The Jantzens and Crater Lake!

On Wednesday the Jantzen family flew in to attend family camp with us! It was such a joy to have them once again in our home and to be able to sit and talk with them! There were able to see our new house for the first time, and go back to the creek!

Lydia saw a need to sweep! It looked a little awkward with one hand!

Sarah doing what she does often!

The back of the house is done.

Wow

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Thursday morning we all headed out in two cars for our last road trip as a family (well at least like our family has been. When we go next time, hopefully, Keslie will be with us!) Dad surprised us by planning to take us all to Crater Lake! Only mom and him have ever been so it was a huge treat for all us kids.

Of course we had to stop once. Off to the side of the little store there were these carvings on four different trees. They were so interesting! If you click on the pictures they get bigger so you can see up close.

Everyone was hungry by that time so we broke out the granola bars!

Lydia has her eye on one!

Now she's happy!

Yummy! Taylor, Lydia and Gracie are holding back the mountain of luggage!

We made it! The only problem was there was a forest fire at the park and the air was all smoky! We couldn't see across the lake very well...it was so disappointing but we all enjoyed being there and seeing what we could.

All the family but me!

Last year mom and dad went to Crater Lake for their anniversary so we ate lunch in the same place they did. Here is Benjamin waiting to eat!

Keslie called and talked to David for a few minutes!

I was able to take a tripod and get a family picture! I was so surprised how well it turned out!

After lunch Lydia went off by herself, plopped down on a log and enjoyed her cookie!

For the sheer joy of it we had a Snowball Fight in July! I don't think we have ever done that before! It was quite the show!

Benjamin and David in action!

Sarah resting on the side lines!

Taylor enjoying his good aim!

Even mom joined in!

It looks like it's snowing but it's really the snow falling off the snowball right after he threw it!

Mom and Lydia!

A pretty view of the edge.

We walked through the lodge and enjoyed a view of the lake from the long porch!

Inside the lodge there was this pay phone. Benjamin saw a man using it and was so amazed that a man was using an old-fashioned phone, and it worked! He really couldn't believe it! Us older ones were laughing so hard and he couldn't understand why!

Lydia loved the huge fireplace!

I think they look like they are having a fun time!

Lydia got "tired" and decided to feel at home! The funny thing about her lounging on the floor was that there were LOTS of people walking back and forth the whole time! It didn't seem to faze her a bit!

Gracie with the lake in the back ground.

Mom and dad got their picture taken at this very spot last year!

A nice gentleman offered to take our picture after I took one for his family!

Gracie took one of me!

And I one of her!

On the way out of the park we stopped and gathered a few pumice stones. The kids really wanted to see them float when we got home, but they didn't!

So all around we had a lovely day at Crater Lake! It was such fun to spend the time as a family and enjoy each other! It'll be a day we'll never forget! The splendor of the lake and the magnificence of it made us so thankful for such an amazing Creator! Wow!