Nowland Reunion

On the 4th of July, we hopped in the car for another road trip and drove 10.5 hours to Lake Tahoe!  We had a 3-day reunion with Jeremy's family and it was so fun!  We camped at Sugar Pine Point State Park and it was beautiful.  I grew up going to Tahoe pretty much every year, but hadn't been in a few years, so it was nice to be back.  It's such a beautiful place.  We also hadn't camped in ages, so it was really fun to be out in nature without the distractions of modern technology.  Before we left we bought a 10-man tent (hopefully it will last a long time!) and sleeping bags and mats for the boys.  We're hoping to get a few more camping trips in over the next few months.  We hear there are lots of great places to go around here.

  Anyway, so we arrived shortly before dinner on the Thursday, the 4th.  Jeremy's brother Jon and his wife Shannon were in charge of planning the reunion this year and they did an awesome job.

 Eli and Ben.  Happy Independence Day!

 I think Boston's trying to give Connor a kiss.

We had a great dinner that night and then did some fun "Minute to Win It" games - stacking dice on a popsicle stick in your mouth, unrolling toilet paper only using one hand, moving a cookie from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands, etc., etc.  It was pretty entertaining.

 Mimi and Becky trying to bounce ping-pong balls onto bread spread with peanut butter.

 I lost to Grammy!

 Jared and Lydia knocking over cans with a ball tied around their waist.

 Eli and Tim working on a puzzle.

The next day was a beach day!  We were able to walk to the beach from the campground and enjoyed a beautiful little walk.  Unfortunately my camera battery died right as we got there, so I only have a few beach pictures from my brother-in-law, but oh well.  The kids loved playing in the sand and water, as did I.  There's just something special about the beach - whether it's the ocean or a lake.  It felt great.

 (Okay so not everyone enjoyed the walk).

 Love those trees!

Napping campers. :)

I can't remember what we did that night, but every night the kids enjoyed playing in the dirt with their cousins, sitting around the fire, and roasting marshmallows.

Uncle Tim and Levi enjoying some homemade coconut ice cream.  Yummo!!!

 Uncle Jared teaching the kids how to throw tomahawks.  Totally safe.  Haha.

 Baby Levi in the bath.

 And baby Jon in the bath.  He'll never live this one down...

And this little girl was a champion.  She charmed everyone and slept amazingly well the whole time we camped - one night from 9pm - 6:30am! 

All bundled.  It got pretty chilly at night.

Getting to know her Uncle Jared. :)

Saturday we drove to Emerald Bay to look out at the view and take a picture.  We had taken a family picture there a few years back, so they wanted to get another updated one. :)  I don't have the one of the whole family yet, that was with someone else's camera.

Mimi, Jared, Ben & Lucy

Cooper, Levi, Becky, Tim, Catelyn, and Lydia

Jon & Shannon with Boston and Kamryn

We then drove on to a hike to another lake.  

That afternoon, Jeremy's dad gave the kids a survival lesson and made some fire-starter kits with beeswax from his own bees. 

We packed up everything Sunday morning and headed on to the next adventures (to come later).  Thanks for the fun reunion Nowlands!

Update: A few more pictures from Aunt Mimi: