Whiskeytown Lake

I love Whiskeytown! I can't say it enough! We just got back from camping there for 5 days. Driving through the mountains, going up and just as the road turns a little, the sight of the lake breaks through and it just feels like I am coming home. I love sitting up at camp, looking down through the trees to the sparkling lake... It is just perfect. It is home. It is family. It is tradition. It is just a part of me now.



This year there were fires near by. The sky wasn't blue very often and the lake didn't really sparkle, but it was still Whiskeytown. Most of my favorite relatives were there with their different personalities that make them so fun. I really like my family. I really do. I'm so glad that we have this tradition. I feel so close to my aunts and uncles and cousins and of course my grandparents. I love it that I would really like these people even if I wasn't related to them! I hope that it is a tradition that I can always maintain and my kids will continue the bond that they have with their relatives.

Grandpa Huntington

This year, Stephen and Skyler were able to meet us up there on Thursday.

Stephen

Danale and Justin came on the last night with their little baby Colton. It was nice to have Jason's family there with us. I feel a little mushy and I'm sorry if I am cheesy but I really love them too. The more time we spend together the more it grows. It was so fun to see the babies together! Colton is growing so fast!

Conversation:


Jen: We saw a bear by the gate yesterday!
Jason: Really?! How big was it?


Jen: It was like a youth!

Jason: Would you say more like a Deacon or a Priest?












The next day, Jason was walking to the RV and saw the bear walking down the road! He came back and got everyone so we could all see it. For the next half hour, we we watched the bear, took some pictures and then realized that this bear wasn't afraid of us. We tried to scar him off with rocks but he just ran up on the mountain behind our RV. He was really cute but I didn't want to go to the RV by myself at night!

Later that evening, I was walking toward our tent on almost stepped on this little snake! I showed my sister, Jen. I think she took a picture to show my mom, just to make sure it was a safe little thing. My mom always seems to know everything about anything that has to do with the great outdoors! She said it was safe and by the next morning at breakfast, the little snake was back. The kids had a good time taking turns holding it.



Here is Austin putting the snake on Wesley's arm and Chris waiting for his turn.









The kids all seemed so grown up this year! Jessica took out the kayak and was really good at it! Lauren and Sequoia, who are both only 6, took out the canoe! We made them stay close in our little cove.

Danale and Tara taking a turn in the kayak

Ashlyn loved playing in the lake! She just couldn't get enough of it! We finally blew up a little swimming pool for her so we could sit on the shore with her!

Jason and Ashlyn

Skyler was pretty funny too. From the moment he would wake up in the morning, he would start asking if it was time to go swimming. He would stay down by the water until dinner time!