To send off our super fun summer we did one last camping trip. We had planned on going to Crater Lake Oregon, but realized we wouldn't be able to actually play in the water so we went to Santa Cruz instead. Big Basin Redwood National Park is there and is a beautiful place to camp if you ever get the chance.
The first collage is some of the Redwoods. INCREDIBLE! They have an easy hike at the beginning of the park that gives you a little information on the redwoods. The picture we are stretched around the tree is called the "Mother of the Forest" and is 13 feet around.
The next set of pictures is the downers of the trip. It wasn't all fun and games unfortunately. The mosquitoes LOVED Carter no matter how much bug spray we put on that poor kid. (See shot of forehead.) He also fell A LOT, which makes for my favorite picture (mean, I know, but seriously funny.) We had car problems that ended up costing us our Boardwalk fun money and then some, Tyler puked on the way there two times and our campsite was at the top of a huge hill (pict of Diantha and Carter) which the kids named "Hater's Hill".
BUT there were more goods that out-weighed the bads. Food was awesome (isn't camping food always awesome?); weather was perfect (70's in the day, 60's at night); LOVED the unplugged family time and of course the beach. We were going to play on the Boardwalk but after the car fiasco just played in the sand instead. We still had a great time and loved our one last vacation before school started.
And the last thing is my crazy husband pulling a "Calvin and Hobbes moment" while riding our wagon down Hater's Hill. No wreck on this video, but it did happen. Nothing broken, though. Farewell Summer!
My big 6th grader. When did that happen?! She and Ellie picked out matching outfits by choice. They love to dress the same even now. 
Poor Tyler started the first day of 4th grade with the flu. This picture is actually the second day because he had to stay home. Not happy, I'll tell you. However, it was a quick bug and he went the next day.
