RoyalMom

I took the camper for a short distance test night and it was a success! I needed some neighboring campers to guide me into my spot and then I left it hitched to the car.

We went the the champoeg state park just 45 minutes away. It's one of the first settlements in Oregon and preserved for tourists. The house and school museums were closed, unfortunately, but we did get to walk through the garden and enjoy some trails.

Yea, we tasted the grapes. shhh!

The kids were not in the mood to hike:( So we went back to the trailer and they watched Thundercats on the laptop and I read "Twilight"...yep, I feel like I'm 15 again reading my Vampire Lestat books.

It rained most the night and the pitter patter on the trailer was wonderful and cozy!

Isaac was the last to wake up so I had to snap a pic of him in his loft nest.

Our second one-nighter camping trip in the trailer and we're having so much fun! Jason suggested I leave Simon and just take the big boys and it was such a treat. I love my Simmy but the break was nice. (I actually got to sleep!)

I can't believe how many wonderful places are just 30-40 minutes from home. We just pick our spot and leave the trailer hitched to the car. Do some hiking and then snuggle into our camper for movies and reading.

I'm barreling through the Twilight series... in fact, I was deep in the story last night, after the kids had fallen asleep, when I heard a shrill noise outside the camper, like a bunch of women making some noise. It freaked me out since we were the only campers up there in the woods. When I stuck my head out side to listen, I heard that it was a freakin' pack of coyotes or something howling and yipping so close somewhere in the forest.

What a chill! Here I'm reading about vampires and werewolves and I hear a real pack of coyotes out there sounding like they're executing a kill. I was freaked...in an exciting way! The campsite was so dark and quiet.

Isaac got a little scared without a night light (will need to buy one for next time) and he ended up sleeping with me. Xander sleeps like a rock.

The kids helped me set up the camper this time:

Bright afternoon

Dark trail in the thick nobles

Critter find #1: salamander?

(Xander cam) running wild in the deserted campground.

Critter find #2: fuzzy yellow caterpillar

Good morning! (xander cam)

Vegas Bitches! My first time and it feels like a carni for grown ups. Or a ridiculously huge Chuck E. Cheese.

My curiosity is satiated and I am glad for that but I don't think this visit will be repeated. There is no charm to this place. Like one giant mall which I usually try to avoid. Superficial, smoky and porn on every corner.

I am getting old I guess. I am going to have to take the kids camping again to cleanse myself.

not too good with the self, couple photo

I think Elvis and Zoro was a little offended by our photo request..."no...errr...um...can you take a picture of us? no, I don't mean us as in you and me, I mean us as in "us" ...us and not you" with our silly $18 drink that produced minor belly bloat without the anticipated, relaxing buzz of an alcoholic beverage after a long day of walking. oh well.

ha! we actually had a lot of fun the next night when we rode The Deuce to Fremont street. We sat at the top of the double decker bus and got to see the entire strip without hurting our feet.

There were a couple locals sitting behind us comparing warrants and that was almost as interesting as the view.

Alas, we are home again and poor Simon was not happy about the abandonment. He stared at me with such a blank face the entire way home from the Max station. It was our first time leaving him, thankfully with my sister and in his own home, but maybe still too soon.

Our next trip will be with the kids and I am thinking it will be The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. It sounds interesting! I hope we can really explore the house in detail and not feel a separation of too many velvet ropes and closed off quarters.

I was having some major Noa cravings and finally got my snuggle fix today. She's five months of cuteness...

(I made them bigger, upon click, so you can download for web sizes, Aundi, Casey, mom and dad).

And my little assistant, Simon, who let me get one shot. Kinda soft focus in the eyes...figures. Some good looking cousins, both with steel blue eyes.

delicious.

Jason kept Simon again and the big boys and I headed out, late evening, toward Tillamook. I meant to head out earlier but couldn't motivate myself to pack up the trailer until Jason was off work to help...LAZY!

Since there is no way I can back in the trailer in the dark (not even in the day, really), we stayed in a cheesy RV only park, that had a convenient pull-through site, the first night.

Look at all the people who RV! It's an interesting culture of people and I think I am liking them very much. There is always a friendly person to help me back in my trailer (during the daylight hours).

On our way to our intended camp site, Devil's Lake Campground, we stopped at the light house and "Octopus tree" at Cape Meares.

Xan and I express our disdain for the no climbing rule. The sweetest climbing tree you have ever seen and we're not allowed! (looks like I'm accosting him with my camera lens. haha!)

Silly root beer drinkers.

And finally the reason we stayed at the lake...

I wanted to try fishing. It was the first time, aside from one time at camp, and it was fun! Unfortunately the kids had no attention span for it and were being loud and throwing lily pads and rocks into the water. Of course if it weren't for those issues I WOULD have caught a huge fish. No doubt about it;)

We got to babysit baby Noa for the first time and it was such a joy! Xander especially loved holding her on his lap.

ran through the corn maze today...

Children of the corn...haha!

Can you see the beautiful fall view out my living room window? It's fire yellow now...the prettiest season before I lose my privacy screen altogether until spring. We live in a split level home and it feels like a tree house with tree tops in every window.

Now I'm eager to go on another camping adventure. I think I'm addicted to camping:D We have another hike to cross off the list at Sauvie Island, so that may be our day trip tomorrow.

One small loop (10 houses maybe?) and we were back home dumping out our loot on the living room floor.

Simon figured out the process after two houses and after that wouldn't let me hold his hand or his bag of candy. His bag was dragged along the sidewalk. It was a crack up!