Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

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December 7, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert 8 Comments

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 victims who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

On August 23, 1994, United States Congress, designated December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

It is a tradition on this day to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until sunset in honor of dead patriots.

My parents visited us when we lived in Hawaii and Pearl Harbor was their main interest so of course we scheduled a special tour for them.

We requested the COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour, a special service for military and dependents.

Children over 8 are allowed on the tour.

My dad proudly wore his USS Shangri-La hat. He served a tour in the US Navy in the 1960s and later retired from the US Army Reserve and DoD in the 1990s.

He was all choked up at the museum and memorials.

Almost every family vacation we ever had included military history!

Liz and my mom enjoyed the boat tour.

This lovely plaque meets visitors at the USS Arizona Memorial.

Several memorials have been built to remember the day and its events.

The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor is a marble memorial over the sunken battleship USS Arizona, which was dedicated in 1962. The memorial remembers all military personnel who were killed in the Pearl Harbor attack.

USS Arizona Survivors Interred with Their Shipmates

Another memorial is that of the USS Utah, a battleship that was sunk in the attack. A memorial to honor the crew of the USS Utah was dedicated on the northwest shore of Ford Island, near the ship’s wreck, in 1972. The ship was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

Read Pearl Harbor Survivor Stories!

Pearl Harbor & Arizona Memorial Hours:

Daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Things to Know Before You Visit:

Tickets
Depending on the time of year, tickets can sell out months in advance. To avoid tickets selling out, you can book one of the Authorized Pearl Harbor Tours. They are permitted by the National Park Service to provide transportation and tours to the site.

Admission/Tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial are free. However, tickets reserved in advance are not free. When you purchase a tour, tickets are reserved in advance.

If you plan to visit Pearl Harbor on your own, you may purchase advance tickets online before they sell out. You may attempt to get walk-in tickets at the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center. Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. All members of your party must be present to receive a walk-in ticket. All of the walk-in tickets are often secured by visitors who arrive before 7:00 AM. The wait for walk-in tickets can be up to 7 hours.

Tickets for the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Aviation Museum, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park are available on Pearl Harbor Tours.

Tour Duration
Tours are self-guided, and last 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes). The movie is 25 minutes and the remaining 50 minutes is the round trip boat ride and time on the Arizona Memorial.

Tours provide additional free time to visit the Museums/Exhibits.

Food & Beverages
There are concession stands at the Visitor Center which sell snacks and beverages. There are also concession stands and gift stores at the nearby Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park.

While on the Arizona Memorial program (movie, boat, memorial), only bottled water is permitted. Food and drinks are permitted in the visitor center, but please remember to adhere to the no bags rule of the Pearl Harbor FAQs.

What to Wear
Hawaii is a warm and sunny place. We recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat to protect from the sun when you visit Pearl Harbor. It occasionally rains and visitors should pack rain jackets when visiting Hawaii. Check the weather before you visit Pearl Harbor to determine if it is necessary.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking a great deal during your visit. Sandals are permitted. The Arizona Memorial is a place of honor. The men of the Arizona lay inside their ship. We encourage visitors to dress respectably. Bathing suits and other similarly revealing clothing, as well as profane T-shirts, are discouraged. Rangers have the authority to prohibit entry for inappropriate clothing.

Accessibility
All areas of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center as well as the Navy shuttle boats, and the Arizona Memorial are wheelchair accessible.

Information about the COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour:

The COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour is conducted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The tour begins at 0845 (Tues, Weds, and Thurs) and 1300 (Weds and Thurs only). Guests must have prior reservation to take the tour. Proper ID is required. Complete the written request form.
This two-hour tour is fully narrated and includes a visit to the boathouse museum and viewing of a 23-minute movie on the attack of Pearl Harbor. The boat tour follows with a tour around Ford Island and a stop at the Arizona Memorial.
Reservations are accepted no more than 30 days in advance on a first-come, first-serve basis. Authorized personnel are active duty, reserve & retired military and DOD personnel. A waiting list is not maintained.
Authorized personnel may sponsor up to four guests and must accompany his/her party. Exceptions are approved by the Protocol Officer for up to six guests. All other requests shall be submitted in writing using the REMEMBRANCE Request Form.
Priority is given to Flag & General Officers and Medal of Honor recipients, which may sometimes result in bumping. Bumping privileges are suspended 48 hours prior to the start of the cruise.
Spouses of Flag and General Officers (O7-O10) may escort their guests with valid ID card. Spouses of deceased military personnel may sponsor their guests.
Attire for all active duty military personnel not in a leave status are at a minimum: *There are no exceptions.
- Navy: Summer White
- Marine Corps: Service “C”
- Army: Army Green
- Coast Guard: Tropical Blue
- Air Force: Service Uniform/Class “B”

