a sea turtle.

The view facing away from the ocean.

Josiah swam with his backpack.

Here is a picture of Chris and Lydia snorkeling together. We snorkeled two days right in front of our resort.  The reef starts just a few feet from the edge of the water and it is a great place to snorkel.  I saw a spotted eel!

Josiah and Lydia loved the slide at our resort, but it was too slow for Wesley.

The first three of the four days that we spent out on the beach, Josiah napped in the afternoons.  Chris sometimes napped also.

 Wesley and Lydia played games or watched movies on their tablets during nap time.

After nap time, we headed out to one of the pools.  One day, Josiah got a free ride on a float the kids found at the pool.

Wesley and Josiah had fun playing together in the pools.

All the kids had fun playing with Grandpa in the pool.

We started every morning with Wesley and Lydia doing their homework.  They missed five days of school.

He really liked our resort and we had a great view.  Our room overlooked the kiddie pirate ship pool.  We played thereone afternoon.

 We also had a great view of the ocean.  One afternoon, Chris and the kids saw whales.

On Friday, we wore Josiah out. We spent three hours on the beach and then two more hours at the pool. When we got back to our villa, he laid down across my legs and immediately started snoring. He even slept through me getting up. We felt so bad for him that we didn't make him take a shower before going to dinner.

When we left for dinner Friday, the sun was starting to go down.

While we waiting for a table for dinner, this nice man gave the kids angel fish that he made.  We went to Cheeseburger in Paradise for dinner.

Earlier in the week, we went to dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co.  I got one lobster claw out of Wesley's steam pot; he ate the rest.  Three times when we went out eat, Wesley ordered one of the most of expensive items on the menu and he ate almost all of it.

We went to Bubba Gump's on Sunday night after snorkeling and swimming.  Lydia was very tired.

I think my favorite dinner was at Kimo's.  I loved the food and we had a great table right by the water.

After dinner, we went to Ulalena which was an awesome show.  One of my friends had recommended Kimo's and Ulalena.  She gave me great advice for the show, "Get the cheapest tickets.  There are no bad seats."  She was right.