one mama's thoughts: Lake Tahoe

We are lucky enough to go to Lake Tahoe for a week every summer and every winter. It is such a wonderful place I can't even imagine going anywhere else for vacation (ok, maybe that isn't true, Adam and I have been tossing around the idea of taking the kids to Panama soon).

Charlie talks about Tahoe all year long. Each time we are getting ready to go he talks endlessly about which season it is, what happens to the snows, the animals, the trees. His bedtime story every night revolves around some nature adventure in Tahoe. He can't decide which season is his favorite. The winter is full of snowball fights, snowman building, sledding, and snow-hiking, while the summer is spent swimming, hiking, biking, playing soccer, and playing at the park.

Of course I don't care which time of year it is, I just love being outside all day with my family, and co-parenting 24-7.

This year every second of each day was perfect. The kids got along beautifully. The played for hours together on the beach, making up silly games, racing along the shore, crawling through the warm sand, all while laughing non-stop. Adam and I sat in our camping chairs eating great cheese and crackers and sipping on chilled beers, and admiring our cute, playful, and sweet children. We hiked three mornings to two different lakes, took a three hour bike ride stopping at two different beaches, played out back on the deck, spent most afternoons at a great park, and even took the kids out to a pizza dinner (we never go out to eat with our kids). Every night the kids passed out between 6:30 and 7 and Adam and I had competitive games of scramble, nice conversations and even watched a few movies.

We had such an amazing time that on the drive home we thought up a brilliant plan, rather than buy a house on the coast, we will think about/look into buying a small cabin (maybe north shore?). It would be safer, smarter, and more possible to buy a nice vacation home for 150,000, than waiting for years and years and then breaking the bank all to afford a 700,000 dollar house here in hmb. We will see if our latest plan pans out. I am guessing no, but it is fun to dream.

A lot of my friends vacation in Hawaii, different states, and even out of the country. It was the same way growing up. When I was young we camped throughout the summer and took one week long trip to South Lake Tahoe with family friends. It seems to be a pattern as that is exactly what we have been up to this summer, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

One day soon we hope to return to Al Natural, a eco-resort on an island off of panama, but until then we will consider ourselves lucky to have this little slice of heaven to enjoy as a small family together twice a year.

Five days of all daddy all the time makes for happy kids, and a happy mom.

These two were like peas in a pod, spending almost every moment as close to each other as possible....

And here and there I got some good one on one snuggles, talks, and laughs in

Taking advantage of the kids being a bit older, Charlie biked mile and mile on our huge bike trip, and Kate sat happily in her ibert seat eating snacks and singing.