Date: Apr 24-25
I had promised the kids that we could go camping at the Lake
during our 4 day weekend.
Well it was so busy that the only time we could fit it in
was Sunday after church.
Which meant now Ryan was taking off work Monday also!
Since Lake Pleasant is literally 20 mins from our doorstep to the dock,
we've never stayed the night out there.
So we loaded up and winged it.
No reservation. No plan.
(I know, I know highly unlike me!)
The line to get into the other Marina/campgrounds was INSANELY long!
Hhmm maybe it's a good thing we never go to the lake on Sunday afternoons!!
I love that we're so close we can hit the off peak times.
But not today.
Once we got to the front of the line the nice lady helped me pick out
a campsite and go tour it real quick.
Then we paid for it and hauled both cars and boat on over to unpack.
We got our mini camp set up
(mini as in it was bare bones camping this time!)
and then launched the boat to play for a few hours before sunset!
No we're not lucky enough for Laiklyn to be sleeping on the boat!
The sun was burning her eyes! ha
We played a bit then headed to Dillons again for dinner.
Then we pulled the boat out and went back to our campsite.
It was a tad chilly on the drive back from the dock to camp.
Maybe that's because we were still in the boat!
Taylee found her warm spot!
Our mini camp!
The kids were immediately down to the water skipping rocks
Laiklyn LOVED being in the tent.
She literally wouldn't get out! lol
I thought there was a temporary fire ban
(because when isn't there in the desert?!)
but alas there wasn't.
So the big kids and I went hunting for dead trees/bushes to make a campfire.
We started out small
Then they hiked a mountain
And we ended up large!
lol Taylee drug this huge tree back to camp
And back to the water...
or more like rescuing Laiklyn's shoes each time she threw them in!
I was the smartest of the crew
and had decided I would spare the whole campground from hearing Laiklyn
hate being in a pack n play all night
and instead go 20 mins back home to comfy beds! :)
But we played in the tent and let Laiklyn believe she was spending the night!
Bedtime Prayers
Then back to wiggly chaos! lol
Finally making our exit back home!
Taylee was sad that I wasn't spending the night.
So I called her after I left and we face timed before bed too.
They sent me pics of their successful fire!!
She wanted a pic of what I was doing also at 10pm.
Well honey I'm nice and comfy in my bed working.
Hey I have to fit in being a good employee whenever I can!
And with that the munchkins headed to bed
and so did I!
At 7am we were all up and at it again!
By 8am I had picked up Kaitlyn and Owen
and we were heading back out to the lake!
The kids were thrilled to be reunited! haha
Breakfast Starbursts from Big Brother!
We goofed around at camp for awhile
Then we launched the boat.
It was supposed to be SUPER windy that day which is very rare.
So we decided to give it a go and see how the weather cooperated.
We headed out to our usual cove.
There was about um one other boat on the lake!
We had the music blaring.
When "Whip Nae Nae" came on it was a full blown dance party! lol
Even Laiklyn was doing the "stanky leg"!
Finally the kids jumped in the water and were ready to tube
Anden is a kamikaze tuber!
I'm seriously afraid he's going to break a limb or neck one day!
After this picture the tube flipped completely backwards and upside down.
Anden went flying off.
He decided it was time for a break lol
Then Ryan wakeboarded and we loaded up.
It was about noon and we needed to pack up our campsite by then.
As we started out of our protected little cove all we saw where huge white cap waves!
Holy crap it was SOOOO windy!!
I don't even know the last time I saw the lake that choppy.
I was driving and started to slowly venture into the wind/waves that were blowing right into us.
The waves were so big that they were splashing over and into the boat!
We were getting soaked!!
I was pretty scared and hurried and turned back to the cove.
I figured we were just going to have to wait it off.
Then Ryan decided he would try to drive.
I gladly hopped into the passenger seat!
He ventured back out into the main channel and again waves were splashing in on us.
He had a wise male idea to gun the boat and break through the waves.
Um major fail as even more waves splashed in on us.
We were all soaked and freezing!
So it was a moment of a quick silent prayer and let's give it another try.
I had 5 kids in the boat I was responsible for!
So we all covered up in towels and hunkered down (some even on the floor).
The gusts of wind let up a tiny bit and we putted our way back the 10 mins to the marina.
We eventually made it to the dock in one piece!
Phew!!
All the kids and Ryan jumped out and backed the truck down.
Then I proceeded to attempt to drive a sideways blown boat onto the trailer!
Fun times!
One good thing is there was just one other boat on the 10 lane ramp.
More room for me to blow sideways without crashing into another boat! lol
Guess we're the only fools to attempt the lake on the year's windiest day!
Later I found out that there were 40mph gusts.
Hmmm ya I believe it!!
So we headed back to camp and packed up.
We ate a picnic lunch and the kids happily played in the water.
The campsite was on a tiny stretch of the lake
that was completely blocked from the wind.
So they had a blast!
It's always an adventure!
Luckily we got off the lake when we did
and still managed to have a great day!