Don’t miss viewing the Pearl Harbor Memorials if you visit Hawaii!

Learn more about Pearl Harbor History:

Lapbook from Practical Pages
PBS Lesson
Scholastic Lesson
The Homeschool Mom
Notebooking Pages
In the Hands of a Child
Easy Fun School
Eclectic Homeschool
Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Edhelper

Linking up: Random Musings, Welcome Heart, Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Mostly Blogging, Create with Joy,

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Makahiki – Thanksgiving in Hawaii

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November 21, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

The Makahiki season is the ancient Hawaiian Thanksgiving festival, in honor of the Hawaiian god, Lono.

It begins when the Pleiades constellation is first observed rising above the horizon at sunset.

During the four lunar months (approximately from October/November through February/March) of the Makahiki, warfare and deep-sea fishing are kapu, or prohibited.

Makahiki is a time to gather together, pay tithes to chiefs who then redistributed the gifts of the land, a cease of farming labors, and a feast to enjoy competitive games. Hawaiians give ritualized thanks for the abundance of the earth and call upon the gods to provide rain and prosperity in the future.

The Makahiki festival is celebrated in three phases:

The first phase was a time of spiritual cleansing and making ho’okupu, offerings to the gods.
The second phase was a time of celebration with dancing, sports, and games.
In the third phase, the wa’a ‘auhau (tax canoe) was loaded with ho’okupu and set adrift as a gift to Lono.

My daughter and I watched a Makahiki ceremony at Hickam Air Force Base.

The symbolic retinue arrived from outrigger canoes on the beach and were joined by base and wing commanders for the start of the ceremony.

Akua Loa: The wooden staff with crosspiece draped in white kapa and feather lei represents the Hawaiian god, Lono.

It was carried around the island perimeter in a clockwise direction. Traditionally, the retinue stopped at the boundary of each ahupua’a where a stone altar, or ahu, included the carved wooden pig – the pua’a – and where gifts of the district had been collected. The original slow circuit of the islands took several days.

The chief collected gifts and offerings – food, animals, kapa, cordage, feathers, and other items.

Makahiki rituals were the most festive of the Hawaiian religion and included dramatic pageants.

The pageant of Maoloha, or the net of Makali’i, featured a net of food symbolizing the Pleiades and a future period of prosperity.

Hula chants and dances were composed specifically for Makahiki.

Sports and games were part of the celebration.

Some of the games that were enjoyed: heihei kūkini (racing), mokomoko (boxing), hākōkō (a wrestling style similar to sumo), pūhenehene (a skilled-game of deception), and kōnane (a board game resembling chess).

We watched a javelin dance to symbolize their sporting events.

My daughter liked the hula and drums most.

Red and yellow are the colors of Hawaiian royalty.

Once the proper rituals and ceremonies were performed, the chief lifted the kapu on fishing, farming and war and a basket of food was ritually set adrift on the sea, lashed to the outrigger of a wooden canoe. Normal life resumed and the farming cycle began again.

This time served as a period of reflection, recognition, and pride.

Did you know?

The sails and masts of Captain James Cook’s ship resembled Lono’s Akua Loa. Captain Cook arrived at Kealakekua Bay, near a large heiau to Lono, during the Makahiki season in 1778.

I am so glad we got to witness a part of Hawaiian culture and history during our traditional Thanksgiving season.

