I seem to perpetually be behind on writing about our adventures, this one
is about our second road trip of the year- to Lake Tahoe! Also a note, most of
my writing has the same main entry in each blog, but girls you will find
specific messages in your blog and Deacon you will find them in yours at the
end of each of my entries- just so you don’t miss them.
We have friends, the Barrett’s who travel to Tahoe every summer. Their
pictures always looked so great that this year we indevoured to join them, and
boy am I glad we did. We went in late July, it was a 12 hour drive door to door
but we made it in one straight shot. You guys did great in the car, maybe you
got used to it from driving to Idaho. We rented a nice little house in South
Lake Tahoe, we were all very happy it came with a hot tub- my muscles were
especially happy after that drive. The night we arrived we actually joined the
Barretts on Baldwin beach for dinner. Watching the sunset while you played in
the sand enjoying the 70 degree weather was a nice change from 115 humid
degrees back in Phoenix.
The week was just a wonderful mix of adventures. We rode our bikes to the
beach, stopped by and got ice cream from Camp Richardson almost every day, had
lazy mornings and late nights. One of our favorite days we went to Heavenly Ski
Resort. During the summer they have ropes courses, a mountain roller coaster,
and tons of other activities set up. Cora, you and Mom did a ropes course that
there is no way on earth I would have done as an 8-year-old! It frightened
adults, you were afraid, but you did it anyway and overcame that fear, which
made me so proud of you. Deacon you loved the mountain roller coaster- as did
Quinn- you guys don’t scare easily either. All of you got to pan for jewels
which was fun to watch, that night some trading took place, somehow Cora ended
up with a lot more than when she started…. We had such a great day as a family
running around the mountain.
Lake Tahoe is stunningly blue and clear, so of course we had to rent a
boat and check it out. We shared the boat with the Barrett family, and did a
lot of tubing. Deacon your ideal speed was about 3 ½ miles per hour, you rode
with Will. Quinn, you rode with mom and decided 2 miles per hour was your
cutoff, guess you didn’t trust my driving. Cora, you and Anna Jean wanted full
speed ahead and got it! I didn’t manage to shake you two off, but I got close a
few times. We checked out quite a bit of the lake and found an awesome cove on
the north-east shore to do some swimming in the clear but chilly water. On the
way back we got caught in a bit of high seas adventure when the wind stirred up
some pretty good swells. There wasn’t one of us left dry by the time we made it
back, we were all so cold I think we forgot what summer even felt like for that
hour! It was kind of fun riding the waves though, just another adventure.
Bike rides were really great, the weather was so nice it felt good to get
outside as much as possible. Deacon I want to say you did awesome riding a lot
further than I thought you could manage. You are already outgrowing the bike we
got you two years ago. Quinn, you were in the trailer hauled by yours truly,
often with our beach chairs and your trusty horses you never wanted to leave
behind. It was always satisfying passing long line of cars waiting to park as
we zoomed by to the beach. We also did a hike down to Emerald Bay, it was about
a mile down, which meant it would also be a mile up. You guys did great on the
down part…. The up part took a bit more encouragement. Quinn, I carried you a
good deal of it up, but had to ask you more than once to hold off on incessant
questions as your out of shape father huffed and puffed up the trail. Deacon
and Cora it was a mental game for you two, but once you reached the top I could
tell you both felt a great sense of accomplishment that you had made the climb.
Its really cool seeing your successes, even in the small things. The woods in
that area were so beautiful, such a lovely mix of redwood, pines, even a
sequoia or two.
You guys loved time in the hot tub when we got home from bike rides or
nightly adventures. Its so much fun seeing the three of you interact and play.
Quinn, you certainly never back down from anyone, Deacon you love your sisters,
and Cora you are very playful and at night would be sweet and read Deacon and
Quinn books. I don’t want one of those mean families you see so much in the
media, damn Hollywood jades me into thinking all families are perpetually
fighting and hostile towards one another. I feel like all the writers hated
their parents, or hate their kids with most of the stuff that comes out these
days. I am so blessed by the family we have, and I will really work on keeping
us all close through whatever may come.
Cora- I have so much joy in watching you grow. You are so appreciative of
the things we get to do and see. You always comment on the beauty of places,
and how much fun our adventures are. I took you out on a paddle board and it
was just great having some time to talk about all the fun we had been having
and what parts stood out to you. You seem to be my fearless adventurer, and my
very silly girl. You are starting up school again, you are so smart it seems to
be easy for you right now. You are also doing guitar lessons and volleyball. Sometimes
I catch you playing the guitar when you don’t know I am watching, it makes me
so proud to see you finding beauty in music, expressing yourself, and
discovering new things in this wide world. I love how outgoing you are in life,
making new friends, but always going your own way. You are not a follower that
is for sure, you make me proud all the time, and I love you so much.
Quinn, oh where to begin. Lately when we anger you in the slightest you
say to us “I don’t love you anymore, I love Mommy- or Daddy”- depending on
which one of us you are angry at. You
don’t look us in the eye when you say it, you kind of turn your head to the
side and down and do your best to express your disappointment with us. You
scream loudly whenever wronged by your brother and sister, you laugh the
hardest at what Deacon does, and desire to play with him as much as he will
give you the time for. I toss you up in the air, and practice swimming, and
play horsey, and after it all you always say “again daddy”. This world appears
to be yours, we simply live in it. Your bright blue eyes, mane of hair, and
strong spirit are so beautiful. We all love our Quinnsters, or Quinny.
