we finally found fall

Eddy signed up to take a PT continuing education course up in Tahoe last weekend, and there was no way we were gonna let him get up there without us tagging along.  Sadly, he was stuck in class most of the day, but we got to hang out with him in the evenings and then we stayed up an extra night and came home mid day on Monday.  My parents came along as well, to make it all that much more fun!

We played games, puzzles, colored, and built forts for the first morning we were there due to the torrential downpour of rain, but then the skies finally cleared and we got out to play and enjoy the beautiful fall colors!  It was heaven.

coffee table fort!

Ryan reading to Kaitlyn (or maybe they're watching a DVD)

the skies started to clear

stretching our legs once the rain stopped

 The next morning, once the rain had officially stopped, my parents gave Ry his birthday present a little early since they'll be out of town for his actual present -- a new bike!  No pedal brakes, hand brakes only and gears!  He had no trouble whatsoever getting used to it.  This should make family bike rides a tad easier for him.  Hopefully.

 We wasted no time in hitting the road -- down the trail at South Lake we went, enjoying the crisp air and the lack of tourists.

Later that evening, once Eddy got home, we went down to the lake to try and grab a family photo for possible Christmas card use...you'll just have to wait and see if we managed to get one with all four of us looking good (and at the camera!)  

And for as sad as it is to see the lake so low, it made for a great rocky backdrop for our attempted photo shoot.

love this one!

Ryan wanted a chance to take a few shots -- not bad!  

love this one too!

On our last morning, we took the kids for another bike ride down at Sugar Pine Point, to burn off some energy before sitting in the car for the ride home.  I never want to leave this place, always so hard to go home!

sittin' on the dock of the Dzia Dzia....er, bay 

Tutu Toddler

I finally caved, and signed Kaitlyn up for the one thing she has been wanting to do since she could walk.  Dance class.  It's not that I didn't want her to do it, she just seemed so young.  But, for day one of class, she was MORE than ready.  She charged into the dance room, no hesitation at all, and she smiled her way through the 35 minute class.  It's half ballet, and half tap.  And it is adorable.  My heart was smiling the entire time as well.  Who knows how long this will be something she loves, but for now, she asks every day if it's "dance class day".  

K is right in the middle of the pic, with her back to me, arms perfectly overhead -- she's a natural!  Ha!

K is on the far left, standing with her legs crossed

practicing their tap moves with teacher Jackie

 And from dance class, we go straight to big brother's soccer practice.  And this girl loves to kick a soccer ball around on the sidelines, no matter what she's wearing! 

camping on the Russian River

Since the weather is not letting us move forward into Fall, we thought we'd squeeze one last camping trip in while the warm temps remain.  And my parents didn't get much camping in themselves this summer, so they were eager to join us for a few more nights in a tent.  We decided to stay a bit closer to home, and headed up to the Russian River -- about an hour and a half drive north west of where we live, very close to the coast.  It was beautiful, and quirky, and all around great.

we made it to the campground, and the kids immediately found the river and the rocks to throw in said river

 The kids and I drove up with my parents (all squished in one car!) and Eddy came up later, after work.  We figured we'd go up early in order to set up camp in daylight.  It was somewhat annoying to pack for two separate cars, trying to think of what we needed immediately or what could wait for after the kids were in bed.  But we survived, and the kids sure were thrilled to see Eddy (even though it was dark) that first night!

camp

 We, unknowingly, and I think we bought ours first, have the same tent as my parents.  And the kids split up where they slept, one night with us, one night with Nanny & Dzia Dzia.  Gave us some extra room with only one kid in the tent at night, which was nice!  And because it's a bit darker in the mornings these days, they stayed quiet later than usual.  Also nice!

morning rock hunting on the river, in pjs.  

We brought the kids bikes, and they rode around the campground.  And there were two separate playgrounds at this campground -- very entertaining for all….

Ryan, lover of ALL games, got Nanny to play Crazy 8's with him in the afternoon

And since we were so close, we thought we'd check out the coast.  Little did we know how WINDY it was out there, only about 10 mins away from our campground where there was no wind.  It made for a quick stop, because the sand was hurting our legs and faces as it was blowing by, we quickly turned around and made it back to camp.  Sure was beautiful though.

Goat Rock Beach in Jenner, CA

Eddy gave up going to the Cal football game in order to spend time with us, but he managed to get it on the radio -- and spent a good chunk of time listening to his Bears pull off yet another win

s'mores

morning hair, and caterpillar shaped pancakes

Stella comes everywhere these days -- handily zipped up in K's jacket so her hands were free for rock hunting and throwing 

A sign of a great camping weekend -- two kiddos passed out on the car ride home.