Lake Tahoe

It all started with an idea from Dan to go to Tahoe. Then that idea grew to invite family and before we knew it, Lake Tahoe became the gathering point for this years Lancaster gathering. It was great to be in the States this year and to be going somewhere that we have never been before. Well, except Dan. He did some field study there back in Grad School.

We planned this trip months and months in advance. We booked a house, lost it, and then booked another house, which ended up being perfect for us all. We planned food and meals and made the trip as easy as we possibly could. It worked wonders and we had a fantastic time. 

Us Texas Lancaster's (We refer to each other by where we live) woke up bright and EARLY to catch our flight. The kids were so excited that they were awake anyway. It helped to not have to deal with grumpy kids.

In the airport, loaded and ready to go. So nice having Dan there this go around! I'm always so grateful for him. 

Waiting by our gate. Little Kate has been seriously progressing on the sitting up skills. She was a little wobbly at the beginning of the trip, but has definitely mastered sitting up! 

I try and make the kids move around as much as possible before sitting on the flight. It was a three and half hour flight, so I knew it would be best for them to get their wiggles out. They were making snow angels on the ground. And laughing hysterically because they thought it was so funny. 

We no longer can all fit on one row on a plane. So Dan and Owen sat behind June, Kate and myself. 

Half way through the flight I looked back to check on Dan and Owen. Owen was passed out on Dan's lap and Dan was content watching his movie. 

The flight was long but everyone did really well! I had to change a stinky bum mid flight, but other than that, everyone slept or watched their iPads and had snacks. Both Dan and I got to watch a movie, so I can't complain about the flight! 

We were happy to be off the plane and breathing in that AMAZING fresh air. Coming from Texas, the weather has been rainy and super humid, so this air was so breathable! I seriously could not stop taking in huge breaths. It was just so fresh! 

Kate just being her happy self while we waited for our rental car. 

We loaded into and decided to go get some last minute groceries we would need, like diapers and baby food and then headed to get some lunch. The kids had been cooped up all day so we thought we would go find a park for a while and let them play. 

The Portland Lancasters (Will and Jess) drove and arrived in Reno around the same time we were at the park, so they met us there and the kids instantly took off to play. 

This park was kind of weird. Us adults were all talking and all of the sudden the kids came up to us with hands full of pills! Yes, PILLS! They were married underneath the playground. So the kids spent the next hour digging for more pills and bringing them to us. They weren't anything harmful. It was like ibuprofen and small pain killers, but still super weird and there were so many. 

Kate stretching and kicking those legs 

unintentionally, Hayden and June arrived in the same shirt. June is in love with the Beatles so she thought it was pretty cool that Hayden had a Beatles shirt too. 

Calgary Lancasters (Dan's mom and dad) arrived right as we were heading out to drive to Lake Tahoe. We chatted for a minute and then got on the road. 

June thought it was so fun having the window rolled down and sticking her arm out. 

We drove the 40 minutes and arrived in the middle of the woods to our home for the week. It was tucked up into the mountain, surrounded by trees and quietness. It was perfect. We all got settled and waited for the Edmonton Lancasters (Dave and Vanessa) to arrive. 

Lovin' on my best little man 

June and Isis became instant best friends. They usually do and play so great together. We didn't see June all week because she was playing so hard with her cousins. It was great! 

Building towers with Grandpa 

Hayden and Owen are so much a like! They became little buds quick! 

None of us got to bed until pretty late that first night. I knew we were going to regret it with the two hour time difference. We figured our kids would most likely be up at 4am. The next morning no one woke up until about 6am. Given that that is 8am our body time, it was a pretty good sleep in. 

Dan and I snuck out and went for a run through the mountains. It was beautiful and we just chatted away. It was a perfect start to our trip. We then went back to the cabin and did some yoga on the deck. 

Once we were all cleaned up ready to go, we headed to Sand Harbor beach. It was about 40 minutes away, but we had to go to Lake Tahoe at least once while we were there. 

Sloan and Kate patiently waiting to go to the beach. They are about two months apart. 

Then Isis joined in on the party and kept those babies happy while the rest of us got ready for the beach. 

The Lake was so beautiful. Everything in Tahoe was beautiful. It was well worth the drive. The water was so blue and freezing cold! Haha we only splashed around in the water, but it was still fun .

My Brother in law, Will. He's a special one. 

Through all the chaos of packing up for the day I completely spaced grabbing Kate's swimsuit from the cabin. She is used to just being in a swim diaper, so I didn't mind not having her in a swimsuit. I wasn't going to let it ruin the fun. 

Dan and I working on our yoga headstands. I love doing them and Dan is getting better and better. 

Being buried in the sand 

Splashing and playing in the water 

 

After a few hours at the beach, we called it a day and headed back to the house. We let the kids play while us adults hung out and just enjoyed the day. Us Texas Lancaster's were in charge of dinner that night, so while we were getting dinner ready, Aunt Jess so kindly took over baby Kate. 

