Cougar {Part Two}

Aside from the amazing swimming hole with the beautiful view, 

our favorite part of camping is the nightly campfire.

We're all dirty from a day of swimming & playing, our bellies are that perfect amount of full: satisfied from a yummy dinner, but with just enough room for three (or more) smores, and the children are about out of steam.

This year's camping trip was full of different visitors.

Josh's brother Samuel & his girlfriend Tiffanie (picutred above) stayed two nights with us; Josh's parents came (in the next post), as did my sister (also in the next post).  My nephew Isaiah brought his best friend Antonio, whom the twins adore (!) and my parents brought their dogs- Sunny (an Old English Sheep Dog) and Abby (a Yorkie).

Isaiah is a marshmallow master!

The boys might say that fishing takes a close second to campfire.

By the end of our camping trip they were upset, though, that they hadn't caught anything, and figured out that their poles didn't have "hookers" (their word, not mine!) like Papa and Daddy. Hahaha!

(btw, this picture kills me. I love it so much. the boys, their fishing stances that exactly mirror one another, the lake...)

I also love camping because of the father it brings out in Josh.  He loves to teach them to fish, to work with them on swimming, to show them nature and watch them explore.

I absolutely love this picture.

When I was in Alaska from January to May last year, 

there were two things I desperately missed.

Rain and grass.

I went over four months without seeing even a drop of rain,

and I longed for summer days spent sitting in the grass.

We certainly didn't take any of our nature for granted this summer!

The grass, the trees, the leaves...

We also didn't take space for granted.

After being cooped up together in our house for five months,
allowing the boys to spread out felt like such a privilege.

At camping we would let them play at the picnic table the next camp site over.
You could hear them crashing cars, making explosive noises
and chasing each other around the fire pit.  

Every time we saw a chipmunk (pictured) or a squirrel the boys would squeal with excitement.
There were lots around our site, I imagine because of my messy eaters!

My dad and I took the boys to the end of the dock and gave it a good rock.
The boys were giggling nervously.
It was pretty cute.

I love that I don't just camp here with my own family (Josh and the boys), but that my parents come, too, and get to experience a second generation enjoying this beautiful place they discovered when their own kids were little.

Wyatt's been camping since he was five weeks old, so he's an old pro by now.
He was perfect then, and was perfect this time.
I'm so glad all my kids love it so much!

One of the mornings, my dad took the boys off my hands.
I didn't ask questions, just let him take them.

They came back with these pictures and soaking wet clothes.

I think that's why they love camping.

It's always an adventure!

cougar {part one}

{the kitchen tent}

This summer, in order to fully enjoy our time in Washington, I took a break from blogging.  I did so thinking that looking back at our summer adventures may come in handy during the long winter months here in Alaska. 

{our tent}

I was totally right, and have spent the morning re-living our camping trip to Cougar with my parents and nephew.  

For your enjoyment (okay, and for my own mental health) I have put together a series of posts about camping at Cougar, where I have camped every summer for most of my thirty years.

We had a great time camping.  

Just looking at these pictures makes me smile.

I can't wait to fall asleep again under these giant trees with their hushed whispers.

I can't wait to open my eyes and see something green. 

I can't wait for these boys to go fishing again,

to cast their lines,

and claim success.

I can't wait to feel the sun on my face,

to watch the boys' hair get blonder with each passing day,

and see our skin turn golden brown from days spent out of doors.

I can't wait to go on dates with my husband,

to experience the amazing nature in Washington state,

and to make another summer full of memories to pull out next winter.

This camping trip was really fun because the boys knew what we were going to be doing.  

They were so excited to get back to Cougar, to camp, to make smores and swim.

Josh got to fish,

Wyatt got to watch,

and I got to capture all the moments in between on my camera.

I love this picture of rocks in the water. I miss running water.

Next summer, I want to take the boys and jump off the dock.

 The water is (usually) only about four of five feet deep there, 

and I think they would love to try it!

I love the next four pictures of Jack. 

He took his job of fishing very seriously.

And this view?

Breathtaking.

I love making memories with my own family

in the place where I grew up making memories.

~

"What good is the warmth of summer,

without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?"

-John Steinbeck