Redfish Lake 2013

Every year the Lewis family holds their reunion up at Redfish Lake near Stanley, Idaho. We didn't go last year being as we had a tiny tiny baby, but were able to go this year. It was our first camping trip with Booker so I was a little nervous just to see how it was all going to go, especially the sleeping aspect of the trip. 

After about a three hour drive, we got there Thursday evening, set up camp, then changed into our swimming suits and headed down to the lake. For those of you who don't know, this lake is filled with glacier water so needless to say it's COLD! But the cold water didn't deter Booker from running right in up to his chest and grabbing and throwing rocks. He was in heaven!

After enjoying the water, we got back to camp and met up with the clan for dinner and hanging out. Booker loves following his cousins and doing what they are doing. Being able to play outside with other kids his size for as long as he wanted was the coolest thing ever. He gets along really well with all of the them and the older cousins are so good at playing with him and helping him around.
Eventually, Booker got to a point where he was so tired he became miserable but didn't want to go to sleep. We were afraid we were in for a horrible night. After a while of trying to lay him to sleep in the tent and him getting off the mattress and running around (usually we just lay him in his bed and he does the rest), I ended up laying by him for a good half hour while singing until he finally fell asleep. After that the night was smooth sailing! He sleep completely out until about 7 the next morning. It was so nice because that meant Troy and I got to lay in bed until 7 the next morning! Haha sharing an air mattress with your hubby is one thing (I hate sleeping on air mattresses) but having to share it with your hubby and very wiggly 15 month old is totally another!
When we woke up, Booker enjoyed breakfast at Grandma and Grandpa's site and playing in the dirt with cousins. He took a morning nap then we headed down to the beach for a fun day in the sun.

Even though the water is freezing, being at Redfish Lake is so nice. It's gorgeous and the weather is always perfect temp. Booker had so much fun throwing rocks and sand, building castles, eating junk food and dirt, and swimming. He is such a little fish! The cold water didn't seem to bother him one bit.

At the lodge there is a big dock with some littler ramp docks around it shooting out into the shallow water. Booker found one of these docks and continually jumped off the dock into the water for a good 20 minutes. He never gets tired!!! At least it's an arm workout for me :)

When we weren't at the lake or sleeping, we were chasing Booker through the forest! He has no sense of danger right now and just ran, climbed, crawled in, over, and around everything! 

This picture he's RUNNING down a pretty good sized hill. It was steep enough that if I ran down it I would pick up some good speed, but he didn't even notice and made it to the bottom without any incidence. 

At our campground there is a little Tot Lot where all the kids congregate to play. Booker is still too little to really play on it by himself but he liked following and watching the cousins. 

We did put him on the tire swing and gave him a few spins. He really liked that! He was able to hold on all by himself too.

While up there we discovered, or maybe more importantly HE discovered, that he likes bananas! This is one of my favorite pictures ever! Look at that face :)

One morning Booker was extremely grumpy so we stuck him in the wagon and went on a walk. Not even three minutes later, we turn around and find this... out cold.

Just stealing some firewood from an empty campsite. No big.

The second full day we were there (Saturday) we went to a different beach to play for the day. Again Booker had so much fun. 

Troy and I were even able to leave him with Grandma for a few hours while we rented a double kayak from the lodge. We had never done that before and thought why not. It was so nice to get away for a little bit, just the two of us. We paddled for a ways out and then just relaxed. I'm kind of weird about water (like oceans and lakes, places I can't see what's around and beneath me). This is probably because of watching too many scary movies and Shark Weeks so I was a little nervous about tipping over. Whenever a boat went by and our little kayak began rocking, I did NOT enjoy it. Troy was a good sport about it and put up with my baby-ness. 

When we got back to the beach Troy and I were able to sneak into the group and enjoy some time with the adults before Booker even noticed we were back. I don't think he even noticed we had left haha. 

Troy buried Booker in the sand, which Booker thought was hilarious! He couldn't figure out where his feet were coming from, it was too cute.

Saturday was a really good beach day for us :)

He even got a nap without us having to take a drive or go back to the campground! And I got some sleepy snuggles :) he never does this anymore.

Oh, right now Booker is OBSESSED with keys, keyholes, doors and driving. And when I say obsessed, I mean he will hear the keys jingle and start saying "keys keys" over and over until we give them to him or give him something better (which is nothing), cry when we take the keys away, asks for them any time anyone leaves, will spend forever trying to stick the keys into any kind of metal (hinges, screws, knobs, keyholes), and he'll even tell us what the keys do once we're in the car, "drife"(drive).

I eventually had to buy him his own set of keys, real keys that weren't cut, so we could have our keys back. 

While were camping, Troy let Booker play with his keys in the 4Runner while we organized. Next thing we know, Booker has the key (the correct key) in the ignition and is trying to turn it to start the car!! He is too smart for his own good :) Now all he wants to do whenever we leave the house is start the car.

There was plenty of dirt eaten, thrown and shoveled on this trip :)

I love this picture too :) jammies

He was really good about the fire. He thought it was really interesting but we told him it was hot and it would give him an ouchy so he was content with just looking. It still made me nervous watching him be near it. He learned how to say hot really well though :)

We're kind of making the same face in this picture haha. I love how this trip I got a ton more pics of me and Booker! I feel like I'm usually the one taking pictures of Booker and Troy.

Our little camping family :)

Booker and some cousins. Eli, Maya, Booker, and Paityn. 

He's so serious in this picture.

 Won't pose for a Daddy-Booker picture haha.

Near Redfish there is the Stanley fish hatchery. Troy and his family used to go there every year when they were kids to give them something to do on Sundays while they were camping instead of swimming. We were leaving Sunday so we packed up, ate lunch, then drove to the fish hatchery with Grandma and Grandpa, Sam, Shantay, Maya and Paityn to check out some fish. 

 Booker thought those fish were pretty cool. He would have jumped in there had we let him. 

There were tons of fish of all different sizes. Some were even trying to jump out of the trenches! 

 Then we got to the BIG fish!

 He just kept pointing and saying "Ish Ish" and when we wouldn't let him get in there, he tried to resort to throwing rocks at the fish (well into the water) but we kaboshed that really fast.

 He was thoroughly pooped by the end of the hatchery, which meant perfect time to drive home. He slept most of the way and read books for the rest. 

 He was such a good boy the entire trip! I had been worried but we were blessed with beautiful weather, good nights of sleep, awesome company, and being able to spend time in the wonderful outdoors. I'm so glad we were able to go this year and I'm already looking forward to next year :)

Oh, and here's an awesome action shot of Booker bookin' it around the corner of the car haha! He's just too stinkin' cute!!