Camping at Clear lake

Just returned from our 2nd vaca this summer. We spent a week camping at Clear Lake, two hours north of where we live. Amidst a few naughty episodes, a few bed wettings and sibling bickering, it was a real wonderful time. I feel it helped in solidifying our family bonds. We were questioned as to our family status by a few naive and rude individuals while there. The girls and I talked in depth how we look different, people will notice and some will ask questions. So we practiced how to answer questions regarding the making of our family and also different possible ways to answer the questions, depending how they wanted to answer at the time they were asked. It brought up a topic that I have been waiting to talk about, but really didn't see the need for it until this week.

It was Mim's first time camping and she loved it as much as the other two and I do.

The furred and feathered ones left at home were VERY HAPPY to see us return after a week gone....
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Two beautiful conversations from this week.

First between Tuki & Mim
They were playing together a great deal this week and while they were swimming, I overheard Tuki say:
Tuki: I love you Mim
Mim; I love you too.
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Second while we were all sitting around the picnic table playing the card game "Garbage"
Mim: are we a happy family?
Me: I think that we are even tho we bicker allot, we are happy
Mim: Yes, we bicker allot, but I think we are happy too.

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Now for a picture overload
purchased a new 8 man tent this spring in anticipation of the trips we will be having as a family of 4
campsite busyness

mushroom photography

girls on one of our many hikes

more 'schrooms

Mim & Ve wading a small channel of water

Mim & Tuks

swimming & playing on the beach

eating camp food

sleeping

smores mess

campsite maintenance

more hiking

picture time

and even more, a hike in some wetland, I must say the girls were real troopers

visit to a wildlife rehabilitation center

barred owls in the back while the girls listen to their vocalization on a recorder

Ve & Tuki dancing and singing as entertainment for Mim & me

now Mim joins in the fun while I watch & take photos

more swimming before we break camp and head home before the thunderstorm hits