A Prayer for Abundance

Pule Hoʻūluulu ʻAi

from Hawaiian Antiquities by David Malo

E Kāne auloli ka honua!
Honu ne’epū ka ‘āina.
Ulu nakaka, kāwahawaha ka honua,
Ulu ka ‘ai hāpu’u, e Lono,
‘Ohi malo’o, kupukupu,
‘Ohi ‘a’ā nā ‘uala o nā pali,
Pali kū kāwahawaha ka ua,
Ka ua hā’ule lani,
He hā’ule lani ka ‘uala.
He ‘āweu ke kalo,
He lauloa pili kanawao
O wao akua ka ‘ai, e Kāne!
E Kāne! E Lono! Nā akua mahi ‘ai,
Ho’ōla i ka ‘āina!
A pohō ka ‘ai,
A ulu kupukupu,
A ulu lau po’o ‘ole;
A ‘o ka nui ia o ka ʻai
Āu, e Kāne a me Lono.
‘Āmama. Ua noa.

O Kāne, transform the earth,
Let the earth move as one piece,
The land is cracked and fissured,
The edible fern yet grows, oh Lono,
Let kupukupu cover the dry land,
Gather potatoes as stones on the side-hills
The rain comes like the side of a pali,
The rain falling from heaven.
The potato also falls from heaven.
The wild taro is the only taro now,
The taro of the mountain patches.
The only food is that of the wilds, oh Kāne!
Oh Kāne and Lono! Gods of the husbandmen,
Give life to the land!
Until the food goes to waste.
Until it sprouts in the ground;
Until the leaves cover the land;
And such be the plenty
Of you, O Kāne and Lono.
The burden is lifted. We are free.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hau’oli La Ho’omakika’i!

Learn more about Hawaii:

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Hawaii Unit Study
Maui with Kids
Our Kaua’i Weekend
Our Ni’ihau Day Trip
Big Island Hawaii with Kids
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Oahu with Kids
Honolulu with Kids
North Shore with Kids
Kaneohe with Kids
Hawaii by James A. Michener
The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka’iulani of Hawai’i by Fay Stanley
Kaiulani: The People’s Princess, Hawaii, 1889 by Ellen Emerson White
The Mystery in Hawaii: Our 50th State by Carole Marsh
Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis
A is for Aloha: A Hawai’i Alphabet by U’ilani Goldberry
Ancient History of the Hawaiian People by Abraham Fornander
Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii by James L. Haley
Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Venture by Julia Flynn Siler
Honolulu: A Novel and Moloka’i and Daughter of Moloka’i: A Novel by Alan Brennert

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Maui with Kids

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November 3, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We spent Christmas in Maui right before our son was born.

A week in Maui was a blissful and relaxing time, even with kids.

Where we stayed:

We flew from Oahu to Maui on Hawaiian Airlines. They often post deals for inter-island hops.

Get an affordable rental car on Maui.

We stayed at Noelani Condominium Resort, near Lahaina.

It was oceanfront and had grills.

From our balcony, we could see whales frolicking in the channel and turtles near the shore!

What we did:

We love the beach! Launiupoko Beach Park is our favorite!

It’s a mostly enclosed little beach with a shallow, still lagoon that’s perfect for kids to play! The rock barrier breaks the waves and we could watch the surfers!

There was a large grassy park with grills and great facilities for families to spend the day!

We did the Atlantis Submarine. Don’t bother. A waste of time and money.

They have combo tickets for 1 adult and 1 child for $115 and additional kids are $38. You can buy photos and videos. We went down 127 ft. We didn’t see anything worthwhile.

We all loved the landscape of Haleakalā National Park.

It features the dormant Haleakalā Volcano, which last erupted sometime between 1480 and 1600 AD. There are two distinct sections: the summit area and the coastal Kipahulu area.

Take a tour of Haleakala Volcano.

Visitor Center Hours: All restrooms are open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, except when the park is closed during severe weather events.

Park Headquarters Visitor Center (7000 ft.) – 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Haleakalā Visitor Center (9740 ft.) – Sunrise to 3:00 p.m.
Kīpahulu Visitor Center (coastal) – 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

Liz got her Junior Ranger badge.

This is a great educational program for all kids, but as homeschoolers, we love it!

We loved seeing the Hawaiian goose, the nēnē !

We went to the Maui Ocean Center.

