Deadwood Reservoir: 2015

This weekend was The 1st Annual Whitfield Family Camping Trip to Deadwood Reservoir!! I'm looking forward to repeating this vacation for years and years to come (hence, the trip's long title).  Deadwood Reservoir was THE most remarkable and beautiful (and remote!) camping spot.  The final 27 miles of the drive took us on a single-track, Forest Service road that was the rockiest road Doug said he has ever driven; the car climbed up and down and through the steep mountains.  I sat white-knuckled in the car, hoping that we didn't turn a bend and drive head on into another car! The drop offs were steep, but the views were staggering.  And then we reached the Reservoir.  It was Idaho Perfection.

(we stopped the car to take this shot on the edge of the world...)

Our weekend of camping was dirty, dusty, and sandy.  Doug caught a fish, Cameron trapped dozens of frogs, Sophie built forts out of sticks and rocks, and I stalked them all with my camera trying to capture the peace, joy, and beauty of it all! The four of us camp well together-- days are easy, fun, relaxed.  The days were warm and the nights were freezing.

We came home reeking of campfire smoke and covered in layers and layers of dirt, and we relived all of our favorite moments.  Cameron kept saying "this place is sooo awesome" and "I wonder what the frogs are doing at Deadwood Rezzevor." Sophie's sense of adventure and comfort in nature continue to amaze me.  She played her own imaginary games in the forest, getting lost in her own world and whining that our summer camping trip was over. Doug and I feel so thankful to have two children who are adaptable to new environments, who love and appreciate the outdoors, who are safe yet try new things, and who are just FUN to be around.

Doug teaching the weekend's biology lesson.

My favorite snapshot in my mind: the sweet image of my kids bundled up in pajamas and sweatshirts, wrapped in blankets and eating sugary cereal by the morning campfire while Doug shuffled between stoking the fire and cooking eggs and sausages on the camping stove.

We cannot wait to return next year!

Trending Now

Here's what's Trending Now for DESC during the Summer of 2015:

Adults-only Shenanigans:

outdoor summer concerts (complete with photo bombers)

weekends away with other wholesome families

weddings that allow for college reunions

Girls Nights

Catch-and-Release Excitement:

Reading Chapter Books:

Whatever This Is..... :

11 Years of Being Married to This Stud:

Also Trending Now:

Jokes by Cameron:

"What do you call a dead earwig?"
"A Dead Wig. hahahha.  Is that a funny joke?"

Sophie's Patriotism:

"Oh, NOOO! Not another thing.  This says 'Made in China' too.  Ugh.  Everything's made in China!"
"YES!!!! Mommy, look! This says "Made in America!' Yay!! Finally!"

Cameron's Time Traveling:

"When I was a Daddy......"

To relate to Sophie, Daddy, or Mommy or to jump into a conversation, Cameron always spins tall tales about when he was a Daddy.  His stories are 100% lies but he takes a concept or a thing that we are talking about and finds a way to connect.  For example, "Well, when I was a Daddy, I had a race car and I did see a real shark in real life." Or, "When I was a Daddy, I didn't like corn but now that I'm a kid, I do like corn." And "When I was a Daddy I learned that beetles don't have teeth.  They use their claws.  I know this for real." His stories make me tear up because he is hysterical.  His timing is perfect with jokes.  His lies usually get under his sister's skin, and he knows full well what he is doing.  And his stories are sweet, because he is trying so hard to relate to the rest of us.

Other trending updates: Our summer wouldn't have been complete without a lot of time spent with Soph'sLego Friends or Cam's Magna Tiles. Cameron has proved himself a mini-engineer and an inventor.  He has not only created the ever-evolving species named "Sea Bottoms" but he can add the newest species "Bee Birds" to his list.  They reside in "B-australia" and I advise extreme caution when approaching one.  Also trending is Doug's heart overload for his family after his excursion to Scotland.  He is still riding high off of that trip.

Here's what's NOT Trending Now for DESC during the Summer of 2015:

The Man-Handling of Stinky snakes



T minus 2 weeks until the end of summer.  I'm excited! I'm excited? I'm excited.  (I don't know what I feel.) In 2 weeks, we will find out!