Camping Lake Casitas

Earlier this year, two of my "mommy group" friends and I decided it would be fun to take our boys (and our men) camping.  None of us had been camping in ages, none of us had the necessary equipment or knowledge of the best place to go, so we started researching.  We discovered a campground with a lake that was only about an hour away, and we managed to find a weekend (in September... this was back in June we were doing the planning) we were all free.  Huzzah!

So, we booked it.  And then we found out you can't swim in the lake there.  Bummer!  But!  They have a small water park. 

And then we found out the water park's season ends Labor Day weekend.  Gah!

And then we realized the weekend would be the hottest of the entire year, with temperatures over 100 degrees for several days straight (up to 109 forecast at the campground early this week.) 

Oh, and there's the part where two of us were going to rent the campsites, and we planned to rent M15 and M16.  Two weeks ago, I realized I'd accidentally rented M5, and M15 was no longer available when I called to switch.  So I moved both of us to G6 and G7, which turned out to be an excellent move!  Our two sites had plenty of shade, and as we drove by M15 and M16 while trying to get the kids to nap in the car, neither of them had any shade at all.

We survived with an inflatable swimming pool (does having your own swimming pool become borderline glamping?), and actually had a really good time! 

Here, have some pictorial evidence:

The view from inside our tent.

Sleeping "late".

Chloe came too!

Early morning exploring.

There was a playground right across the way!

This box is pretty comfortable...

Pool time!

Water is the best!

Relaxing with Dad.

Sunset by the lake.

So pretty!

Steve built some great fires.

Sunrise over the lake.

Early morning walk.

Can we get in the pool one last time?

Sweet Home Chicago

A few weeks ago, we took a trip to Chicago.  We went for my sister's wedding, but visited for the entire week before, which was wonderful.

We mostly hung out with family.  We went to the Chicago Children's Museum (lots of fun!), and to the playground around the corner from my parents' house... a lot. (Somehow, no pictures from there!) Oliver had a great time playing on the play structure we had when we were kids, too.

And, of course, the wedding.  The beautiful, wonderful wedding.  It looked like the outdoor ceremony might get rained (stormed) out, but it dried up just in the nick of time!  Oliver made it down the aisle, the bride was gorgeous, and everyone had a good time. 

 Here are some pictures from the trip.

Hanging out with Grandpa

On the tree swing Grandpa adapted

Loved climbing our old playset!

Swinging with Daddy

Firemen exhibit at the Children's Museum

Dino Dig

Fun in the jungle!

The water room was the BEST.

Seriously, the best.

Admiring the skyline

Painting with water.  (Dad helped.)

Treehouse room!

FIRST rain storm!

Rain is awesome.

Rehearsal - Steve in Grandpa Jim's bowtie

Up, Mom?

Walkin' down the aisle

The Fabulous Married Couple!

Bridesmaids

Hiiii!!!

That was a fun party!

Small Fun

Last night, the three of us--Steve, Oliver, and I--had a lot of fun.  Steve had folded a little paper football (the triangle kind we used to shoot across the lunch table as kids to make a field goal between someone's hands).  He sat on the end of the couch, and I sat on the step by the door with Oliver on my lap.

Steve would flick the "football" at us, trying to hit Oliver in the stomach.  Then I would shoot it back at Steve from on top of Oliver's head.

(I'm not doing this scene justice, describing it.)

Oliver's squeals of laughter could probably be heard down the block.

We try to do "experience" activities with Oliver: classes, museums, the beach.  But it's good to remember that sometimes the littlest things can be great fun, too.