Crater Lake

 I probably took like about 12 million pictures on our one night camping excursion to Crater Lake.  I am telling you this so that you won't think it excessive that I chose to include so many of them in this post.  I really do want to remember it because it was one of those perfect, beautiful moments that have happened in Rigby history.  I asked the girls to pick out our camp meal and of course they chose hot dogs. 

 The campsite was beautiful.  It came with its own bear box to store food in.  It worked out nicely because Rocky and Daisy thought it was so interesting that they basically did all the getting out and putting away of food.  I have been thinking about getting one installed in our kitchen so that I can get a little bit of help.  Actually at home they are already quite adept at pulling foods out but not so good at putting them away. 

 The first night we hiked to see the Pillars and to a waterfall.  The Pillars are these tall rock things that were made somehow when the volcano erupted.  (How is that for ignorance?)

 I took this picture of Rocky and Rosy sitting on the log because there is one thing that stands out clearly as hardest part about hiking together as a family.  

 Her name is Daisy.  She is darling and wonderful and so very, very slow.  She dawdles all day long whether we are at home trying to get ready for school or at the playground.  It seems that when we are hiking her ability to move at a snail's pace is amplified.

 Brandon says that it is the only way in her life that she can ever have control of the situation.  It was lucky that my mom taught the others the Pokey Bear song so that they have something to sing while we are waiting for her to make her way down the path.  She is no fool though because in the end Brandon will usually go back for her and she steals her one-on-one time with him.

 I get so grumpy and tired trying to run everything around the house that sometimes it feels like it has been weeks since I actually looked at these children.  When we were out camping though, I couldn't help but realize how special they all are.  I mean seriously, have you ever seen such cute sleepy faces?

 You should never cross a bridge without stopping to make sure that there aren't any trolls underneath.  Nobody really had a plan for what to do if there was one, but it is better to check because nobody wants to miss out on an adventure.

Crater Lake is incredible.  I have seen a lot of pictures but it is worth it to go out there and see it with your own eyes.  It is huge and every color of blue that has ever existed.  To risk a complete cliche, it actually took my breath away when I got my first look.

Since the Riglets were severely disappointed that they couldn't swim in the frigid Crater Lake we ended up stopping at Waldo Lake on the way home.  There they were lucky to spot the most adorable little frog.  They also took our yacht out for a spin.  

I can already see a concerned bystander ready to castigate the terrible parenting of sending them out without life jackets, but then I will redeem myself by showing them this.

 It was just deep enough to float.  The water was perfectly clear and deliciously cold.  It couldn't have been nicer.

 We finished up with a hike and then it was clearly time to head for home. 

If someone isn't crying then you know you haven't succeeded in having a ridiculous amount of family bonding.