Total troopers

It's worth noting that our family showed up a day early to claim our campsites this year. AND SPENT A NIGHT AND DAY IN POURING RAIN. As in, we had to dig a trench around the tent to keep from floating away.

I remember when Chris and I would run into rain while backpacking. It was rarely a big deal -- mainly just an excuse to sit back and read or sip hot tea in the tent or, you now, be lazy in other ways. :)

It's a whole 'nother deal with two rambunctious kiddos, though. We were relieved when the Gilles crew showed up and the rain stopped! But meanwhile, Chris and the kiddos made the best of kayaking in the rain and knocking around camp in full Helly Hansen attire.

It's "owie" not "oh hi"

This year's camping trip at Owhi was probably our best ever: three families plus new friends we made along the way, a canoe, a two-person kayak, a waterfall excursion, and FISH caught on homemade rods with hooks and line we rescued from a tree. I'm posting some highlights. See also our drop box folder.

July camping, Lake Kachess

The kids, the campfires, the meal time bustle around the picnic table...another fun camping trip with the Schwartz-Oz team.

(Not pictured for a change: Chris!)

(Tee hee. Eric eating a marshmallow in the background.)

 

Owhi, September 2010

Interlake campout

Pix from super-fun Interlake campout: Tristen helping set up the tent, Chris standing in front of his well engineered and flagged driftwood fort, and Tristen and Emmett playing in a huge old stump near camp. More on our Picasa site.

Lessons in marshmallow safety

Marshmallows may look soft and fluffy and harmless, but those things can maim. Earlier this summer my niece Abigail took a marshmallow to the face when she was leading trail crew for Washington Trails Association. She said, "I had just finished the marshmallow safety talk, when I went to pull it out of the fire, and it got me." She had second-degree burns on her forehead and nose.

Then just a few weeks later, the same thing happened to me! Maybe I acted too quickly as the marshmallow caught on fire, maybe I jerked too much, maybe the stick was just a little too flimsy. Or is it hard to judge distance in the dark?

Could the propensity for marshmallow accidents be genetic?

I have never been so glad to wear glasses.

September camping

Ahhh...September camping in the Pacific Northwest. Hot days and cool nights mean morning hikes, afternoon swims, and evening s'mores around the campfire.

We went to a place called Owhi on Cooper Lake, near Cle Ellum, Washington, with Erin, Eric, Ruby, and babyLuca. There's nothing like drinking your first cup of coffee while watching fog rise from the lake.

I took my wetsuit this year and treated myself to a little open-water swimming each afternoon. The water was refreshing after an initial full-body ice cream headache. Other highlights: quiet moments in the little yellow kayak, skinny dipping during afternoon nap, bourbon after the kids were down...

Some pix below. And you can view a slideshow on our Picasa channel.

Potty-trained!

The week after Grandma's visit, Tristen finally pooped in the potty -- the last hurdle before declaring victory, donning real underwear, and getting the coveted Elmo doll.

And it happened amidst mayhem. Gep had stopped over with Elana and Liam, and the three of them were tearing about the house when Tristen made a pit stop.

He was beside himself with glee, and I have to admit, Chris and I slapped a few high-fives ourselves.

At the dinner table that night, he talked about poop a lot -- often his favorite topic -- but also about how he felt. He said he felt "good inside my body." And when I told him he was officially a big boy, he said, "Thank you. I know it's true."

I also overheard him telling Elana, "Yeah, and I'm really proud of my mommy. She poops in the potty all the time!" :)

We've had Tristen in underwear ever since. Took the potty camping to avoid having to show him the scary outhouse.