Camping - Banks Lake

This last week we went camping at Steamboat Rock State Park - and what a is a great park it is! It was a wonderful time camping and Alex did much better than we expected. Lance learned that he isn't 18 anymore, we were able to catch up with Lance's cousin and his family, and we were able to get away from it all for a little while.

Here are some pictures I took of the beautiful scenery.

We arrived on a Tuesday (we're camping with all teachers!) and it was HOT HOT HOT. After packing up in the morning and being in the air conditioned car - we arrived at ~3PM and it felt like 100 degrees! We set up our camp and let Alex play in the tent a bit (a fabulous tip from a friend). It was so hot that night that we didn't even have a fire for smores - one of my favorite things while camping.

On Wednesday morning at 7am (to beat the heat and since we were already up at the crack of dawn anyways) we hiked to the top of Steamboat Rock! It was only 1.5 miles and really wasn't hard at all. It looks really really tough - but it's really really not. Lance carried Alex up on the backpack and he did great! He even fell asleep on the way down!

Alex took about 10 years of my life - right off the top. If I was going to live to 90 years old - well then, I will only live to 80.

As we were on top of Steamboat Rock - he started running for the edge of the rock. Sheer cliff down 800 feet, or so. Nothing that big - Mom!

He loves running down hills and rolling and falling down - he giggles and laughs.

I was SCARED TO DEATH.

Even though it wasn't really close - it was too close for me and my mind went all the way. It was so scary for me. Lance says he wasn't that scared, because from his perspective he could see how far there was.

Here is a picture of them - near the edge, before the above incident.

After hiking on Wednesday, we took the boat to a secluded beach and just played in the water. We had a lot of fun with inflatables that Lance's cousin brought and this is where Lance learned he wasn't 18 anymore. He went tubing, knee boarding, etc and was sore for 5 days afterward. Not just sore - but, can't even touch certain muscles sore. I even took the tube for a spin - for the first time in probably 15 - 20 years!

God - I feel old all of a sudden!

We went with Lance's cousin, Kent, and his family (wife Gretchen and 14 mo old daughter Gwen). Here is a picture of Alex giving Gwen a hug. He is such a hugger!

Alex loved driving the boat! It was his favorite thing to do by far. When we had to go home, he had to say "bye-bye" to the boat many many many times. And cried, and cried. He wanted to drive the boat all day long. He said "I'll just drive the boat home - just leave me in the back".

And a picture showing what "bad" parents we are...

"drinking" and driving ...while boating! We sure are getting this kid off to a bad start!

On Thursday we did go find a beautiful beach and played in the water. The wind was much stronger that day and Alex took a turn for the worse. We can always tell when he's not feeling good when he doesn't eat. He spiked a fever, was sleeping (shocking - I know!) and wasn't eating much. We could tell he was sick. After a pretty rough morning - we decided to pull up camp and just go home. We arrived home on Thursday night around 8pm and THANK GOD! Because that night was not the night to be camping.

Throw up.

All over his bed.

Our little sick boy is much better now - so have no fear.

All in all - good first camping trip. Only to get better and easier. I hope.