It’s the best aquarium we’ve ever been to!

Turtle feeding time was the best!

The girls loved looking at all the colorful and fun-shaped fish!

Santa with a ray! He flashed us shakas!

Open daily: 9am-5pm
July & August: open until 6pm

Buy tickets online!

Day Passes:
Adults $25.95
Children (3-12) $18.95
Save a few dollars with the Fin-tastic Family Pass for 2 adults and 2 kids: $84.20 (can also add on additional kids).

We loved the huge 150-year-old banyan tree in Lahaina.

There are great arts and crafts fairs in this park!

Be sure to check out Lahaina Glass Blowing. We love glass and the art of blowing, but the kids were so very young. This would be a great souvenir!

We bought a lovely Christmas ornament and some fun original paintings.

Check out this Top 10 list at Wonders of Maui Activities.

What we ate:

As soon as we left the airport, we stopped at Krispy Kreme donuts!

Our favorite Chinese restaurant: China Boat. Fresh ingredients, and never any MSG.

We visited the Maui Brewing Company. Mostly because we could. Theirs is my least favorite Hawaiian beer. But I was pregnant, so it didn’t matter.

We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs on Christmas Eve at the beach!

We grilled steak for Christmas dinner at our condo. They have lovely professional outdoor kitchens!

What we’d love to go back to Maui and do:

Drive the Road to Hana and get the T-shirt! It was a just such a long drive with very little kids.
We’d love to go snorkeling when the kids are older with Things to Do on Maui or Molokini Snorkeling Tours
I know my husband would love Maui Scuba but I’m rather nervous.

We loved visiting the island of Maui and hope to return someday!

Booking.com

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Fun and Educational Washington DC

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May 19, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Combine Fun & Education With A Trip to Washington, D.C.

There are many wonderful capitols in the world, but Washington, D.C. remains one of the best. It is an ideal location for a family vacation that will be entertaining for the adults and educational for the children.

I visited when I was 9. My grandma lived in nearby Maryland and I saw most of the sites after I had studied US history in school that year. It was very memorable and I can’t wait to take my kids to see these sites.

Although locations involving government and famous politicians obviously dominate the attractions that most tourists are interested in, there are many exciting things to see and do in the city that have nothing to do with politics at all. If you do the necessary amount of research, you should also have no problem finding affordable hotels in Washington, D.C. And there are plenty of great restaurants for all budgets and tastes!

Reasons why Washington, D.C. is a capitol unlike any other:

1. The United States Botanic Garden

If you have a deep passion for plant life, or if you simply enjoy looking at many beautiful flowers, the United States Botanic Garden will be the perfect place for you to spend an afternoon. A great deal of care has gone into the design of the building and the surrounding area. It has gained the reputation nationally as being one of the premiere botanic gardens in the country. Obviously, you will want to see it on a day when the weather is good to get the most out of your visit.

2. The Washington Monument

One of the most recognizable landmarks in all of the United States is the Washington Monument. It towers over the rest of the nation’s capitol, a lasting tribute to the father of the country and the first president, George Washington. If you are one of the people who are brave enough to attempt a trek to the top on the stairs, be prepared for a difficult climb. However, if you still want to see the top while avoiding the stairs, there is also an elevator that will take you 500 feet to the top in roughly one minute. You will be able to snap some incredible pictures from the top.

3. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

One of the most powerful experiences that a person can have when they visit Washington, D.C. is to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This is an enormous wall with the names of more than 50,000 brave male and female members of the U.S. military who gave their lives during the conflict in Vietnam. When you actually see how big the wall is, and how many names it contains, it is not something that can easily be forgotten.

4. The United States Capitol Building

The Capitol Building is where all of the senators and congressmen vote on the issues and create the laws that impact the world’s largest democracy. The building’s famous dome is one of the most iconic government structures on the planet. The building itself has remained mostly unchanged for the past 150 years. Tours are available. In the summer months, be prepared for a substantial wait because this is when tourist season is in full swing.

5. The National Archives

The National Archives are where the three most important documents in the history of the United States are housed. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence are all on display for tourists to look at. These documents are what gave the founding fathers of the country the ability to establish a new home for themselves, independent from England.

