Lake Tahoe

For the last 3 years, Paul's parents have rented a cabin on Lake Tahoe for a week in June. We missed last year, so I was pretty excited about going this year. Paul needed a little convincing, but then he decided that we would go. It was a wonderful opportunity to have Cowen meet Great Grandma Dorothy.
Cowen loved helping me pack...at least he loved sitting in the suitcase :)
After a long, but good 8 hour drive to Reno, then going to Trader Joe's and Costco to stock up on supplies, and another 45 minute drive, we were finally on the beach! It was a little chilly, but it was beautiful..sunny and clear.
This picture is SO Madilyn....holding her favorite Thomas Kemper root beer and socializing with her "friend" (as she calls her cousin Robert)...she looks so grown up to me in this picture.

a little "moon" on the beach. I swear somebody in our family is always showing a little crack..haha.

Little man loved the coarse sand! He also loved eating it at first...yuck. I think he learned after the 5th time eating it that it wasn't so good.

bundled up on the beach

We went to Emerald Bay and took a short hike, but did not make it on the big hike that everyone else went on....it was a more than stressful event....let's just say too many chiefs and 2 laid back parents that didn't want the drama. What a beautiful place.

So gorgeous.

Love Cowen's expression as he spotted a big waterfall..and Madilyn's expression of uncertainty...she was a little scared of it.
We decided to stop and get some ice cream on the way back at the Snowflake Drive-In. How cute is this place? I love all the mom and pop places around Lake Tahoe....I definitely need a lot more time to explore this place.

Eyebrows...oh Cowen how I love your eyebrows and all the cute expressions that you make with them. When Cowen was first handed to me on the day he was born, I remember those cute eyebrows...they are just so him.

The South Lake Tahoe area has so many thrift/antique shops...I was in heaven.

We got to spend a morning thrifting and it was a lot of fun. Lisa, Paul, and I took the kids and went to Tahoe Donut and enjoyed amazing donuts and coffee. Can you see the grease coming through the bag on Madilyn's lap? These donuts were worth all the artery clogging calories.

YUM....

this is a must do when in South Lake Tahoe. We then spent a few hours hunting junk stores for some hidden gems. Lisa found some boots and I found a hat. Madilyn found this little wagon and had to have it.
Back at the cabin, Cowen wanted to help inflate the kayak...he is too cute. I didn't go out in it this year and missed being out on the water. I really really want a boat....anyway :)
How cute is this little man? I love this little back sitting up so tall and big on the beach.
Cowen and Grandma Joan chasing the geese that wondered up on to the beach. I couldn't believe how close they were getting...they were a little disappointed when they discovered that we didn't have any food for them.
Paul, Madilyn, and Robert in the kayak floating along.
Quick pic of us...Madilyn was out on the beach playing and playing....we pretty much had to drag her off it everyday.
Look at the size of these pine cones! Cowen was pretty intrigued by them.
This little mama is so happy when she is by the water and in the sand...I don't think anything makes her happier.
Madilyn and Auntie Jeannine made a huge sandcastle. Madilyn had so much fun with Auntie Jeannine. It is so neat to watch Madilyn develop relationships with family.
Uncle Brian dug out a trench for Madilyn to play in, which was perfect for her. She could play without being in the freezing lake.
We had such amazing food! Every night...amazing. The spaghetti that Lisa made was the best that I have ever had.
Madilyn thoroughly enjoyed it!
One of my favorite parts of the trip was our little fire on the beach and roasting marshmallows for smores.
So cute..these 2.
Finally roasting marshmallows!!
By the last day, we were more than exhausted. Cowen was not sleeping very well, as he was woken up every night because there was just too much going on and too much noise and commotion. The party went on and on every night, which is awesome for the adults, but not so much for the little ones. Luckily, Madilyn can sleep through almost anything, so we only had one very unhappy kiddo. The wall to the room that we were all staying in bordered the main room and so there was no way that it could ever be quiet enough for him to sleep soundly. He was up a lot, so Paul and I were up a lot too...nightmare. We have been on a few vacations with Cowen and he does so well with it all, but this time was SO much different. I went in to mama bear mode and couldn't deal with Cowen being so miserable at night (and during the day, as he was so overtired), so after spending a night driving around Lake Tahoe at 2 in the morning to calm him down and get him to sleep, and then being woken up again at 6 am to overzealous soccer fans watching the World Cup--we were done and left a day earlier than we had planned. This little man was so exhausted and so were we.
Lesson learned---get our own accommodations for extended family vacations. We definitely had some great moments on this crazy trip, but we learned that we need to have more space to be comfortable with our little family.