Tahoe--Day 2

After breakfast on Day 2, posing next to their favorite koi pond.  You would not believe how many times we visited those fish each day.  The boys (mostly Thomas) even named several of them.  Gaby was into it too because she's into everything her big bros are. :)

We then headed down the street to the lake.  We weren't quite sure what the set up was, so we just headed down in our street clothes to scope it out.  Oh my goodness....the beauty....it was truly breathtaking.  I don't think the photos do it even a little justice.

Un.be.liev.ably clear.  Amazing.  Beautiful.  Felt like I could "see" God in this setting.  I mean, who else suspends this huge, crystal clear lake like 6,000 feet above sea level?  It's super deep too and almost 100% pure.  Amazing. 

They couldn't resist "getting in."  I love this photo.  Can still see the little boys in them even though they're most definitely growing up.

A Daddy and his babe.  Love.

After a bit, we headed back up the hill to our hotel.  I stayed at the hotel with the napping girls, and the boys took off for Carson City.  They went to the state capitol building and the Governor's mansion (and Walmart for the many things we forgot!)

We were all pretty tired at this point (already).  I was just realizing how emotionally and physically exhausted I was from the week prior with losing my pup.  

But this MADE THE DAY....!!!

She had taken her first steps about a week and a half prior, but hadn't walked since.  At this juncture, it was apparent she had cracked the code!  Love my wobbly walker.

A Week Away--Day 1

We spent all of last week in South Lake Tahoe, CA.  The trip was a lot of work.  Even Ronnie said that about half way through the week.  (I thought it was just me!  Ronnie's so much more laid back than me.)  Elena cut a couple teeth during the week, the girls seemed like they were always tired  (even though they slept well), long lines at the hotel breakfast every morning, the boys wanting to do stuff that the girls are too little for, so lots of Ronnie and I splitting up to divide and conquer....blah, blah, blah.  But....it was also full of wonderful memories.  And much like labor, the difficulties will fade away, and we'll just be left with the gift of this week away in a truly heavenly location.

It was about an eight-hour drive for us.  By far, the longest road trip we've ever attempted with kiddos.  Tahoe was always on our bucket list of things to do before we left Vegas.  It took seven years for us to get there, but it did not disappoint.  The kids all did pretty darn well on the way up (the drive back may have been a different story!)  

We passed this lake, Walker Lake, on the drive.  I thought it was so pretty.  I had no idea what was waiting for us in Lake Tahoe!  It's still pretty, but....

Our traveling compadres.  All relatively happy at this point.

Silly girl!  She was determined to use that neck pillow even if it didn't work well with her car seat.

We didn't plan anything but the drive last Sunday.  (I really thought I went into the trip with low expectations.)  When we got to the hotel just after dinner time, we ordered pizza and ate before bedding down.  While waiting for the pizza, Ronnie and I are scurrying around trying to get everything situated for the night.  One of the boys announces, "There's poop on the couch!"  

Screech!!  "What?!?"

Oh yeah.  Somehow Gaby went that much that the pull-up held no chance.  Oh boy.  So a shower for her by Mom and couch cleaning by Ronnie.  The pizza arrived.  We ate and watched some Olympics.  And waited and waited and waited and called again and again and again to finally get Elena's pack 'n play.  Oy vey.

With very different details, this first evening was pretty much a taste of our trip.  But I'm going to focus my posts on the lovely memories, the gems that we all hold in our hearts, 24 hours after returning home.  It was so good for my heart to hear Thomas asking each of us over and over (and over!) today what our favorite part of the trip was.  So good.  Clayton wrote a postcard to some friends the day before we left too and started it with, "I have had the time of my life...."  SO good.  (A, that's coming in your mailbox!)