This article was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, a travel website that offers customers a fast and easy way to find the best travel deals.

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Ice Castles Field Trip

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February 19, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

We took the kids on a frozen fun field trip to Midway Ice Castles a couple weeks ago. It was memorable and we’re so glad we went before the weather got warm.

What is it? Metal frames get doused with water and then it freezes into gorgeous formations. The sunlight streaming through the ice on the day we went made it look magical.

The ice forms canyons, stalagmites, stalactites, mountains, hills, tunnels, and valleys. Some water is left running to create an ethereal feeling like being underground in a magical icy world.

The girls loved the icicles and canyons that were created by the water freezing.

There was even an incredibly fun tunnel slide carved into the ice. Ice stairs were chiseled and at the top, you can stand and look out over the winter wonderland, then slide down an ice tunnel. The kids really loved it!

Since we’re homeschooling, we went on our field trip while other kids were in school so there were no lines and it was like an icy playground castle. Perfect timing!

Here are my beautiful snow babies:

I love this pic my husband took of me. The ice formations make me look like I’m standing in a cloud. Look at that stunning blue sky!

Here are some of the lovely ice crystals and icicles – it went perfectly with our crystal study in science we did a while ago. We were all in awe of it.

Oh, yeah. I went down the ice tunnel slide. A few times. It was totally awesome.

Since we’ve had a warmup the last week or so, they’re closing early for the season after Tuesday! Usually, the season is over in March.

Ice Castle Ticket Prices in Midway, Utah :

Monday, Family Day
General Admission: $8
Children age 4 to 11: $5
Children 3 and under: Free

Tuesday – Thursday:
General Admission: $9
Children age 4 to 11: $6
Children 3 and under: Free

Friday – Saturday, and Holidays:
General Admission: $10
Children age 4 to 11: $7
Children 3 and under: Free

Sunday: CLOSED

* Senior and Military discount $2 off General Admission (woohoo!)

Special events:

Ice Princesses:
Monday 2/17 4pm to 8pm
Fire Performance:
Monday 2/17 6:30 pm to 9pm
Ice Carvers:
Monday 2/17 6:30 pm to 9pm

Click for more info and directions to Midway Ice Castles.

Check out some other field trips from the Crew:

Linking up: Chestnut Grove Academy

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Wheeler Farm Day

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September 26, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

I wanted to take advantage of the last warm day of the remnants of summer. We visited Wheeler Farm.

Alex begged to feed ducks from the moment he woke up. He was like a broken record. He knew something was up.

He was so upset when we drove by “the duck pond.” (Doesn’t every town have one of those?)

I assured him he would feed the ducks, but he wasn’t accepting that because, apparently, there’s only one duck pond in the whole world.

He was finally happy when he saw the ducks and geese. Really, he was happy.

Wheeler Farm has trails you can walk or bike. They also have tractor-pulled wagon rides. Along the trails are old farm equipment, perfect for picture posing.

Alex thought this old wagon combine was the greatest thing ever.

They have this ginormous box elder tree and the kids played in it for about half an hour. It was awesome.

Tori loved it and wants a big tree of her own.

Kate enjoyed exploring all the little nooks in the big tree.

The farm has all the typical animals you should find on a farm. Horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, cows (even 2 Highland cows!), sheep, and goats.

Alex adored this particular goat and didn’t want to leave her.

And, we got to milk a cow! Isn’t she lovely?

We got to see the calf get fed a bottle.

Tori was the first milker. Out of the whole barn. She was so proud.

I thought Kate would be more excited since she’s obsessed with cows. I think she likes the idea more than the real deal.

I milked her too.
Alex wouldn’t even walk up with me.

It was a fun day. And it was free admission! (milking costs $1 per person)

ProSchool Membership - Productive Homeschooling

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Antelope Island Camping

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August 29, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 7 Comments

Liz had a Civil Air Patrol campout at Antelope Island – with astronomy and activities.

We came along with the rest of the family “to help.”

Her squadron got the group campsite.

And see stars, baby!

Tori and Kate loved exploring the field.

It was hot and sunny when we arrived.

Evidence of bison was present.

Hoof prints!

