Let's get dirty

We haven't been camping in well over a year so, before we head to Utah in August to camp with the Smith's I decided we better dust off the camping gear.  We packed up on a Friday morning and I headed out with the kids to a campground that Matt could meet us at after work.  Davis Creek is just a few miles from home, and just off the freeway in Washoe Valley.

We arrived early at the campground and Kelsey and I set up the tent.  I was a bit worried since I have never actually helped put up this huge tent and Matt said it is SO hard.  Turns out it wasn't that complicated.  Not sure what Chase was doing all this time, but he managed to get a picture for me :)

After lunch we relaxed, played some horseshoes, and Chase was teaching some knot tying.

Matt arrived later in the evening and even picked up dinner for all of us so we didn't have to cook.  I think one of the most enjoyable parts about camping is sitting around the fire, which we enjoyed both morning and night.

We stayed two nights which being that close to home was perfect.  Kyle was able to stop by before work, and Kelsey was able to head home later in the day since she had to work the next morning. 

We did a little exploring, although there is not much to see or hike to close by.  The pond within the campground although bigger this year from all the rain, is still rather small.  We did however see lots of tadpoles.

Although it is beautiful, I had a hard time really feeling like I was camping so close to home.

We had the cutest little critter at camp who's home was right next to our fire pit.  He was just a baby, and very timid popping in and out of that hole all day.

It was a perfect trip to dust off the old gear...and get it ready to get dirty.

Lucky 13

The day after father's day was our anniversary.  We were celebrating 13 years!  Matt worked, and I am still trying to get caught up on just about everything since returning home.  We contemplated staying home, but in the end I decided we should at least go out to dinner.  We went to a little bar and grill we have here in town that I have been to, but Matt had not.  This is proof I am the worst selfie taker ever.  Matt hates pictures, but hates for me to ask anyone to take one (thus the reason we have so few of us).

He brought me this beautiful rose bouquet.  I know he still loves me, because he absolutely hates buying flowers and he bought 2 dozen! 

I bought him this compass that I knew he would love for his study.  I attached a little note with a line that is from one of my favorite songs "if my heart was a compass you'd be North". 

Not sure if we can top this last year, but if 13 is really lucky I cannot wait to see what this next year has in store for us!

Father's Day

This year I put the kids in charge for Father's day and let them decide what they wanted to get Matt.  Chase literally could not wait for Matt to get out of bed to give him this HUGE container of cheese balls he picked out especially for him.  Matt laughed and said his diet allowed him to have about 4 a day. 

Kelsey came up with this super cute idea for him.  Matt loves watching the cooking show Beat Bobby Flay and so they made him a grilling basket full of spices and barbecue items with a note that read:

Here's some ingredients 

to get you on your way,

We want know

can you Beat Bobby Flay? 

Matt wanted to just relax at home, but ended up working most of the day on our swamp cooler.  We sure do have a hard working Dad.  He even put his new tools to good use and grilled us up his delicious ribs for dinner.  We sure do love our fun daddy!

Rock a bye baby....what the?

From baby to 20 in the blink of an eye...sniff, sniff.

In the middle of camp and getting back to work it was also Kelsey's 20th birthday.  We woke her up way earlier than her usual roll out of bed time, but Matt had an early day at work and Chase had to be out the door by 7:30 to get to camp.  She opened her birthday cards:

Mom and Dad found the perfect gift for a 20 year old.  Hopefully she spends it THIS year.  She tends to be a saver.

The kids picked her out a little something too.  Chase found her some new shades,

and Sadi picked out a shirt she was absolutely sure she would love.

After everyone was off to work/camp it was time for the birthday girl to get ready for work!  Welcome to the real world.  Sadi and I took her out to breakfast before she headed out for the day.

After working all day her birthday dinner choice was from our local pizza joint which we all love but don't have that often because it's a bit pricey, but oh so good.

Rather than watch movie or something she wanted to play dominoes.  Someone was not to happy about all the loosing points she was racking up.

She requested I make her an ice-cream cake for her birthday(white cake with rocky road ice-cream).  Doesn't look all that amazing, but it was delicious and devoured in 2 days time.   I know birthday's as you get older tend not to be as exciting, but hopefully all her wishes come true.

Day Camp-Jungle Adventure

Since we have been home, we have been in full swing with summer activities/celebrations.  The day after arriving home was Chase's first day of scout camp.  Every year there is theme for all the activities they do, this year the theme was "jungle adventure". Chase was very excited!  I was bummed that I was unable to attend this year, but no siblings were allowed, Matt and Kelsey were working, and Tori was headed home.

For the next two days we got to hear all about the fun he was having, and each night he begged if I could come.  I decided Sadi and I would go out the last day and have lunch with him.  We arrived to catch his group (the giraffe's) making some terrariums.

