Our 4th of July camping trip was no different. For a while it seemed so far away, now it's already done and we're getting ready for the next camping trip! Before we left for our camping trip we made some crafts and did some 4th of July activities. Here is a toilet paper roll rocket craft that Aric and I made.
Then we packed up our trailer, canoe, bikes, and all the gear that goes with us and headed to the Oregon Coast. We didn't end up playing on the coast as much as we played at a lake that was right by the campground. Here's our whole family (minus Alexander) in the canoe. The kids had a great time canoeing, and kayaking (sorry no pics of the kayak, it was a rental anyway)!
Such a peaceful calm morning out on the lake. We were the first ones out that morning.
The kids enjoyed swimming in that lake too! It was really their first experience swimming in a lake, and they thought it was pretty neat.
One day we went on a dune ride through the miles and miles of sand dunes. I have lots of pictures of this because it was so neat to see all the sand dunes, and the ride was quite exciting. So exciting that I was a little scared at times. My kids weren't though, they just loved the whole ride. Even when we were at the top of the dune and it looked like the driver was going to careen to the bottom.
At one point the ride stopped so we could get out and walk in the super fine sand, and enjoy the view.
The boys had a good time.
This was the view to one side of the dunes where we were standing. It was pretty much a straight drop down. We were pretty high up.
April was standing there looking out at the view. She was looking so peaceful!
It was windy (like it usually is at the Oregon coast) and you can see the sand blowing in this picture.
Back to the ride again. We rode past this part of the dune that they call "nascar hill" because it takes some speed to get around that hill and not land in the lake at the bottom. These 2 four wheelers both made it, we stopped to watch them. By the way, there were lots and lots of people out on these dunes with four wheelers and buggies. It was like a big sand box with a bunch of toys rolling around.
April and Aaron looking out on our dune ride.
The driver told us a lot of interesting things on the ride, and this was one. There are "island's" of trees in the dunes with natural spring lakes around them. This was one of them.
Aric was sitting next to me. He didn't say much the whole ride, but he didn't seem scared either. I think he enjoyed it. I was a little worried though when we went down some of those dunes real fast that he would get scared, but he didn't.
This is the wheeled contraption that we rode in. I guess you could call it a dune buggy. It did have seat belts!
At Grandma and Grandpa's trailer that was one spot away. The kids liked to go back and forth between our campsites, and they rode around on their bikes a lot.
Horseback riding. This was a big deal! April is a horse crazy girl. She dreams of horses all day long, and even more of riding one. So, Grandpa took her on a beach horseback ride for an early birthday present! She had been waiting months for this, and it finally happened. So, to prepare for the occasion, we gave her her ridin' boots that she picked out for her birthday also, and we went to Coastal and found a western shirt. Then we ended up finding a western style jacket at Wal-mart too! She's wearing both. There's my country girl.
The moment's getting closer! They are finally getting ready to go on the horses. I didn't get to go on this ride, but her Dad did. Here she is with Grandpa.
She is getting ready to mount her horse. Apparently the girl who helped her get on her horse had the same kind of boots.
April was on her horse first, and I guess she got a little nervous while waiting for everyone else.
She looks ready to ride! She was so excited for this ride!
Here she is on the beach.
The 3 amigos! I thought this picture was cute. I love the beach background.
It was a 2 hour beach ride, I think. Here they are heading back. It was a perfect day for this horse loving girl.
Did I mention that April LOVES horses? She draws them all the time, and most everything she talks about involves horses.
One dream come true!
That's all the pictures I took. But, we did tons more. The kids went with Grandma geocaching a lot. We had yummy food including ribs, steak, chicken alfredo, and lots of yummy desserts like s'mores. On the last night (which was the 4th) we went on a walk in the dark with our flashlights through the campground. The kids liked that because they got to stay up late, and they don't really get to see what everything looks like at night. We didn't go see fireworks on the 4th, and we couldn't do any in the campground, but we heard lots of them going off all around in the distance.
It was a fun camping trip. On our way home we drove up the coast to go to the Newport Aquarium one more time before our pass is up this month. The kids seemed to really be interested still even though we've been there a lot the past year. They still found lots of new and interesting things.
I have so many posts that I can't wait to share with you, but this is all for tonight. I know it's late, but Happy 4th of July!
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