I don't think Kate minded! 

After dinner was eaten and cleaned up, we went and explored the back of our cabin. We found lots of giant pinecones and different bugs. 

We found this cool tree that fell over and then started growing back up right. June was taking a picture with it and was chomping an Oreo at the same time. 

At dusk. It reminded me so much of home back in Idaho. Made me a tad homesick for the north. 

We got the kids settled in and enjoyed the night. Of course staying up way too late! 

The next day we went for a small hike. It was on a paved trail, so not really considered a hike, but the kids were loving it and climbing all over the place so we called it a hike. 

Nature Baby 

We stopped and played at the creek 

The View

It doesn't really look like it but we were all standing on a huge boulder. You had to climb up a bit to get to the top! June loved climbing up and down the rock. She said she was an explorer. 

Hayden and Owen running wild. These boys didn't stop! Until they were both exhausted and about to collapse. 

Hands in 

Like I said we were on a huge rock. Thats why Kate is not in on this family photo. 

It doesn't get much cuter than this 

Grandpa and June. They became best little buddies too 

Twirling in the woods 

We had a contest with who could find the biggest stick. Grandpa and June thought they were so funny with their "stick" that they found. Haha we decided they won!

Owen's stick choice 

He would no longer walk. It was either carry him or have him be left behind. 

We got back from our little nature walk and enjoyed the afternoon while babies slept, older kids ran around and us adults talked, played games and worked on the worlds worst puzzle.

Playing with Gak 

Kate continuing to be the best baby. 

It was Gracie's 11th birthday! It was so much fun celebrating it with her. She let me do her hair all cute for our night out. She's a doll and was such a great helper through the week! 

We opened birthday gifts. Hayden and June body slamming each other. 

Grandma adding to the chaos and feeding the kids pure sugar! The kids were in Heaven!

Later that day we went and rode the gondola up at North Star Ski resort. The ride was pretty and made me really miss skiing and just being in nature. 

Up at the top

June wanted to take a picture of us. Not bad June. Not bad at all. 

The wives. These girls keep me going and we had a fantastic time together. We relate a lot to each other so we talked and laughed all week long! 

The "grown up" kids is what June likes to call this picture

After the gondola ride we all headed to dinner at Jax Diner. A restaurant known on "Diners, drive-ins and Dives". It was pretty good and they literally had the best chicken tenders I have ever had in my entire life. 

After dinner we went for ice-cream and walked the little town square

We got home that night, bathed kids and got them to bed. Then a few of us adults hopped into the hot tub for a while. Again we stayed up way too late but it was so fun! 

It was Sunday the next day. We all got up and headed to church. Hayden and Owen were matching, so I had to sneak a picture of them in their shirts. These boys don't hold still long enough to get a proper picture, so this was as good as I could get. 

Kate came with me to nursery where we mostly were hanging out. I just can't get enough of her. 

I laughed because at one point we were all at the church building but no one was in any classes! 

After church we headed home and enjoyed a low key afternoon. Another day of games, talking and working on the worst puzzle of all time. 

The kids got lego candy from Grandma and Grandpa so we played with that for a while. 

A random picture of our house 

The house was quite and Grandpa was out enjoying a little bit of that quietness! 

I believe I went in to check on Owen while he was napping. I bent over to give him a kiss, realized how tired I was and curled up at the foot of the bed to take a nap. 

The rest of our day was spent like this 

I taught the kids a game where you "chomp" the pool balls. As you can tell by their faces they loved it! Owen was obsessed with the game. It made me laugh. I played this countless times growing up at my grams and gramps Mendenhall house. 

That night we went out on the deck and had root beer floats. It was a beautiful night. 

June learning how to play before bed 

Monday was our last full day there. We decided to head to Donner Lake for one more beach day. 

The boys rented a paddle boat and took the kids around the lake 

These pictures were totally not staged. I was taking pictures of Kate and June just went and sat down next to her. Just hugged and kissed her. It was adorable. 

Kate loved the sand between her fingers and toes

Owen found a pinecone in the sand. You would have thought he found a pot of gold under there. He was so excited about his pinecone. 

Sun bathing beauties 

June wanted a picture of how brave she was going into the water and how deep she went. 

Then daddy came in and splashed her!! 

One last headstand on the beach

We came home and cleaned up. Then we headed out to do a little more shopping.

We got the kids in pajamas and then grandma had glow sticks for all the kids 

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One last iPad session with cousins 

We said some goodbyes that night and then headed to bed. We all had a pretty early morning getting on the road and heading to the airport. 

The flight home was pretty quiet. Owen and Kate slept the majority of the flight and June just played on her iPad. It was a pretty fast flight. 

Just like that we were home and instantly went into school mode. We had to get ready for school for the next day. We were all tired and so ready to sleep in our own beds. 

It was a fantastic week and we all had a good time. 

Until next time Lancaster clan.