The boys love buying snow cones during lunch.  Chase was happy to help Sadi buy one and share :)

Once lunch was over our group leader invited me to just come along with them and bring Sadi.  We tagged along and had fun watching the boys.  This girl was good to just "hang" around.

A few of the stations actually encouraged her to participate, including this leather bracelet making which she loved.

I think we came on the best day.  There was ice cream and pizza making.  Using a camp oven made out of a box lined with aluminum foil, a few cans to prop up a pan, and some briquets it was 10 minutes to a perfect pizza!

It was so nice to be able spend a little time with Chase at his last day attending camp.  I think my favorite part was watching these moments....

making new friends!

While the parents are away...

While we were in Hawaii things were in good hands back home.  We flew my niece Tori out to watch the kids.  I was so excited to get her from the airport!

She took great care of our kids...big and small and I was worry free the entire trip.  The kids had a great time, and have officially pronounced "tortilla" the BEST BABYSITTER EVER!

To which I totally agree!  Love this girl so much...thank you Tori!

Final Sunset

Our last day in Hawaii we went to the sea life park which ended up not being too amazing (unless you have never been to Sea World...then maybe it would be ok....maybe).  We walked the park but decided quickly we would not be spending all day there.  We ate lunch and decide to take a drive and take in all the scenery.

We stopped at a few lookout points including the blowhole which was really pretty.

 

We headed back to the hotel to walk around town, do some shopping, and we found this amazing gem...shaved ice.  Probably a good idea I didn't find these sooner.  Let's just say sharing wasn't easy.

Our week in Hawaii went by so fast, and before we knew it we were looking out on our last sunrise in Oahu.

Saying goodbye to Hawaii was tough, but we were excited to get back home to see our kids. 

Pearl Harbor

After our relaxing day in Oahu we were ready for a full day of sight seeing, so we got up the next morning and headed to Ford Island to visit Pearl Harbor.  The clouds were billowing up right behind us, but luckily we didn't get rained on.

Our first tour was on the Battleship Missouri Memorial, also nicknamed the "Mighty Mo".

These pictures do not even come close to really showing how massive this ship is.  The U.S.S. Missouri was launched on January 29, 1944 and is the last U.S. battleship ever built.  I cannot imagine how loud it must have been hearing these turrets going off.

We had fun exploring all the different levels of the ship, using handheld players for our walking tour.

This was one of the officer's staterooms aboard the ship, and one of the few with a window (which I somehow managed not to capture).

On the second deck was the crew's mess room, where they dined,

and also the crew's sleeping quarters.

We stood on the surrender deck, which was the sight of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. 

As we left the ship, a worker there insisted he take our picture in front of the battleship...he then showed us where...

We had to recreate our excitement of the war ending.  After leaving the Missouri, we took a short bus ride to the Pacific Aviation Museum.  Right as you arrive you see the massive control tower.  I immediately recognized it from the movie Pearl Harbor.

We visited both the Hangars but most of the larger planes are housed here at Hangar 39.

It was amazing to me that the bullet holes from the attack on Pearl Harbor can still be seen in the blue glass windows here.

They have done a great job at salvaging so much wreckage from the war.

From there, we went back to climb aboard the U.S.S. Bowfin, also known as the Pearl Harbor Avenger and sank 44 enemy ships during the course of her nine war patrols.

Maneuvering through this ship was not as easy as you would think.  We had to climb through some pretty small hatches.

 

Immediately inside is one of the small rooms where the torpedo's were launched from.

The amount of controls that covered almost the entire sub inside was astounding.  They even had levers inside the tiniest bathrooms.

I could never go underwater in a sub like this.  Everything about this was tiny and cramped.  These hallways were just enough space for you to walk through with your shoulders almost touching the sides.

There were less beds than there were seamen, and so they had to sleep in shifts on these tiny beds, and were allowed only enough items aboard to fit in a small bag that hung from the beds.

Although being in cramped quarters they were said to have some of the best food.

Just looking up and seeing these tiny portholes made me a bit claustrophobic.

Even the deck itself was small.  Matt had fun finding all the ships in the bay to fire upon.

Our last stop at Pearl Harbor was to visit the U.S.S. Arizona memorial.  Luckily we got tickets early in the day and were able to catch one of the last boats out.

Inside the monument etched on the wall are the names of over 1,100 sailors and marines killed during the Japanese surprise attack on December 7, 1941.

Viewing out the sides of the monument you can see parts of the battleship peering just above the ocean.

It is crazy to me that as you look out into the water almost 75 years later oil is still bubbling up to the surface.

Back on shore they have a die cast of the actual anchor that they brought up from the U.S.S. Arizona.

Pearl Harbor was an amazing visit and one that I know we will both remember for the rest of our lives.