Lake Buddies

The last time we went camping, about two months ago, I made a promise to my family and myself that we would go again before the summer was over.  I made good on that promise over the Fourth of July weekend when we and our friends, the Stotens, spent two nights up at Fool Hollow Lake in Show Low, AZ.  Grammy and Papa even decided to join us for one of the nights we were there.  The weather was about as perfect as we could have wished for, our seven kids (ages 5 and under!) loved being with each other, save for a few skirmishes that are to be expected; and we pretty much didn’t stop playing from the moment we arrived.

The lake was gorgeous from all angles, which was a pleasant surprise compared to our last spot at Lake Pleasant (ironic enough), which was fun, but only pretty and clean at about two spots along the shoreline. Here, nature reigned. Even the stars were amazing. As far as camping goes, this was a luxury locale. While I can’t proclaim myself a nature enthusiast or the camping version of a gourmand, I do know clean bathrooms with hot water showers and handicap accessible everything when I see it. On the small flipside, with beautiful weather and trees and lakes come mosquitoes (a rarity in Phoenix), and little Ari got swarmed. As soon as I heard my first buzz on night one, I turned to look at Ari. At that moment, she had about ten or more mosquitoes sucking on her at the same time, and she had this very uncomfortable look on her face. Poor thing is super sensitive to the bites, because she has never been around mosquitoes before, so her bites swelled up and then bruised.

 

Gabe and Miles were inseparable the whole trip, while Ari was most interested in baby Lars and next interested in Masie and Lyla, and Bella played with the girls when she wasn’t fast enough to keep up with the boys.  The boys tried to catch fish and flying creatures with their nets.  They didn’t get to taste success, but it didn’t stop them from trying.  If anyone knew how to catch the water creatures, it was their mama, Emrie!  She caught a water snake and a crawfish on the same day with her lightning quick hands.  I am still so impressed.

  

This is Bella in a nutshell.  She is trying to net a duck.

 

Gabe and Bella swam out into the middle of the lake, and Gabe had to be forced to swim back to shore, because he was bound and determined to catch Luke, who had swam clear to the other side of the lake.  It’s a really nice change of pace to see Gabe’s confidence in the water (and elsewhere) blossoming.

We were so excited when we heard that Grammy and Papa decided to join us.  When they’re around, the kids don’t whine, the load is lighter, and everyone smiles more.

   

Campfires were forbidden again, so we ate popsicles and played with glow bracelets instead (courtesy of Grammy).

    

Our campsite was perched on the edge of a cliff.  It was not what I’d consider a safe spot, but there was no way for us to know this when we booked.  I thought that it was going to back right up to the shoreline, judging from the map, but this was just not the case.  There was a bit of anxiety felt from time to time, as it’s not easy to keep an eye on seven little bodies every minute.  Once the kids learned the rules, it was pretty manageable, and they only ventured that way within reasonable limits to throw rocks off the edge. 

     

Jake paddled Ari and I out to the other side of the lake on our tube. 

  

This one wants to do everything that her brother wants to do and then some.  She feels so proud when she gets the chance, and of course, I beam with pride for her.  It’s not easy though, and Daddy and I are having a harder and harder time keeping up.  She is, after all, pushing 40 lbs. (a heavy 40 at that) and she wants to go down the slide and do everything else a bazillion times.  Daddy’s hitting the gym every day in hopes that he can keep up with her as she grows.

     

Camping with the Stotens was such a great experience.  Another one I hope our children will remember.  Like all the one’s worth remembering, it wasn’t always easy, but it was worth it.  The fact remains that our physical limitations and our circumstances might define what we have, or even at times what we are, but they will never define who we are.  And who we are is adventurous, spontaneous, and fun-loving.  Both regimented and free-spirited at the same time.  I love to push our limits, because it reminds me that we can.  And that is always worth it.