our trip to tahoe

just a few years a back adam and I would take the most amazing life changing adventures: backpacking all around california, traveling to belize, panama, costa rica, guatemala. With me being a teacher with summers off yet paychecks still coming in, and adam being the traveling matt that he is....we were like two peas in a pod....with a credit card. and when we were feeling alright....we would book our next flight to some beautiful latin country.That was before we embarked on the ultimate adventure, the craziest trip of all: parenting.About two months ago I almost had adam taking out the credit card once again....to book a flight to educador or was it costa rica.....but we came to our senses and realized:

1. we have two young kids and a big trip like that may be more exhausting than relaxing.

2. adam didn't really have the time off work

3. we didn't have the money.

so we settled for tahoe.

Great decision. Here's why:

We were able to continue practicing the spiral throws with Charlie at nearby parks

I caught pics like this...

and this....

We got to look at views like this of Emerald Bay

Dad got time to spend with just the baby (he is always on charlie patrol in the evenings)

Charlie got to test out his love of jumping in ice cold snow melt water. And of course his very playful and fun dad was there to catch him everytime.

We hiked a more challenging hike to the top of this ridge and saw lake tahoe, granite lake, and fallen leaf lake. It was breath-taking, as you can tell

Charlie got to paint his face with dirt and look tough. seriously he did this on his own while we were trying to figure out the camera.

Nap times were easy peasy, just put the kids in the packs and hike like there's no tomorrow:

Charlie got to put into practice his mad leaf-blowing skills! What a community helper, cleaning up the trails, the way he did!

With big Kate and Adam chasing Charlie around, I got to truly focus some attention on just little kate. 

I got to hike once again...with this kind of view in front of me. I can't think of a more beautiful scene to look at. Adam, Charlie and the lake all around.

Charlie enjoyed playing in pristine lakes while watching ducklings play. This is at eagle lake.

Charlie got to spend a lot of time naked, something he loves doing. He also got to spend a lot of time throwing rocks into the lake.

Aunt Na visited us for two days, we had so much fun. She got to spend one-on-one time with both Kate and Charlie, as well as spend hours chatting, laughing and hanging out with Adam and me. In case you didn't know Aunt Na dedicates so much of her life to these here two children. She makes them laugh, teaches Char things like yoga, dancing, and most recently how to ommmmmm (how do you spell that)

The two happy kates.....

Charlie  got to actually enjoy the beach. Even though we live right by beach and walk along the bluffs about twice a week, this the first time I think he realized he could walk on the sand right up to the water.

Our vacation lasted all of 5 days, and two of those days we spent traveling to and fro.

Each day was action-packed, sunny, beautiful, relaxing, and all around wonderful.

I couldn't have had a better vacation. Adam, what are you doing next week. Want to go again? Seriously.