FRIEND CAMPING/SLY PARK 6-09, SWEET!

Another Fabulous Camping Trip!! We always have such a wonderful time camping. It helps when you have such a great group of friends to spend your time with. Thank you Doria's, Utne's, & Keagy's for helping make this year another FABULOUS ONE!! Here's to next year, we can't wait!!!


Gatchell Family: Camp Fire Photo Opp Cody the Big Brown Dog~ This dog digs camping. Let me tell you how much he loves camping?ALOT!! Freedom to run here & there & everywhere. I can not even begin to tell you the amount of very good people food this dog ate. Steak, hotdogs, hamburgers, eggs, hashbrowns, sausages, even bacon grease. He is now on detox for a week :) The chance to chill in style, notice the refined paw crossing...To lounge pool, I mean lakeside. To swim like you own the place. Shhh technically no dogs allowed in the lake. But Cody is so much not a regular dog. He's really like a person. So he swam & swam... The dudes getting all the lake toys set up. The kids tried to wait patiently. But after camp set up, the water was just too inviting. Water fun, & fun & fun & fun...

Nothing like some muddy beach front to bring a smile to a girls face. Lauren's such a cutie! Livvy loving the camera, & the camera loving Livvy. Our two resident fishies! Kyle & Christian couldn't stay out of the water. The Water Mat! A much loved camping FAVORITE!

Amanda was brave, she actually wanted to see what was underneath her. Amanda, Rosie & Emily chillaxin!!Row Row Row your little boat... The dock was a very popular hang out. Kevin, no chickenway in, he's insane! Amanda reading, which she did a lot of this trip. Ahh now this is the way to do it. This was our new water toy. The Carribean Island. A huge hit. Livvy tube-in it! Uh what's the weight limit on this thing??? Some beautiful scenary of the campsite. Seriously blessed by the beauty of nature. Thank you!

Ok well this is not our bestest photo, but it is the only girls shot we got. It will have to do. This is what the guys do while camping. And a whole lot of it. I will say that they build a mean fire, & they do man the BBQ. So thanks guys, I mean it's your vacation too.

They spend a good amount of time debating all sorts of things. Our personal favorite; Men wearing sandals with jeans , VS. Men wearing fanny packs with zuba pants.Which is worse? This particular debate lasted well into the wee hours of the morning. Like 4:00 a.m.!! In their defense (or not) this debate followed a several hour adult beverage consumption game. All in all it was a fun night. And they were all up at a reasonable hour the next day, way to go boys!

There's some of this...

And more of this...And a ton of this.

These photos are of all of us just chilling. Got to love camping!! Marie read I think like 5 books this camping trip... her teachers would be so proud! Alot of coloring taking place. Card games & board games are very popular passtime at camping.Oh & fishing too.

This is the thinking spot. Whatcha thinking Kristin???

The coloring table never looked so good! MMM MMM GOOD! This is carne asada night! Yum Yum Yum Delicioso! Look at this spread, we had everything to make our carne asada SPECTACULAR! Ok now these next photos might push the child labor laws. But in our defense we decided it was fair for them to work for their food... The kids found an abandoned campsite with firewood galore. So the kids were sent to pilage for our firewood. They did a great job. Emily won the biggest log award, she's freakishly strong that girl!

Ahhh the campfire! No better way to end the day!

Throw in some smores & you've got a winner! The old hide the marshmallow game, classic!!! Jo & LaurenMarie & KammieMare & KyleKristen, Lauren & Livvy, 3 very goofy girls!Amanda, reading... again...Kyle just about to call it a night. Looks like Marie & Kammie already have.Amanda & Emily all snuggly & cozy. The famous kid pic. Every year for the past 8 years we have taken a end of the trip kid pic. It's going to be fun to put them all together & see how much they have grown. And of course... the prize for taking a good kid pic, a goofy kid pic!!! Until next year Sly Park. We have loved spending time in your beautiful campground. Lots of fun memories to go with lots of great pics. Our four families have been camping together now every year for the past 8 years. It has been tons of fun. We love hanging out & it's always a good time. Our kids are all around the same ages, so it makes it wonderful. It's funny to think of the time when all the kids will be grown up & doing their own things. I wonder how quiet our camping trip will be then???? Too long away to even begin to think about. :):)