Back from my Midwestern Adventure

I finally got home last night around 11pm, from my visit to Kansas City, MO. I was there visiting my sister Larissa, her husband Will, and her boys Silas, Kace and Gresham. While I had a great time visiting with everyone, I was mainly there to be the extra hands, feet and body for my sister who is busy growin' her baby girl Petra. She's been feeling a little down-hearted because in her mind she's "slacking" because she doesn't have any energy and doesn't feel very well much of the time. However, even when I am being very productive, helpful and am full of energy, she's still much busier than I am because she's carrying a precious life inside of her and I'm sure that even on my best days, her work, although unseen, greatly outweighs mine. Never the less, I felt very blessed to have the opportunity to visit my sister and be a help to her and her family, especially since it entailed getting to know each of her boys, who already has their own distinct personalities.

Contrary to what many people may think, taking care of 3 kids, or should I say "helping take care of 3 kids" did not automatically dampen any desire that I had to have my own children. In fact, it made me feel even more positive about wanting my own children. That's still several years away, but there is something so special about raising up your own children and watching them grow and develop their own personalities, feelings and minds. It is also such an encouragement to see my sister and her husband interact with one another, as I approach my own wedding and marital relationship, and even watching them interact with their children was an encouragement to how I would like to raise my own children.

The time I spent with her and her family was definitely the highlight, the plane ride was uneventful, but with it's usual share of colorful characters. I am glad to be home and back with Scott and Apollo, but I will definitely miss seeing three sweet little faces, as well as my sister and her husband. I'm ready to relax and enjoy my time at home without little ones for the time being, but it definitely makes you look forward to the future.

When its 100 degrees in the Valley... Run to the Hills!

No I'm not talking about the Iron Maiden song. I'm talking about camping. What better way to escape the heat than a weekend in the mountains at the lake or at the coast. With houses and dogs and weddings eating up all of our disposable income these days, camping provided us with a few cheap and fun getaways this summer.

Antelope Lake

First was a visit to Antelope Lake a spot my family spent many years going to. Jenn and I took off on a Friday after work and arrived shortly after dark. I had previously made a reservation for a lakeside spot and low and behold when we got there sure enough someone was all set up in our spot despite the Reserved Klopcic sign they either didn't see or ignored. After the camp host sorted everything out, we made camp in the dark and the rest of the trip was quite enjoyable.

Apollo had a blast exploring and slightly less of a blast learning how to swim.

Redwoods

Next up for our summer adventures was a drive to the Northern coast of California and the beautiful majestic redwood national forest. We met up with Sean and Julie and spent a great couple of days at Prairie Creek Campground. Among the highlights were spending the day at Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon. Watching Apollo run and run and run and run and run some more on the beach was a blast. He shied away from the water though.

We took a short hike through fern canyon and were awed by the natural beauty.

Oh and we ran into some elk, one of which thought our campground looked like a good place for breakfast.

Bucks Lake

For the 4th of July, Jenn's sister and nephew were visiting from Alaska and my sister was visiting from Santa Barbara. Jenn's dad owns a cabin and a boat up at Buck's lake a short 2 hour drive away. With family in tow we drove up to the lake for some fun on the lake. After a day spent tubing, swimming and a night sleeping on some rocky ground we were all little sore, but no worse for the wear. Definitely a fun little getaway.

Lookout Trip

My most recent and probably last camping trip of the year started with Apollo and I bidding farewell to Jenn and heading up to Oregon to visit Sean and Julie. After a nice weekend we all drove back into California to stay at a lookout near Mount Shasta and Castle Crags. This was my first time staying in a lookout and I have to say it was incredible. The views were amazing and thankfully the smoke from all the fires cleared enough to give us some spectacular vistas. The next day we hiked out to Cliff Lake which was also quite spectacular in its own right. Plus it gave Apollo a chance to once again show that he dislikes swimming.

The waterfall in Oregon we stopped at briefly.

Some sunset pictures at the lookout.

Mount Shasta from above the trees near dusk.

Apollo pouting at his swimming lesson.

Well that is a summer worth of camping trips in blog form. We had a blast and despite the swimming we are pretty sure Apollo enjoys it just as much as we do.