Several ant habitats were discovered.

Pretty pink rocks were loved.

The clouds and sunset were stunning over the hills.

I’m pretty sure there was a coyote down on the beach…

The sun going to sleep

My little airman cadet lined up to check in.

The girls ready to go see the moon and stars.

I printed the night sky printable for the girls to use. There are oodles of great printables in the Outdoor Hour Challenges.

Here’s what the sky looked like for us. The clouds obscured lots.

A close-up. Through the telescope, we got to see the craters and shadow line. Amazing.

The Ogden Astronomical Society had several really cool, really expensive telescopes set up for the public to look through at all the lovely celestial bodies.

We used this one most because the owner was super nice and accommodating with our kids. We saw the moon and Saturn and Venus. Then the clouds moved in and they were tired and we called it a night.

When we got back to the tent, my husband and I sat looking up and noticed a satellite. It was the International Space Station! Check out the tracker.

Good morning. We had all kinds of critters roaming and playing in the morning.

Antelope on the hilltop…

A jackrabbit right by our tent.

Bison right beside the road.

After we cleared out, we headed down to the Great Salt Lake to explore.

It was low and the beach showed dried salt.

The kids love the little red brine shrimp.

Shore bird prints

The shrimp ride the waves over the rocks

As we were driving off the island, we spotted burrowing owls! Very near the main road too.

I would love to go back and camp on the other side of the island, nearer the beach so the kids could play more. It is gorgeous here!

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Utah Wildflowers

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June 26, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 7 Comments

We went camping and got these lovely Utah wildflower pictures!

Alex wanted to climb the hill.

Look at this beauty on the beach!

yucca

blooming in the rocks

fuzzy buds

yellow wonder

windblown tree

prickly pear cactus with buds

a kind of moss

a lovely succulent flowering

deer prints. big ones.

I think the deer slept here

precious little desert daisy

love yellow!

almost ready to burst

and here’s one who couldn’t hold it in any longer

lovely lichen on rocks

yellow daisy-like flowers

Here’s the view from the top of the hill. Lovely! That’s our campsite with friends. We have the white truck.

Do your own wildflower study!
We love notebooking about nature!

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Our Camping Trip

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June 3, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 3 Comments

For Memorial Day weekend, we rented a camping trailer and went to Starvation Reservoir with friends. It was so much fun!

It took no time at all for the kids to get in their swimsuits and head to the beach!

I bought some new sand toys just for this trip, and you can see they’re a hit!

Look at that amazing sunset with the mountains!

gorgeous sunset at Starvation State Park

One of our friends brought their new canoe and kayak. The kids had a blast trying those out! Kate did really well paddling!

Liz and Kate took Alex out in the canoe. I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s a Hawaiian king or something.

Liz took Alex out in the kayak. He asked me when we got home and unloaded where his yellow boat was! He didn’t understand that it was our friend’s. He thought it was ours. I guess we should look into getting one!

Kate blew bubbles while waiting on dinner.

There was a great little hill the kids enjoyed hiking and exploring. We saw deer prints, lizards, and a rabbit!

Stay tuned for our nature study post about all the great plants and moss we saw on our hike! The flowers in the first picture were from my kids on their hikes.

Here’s the view of our campsites from the top of the hill. We have the white truck. The truck camper and green tent on the left belonged to our canoe and kayak friends. The RV with the blue awning belongs to our other friends. We had 5 couples and 10 kids!

Our friends also had 2 fishing boats. The kids (and Aaron) loved that!

Alex’s first fishing trip. Look at that fish!

Tori’s an old pro. She loves fishing and went whenever she could.

Alex didn’t stay awake to tell me about it.

I took the kayak to the other side of the reservoir to explore the rock formations and a couple of the guys (with Tori and two other girls) “rescued” me with the fishing boat. Apparently, telling Kate where I was going wasn’t good enough since no one knew where I or the kayak were. They brought me back to the dock. and I earned my call sign: “Kayak.” My husband and the other guys were in the other fishing boat until much later that day and that was the funny story of the weekend.

We’re already planning more camping trips over the summer. The kids had so much fun!
We love camping!

Check out my camping Pinterest board.

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