Comstock Reunion - Patrick's Point

This year we had a reunion with my siblings and my parents. I missed the last one in 2013, Eva was only 4 months old and I was too scared to camp with a 4 month old and an almost 4 year old without Steve.  This year I was still nervous having a 5 year old and 2 year old and a 10 month old and no Steve, but I decided to go for it.  We branched out from our favorite camping spot (Grover Hot Springs) and tried Patrick's Point State Park, and we loved it.  Such a beautiful spot, great campsites and lots to explore.

Marshall was kind enough to ride up in my car to help me out.  He may have regretting the decision after he had to be on nose wiping duty, a 105* lunch stop in Garberville, and Eva's tantrum around Fortuna.  I really appreciated his help though!  Ally was beyond excited to go camping she and kept asking "are we halfway there?" and "are we almost there now?".  So much excitement.

My family was really helpful stepping in to help out with my crazy crew the whole time.  

  We finally made it and we enjoyed the cool coastal weather as we set up camp (we appreciated it even more since it was 110* at home).

I had to take a picture of our tent set up, I kept Eva in a pack n play to make sure she slept, and it worked.  We had a lot of stuff to cram in our tent, but it worked out pretty well.  Kids require so many things!  

Ally helped Uncle James decorate our camp.  Ally loved seeing all her Aunts/Uncles and cousins, so many people to play with.

Eva was a true camper, getting filthy dirty every day.  Grandma always helped get the girls washed up before jammies and bed.  The first night Eva's feet were particularly dirty, she wouldn't wear her tennis shoes but kept taking off her boots and walking around.

The first morning I peeked out the tent to this gorgeous sight, the sun streaming through the fog and the trees was so beautiful.  I guess I am a little glad that Colton didn't let me sleep in.  

Colton did pretty well sleeping but we had a few rough moments, and most mornings I pulled him in bed with me instead of getting up for the day at 5:30 or 6:00am.  

After breakfast we decided to take a walk to tour the campground and let Ally and Eva ride their bikes.  My dad pulled Eva on her bike since she hasn't really mastered pedaling, she prefers to use her feet.   

Do you see how many helpers I had?  The adult to kid ratio was very much in my favor.
One morning that turned out to be a bit of a problem though.  My mom was going to take the kids on a walk while I took a shower.  Ally was waiting next to the road with her bike, as I left to go to the showers I noticed she was gone.  No one knew where she went, and we couldn't see her on the road.  Scared me to death! We searched and searched and thankfully found her.  Marshall had headed to the bathrooms and she just started to follow him on her bike.  Ally and I had a chat about how you have to ask/tell Mom or Grandma before you leave the campsite, ever!

Our camp had plenty of hammocks, here Uncle Marshall is giving Ally quite the ride.

We set out to have lunch and explore the Yurok Indian Village.  I loved seeing all the giant trees and logs everywhere.  The Pacific Northwest is just and amazing place, so beautiful. 

Eva and Ally trying out the canoe.

I was busy feeding Colton while the girls explored but I am not sure I would have gone in the houses anyway.  What a doorway! 

After the indian village we headed down to Agate beach for some beach time and to find some agates. We think we found some, but if not we found some beautiful rocks anyway.

The girls (especially Ally) were really excited to play in the sand and build sand castles, and I was happy they had so many willing helpers so I could just watch.

Ally was in heaven at the beach, playing in the sand and running in the waves.  This girl loves the ocean.

Colton looking especially cute had some quality Grandpa time.  He was a stinker, refusing to nap even though he was so very tired, too much to see.

Jimmy requested to be buried in the sand, we were more than happy to help him out.  Eva didn't quite get what we were doing, she kept digging up his feet saying "look, I find it".

An almost group shot, James and Luwanna were taking the picture and Wes and Sarah hadn't arrived yet.

Back at camp for dinner!  These cousins have so much fun together. 

Filthy dirty but completely happy to be camping and roasting marshmallows.  This was one happy girl.

  

The next morning Ally found two small banana slugs in our campsite.  She is my little naturalist, always finding interesting bugs and plants.  Eva of course had to get in on the fun. I am not a fan of slugs at all and Ally was disappointed I didn't want to touch it. However Jimmy was crazy enough to lick one, gross!

Colton really was a good camper, he was content to play in his saucer (which he hardly uses at home) or on the big blanket most of the time.  He went along with our lack of schedule with minimal complaints even when he was eating his dinner when he would normally be going to bed.  

Grandma brought out the ever popular candy bar game.

That afternoon we decided to explore Ceremony Rock, it was such a fun little walk.  Eva and Aunty Lulu were hiking buddies.

Papa carried  Colton who fell asleep once we made it to the top.

Once again, so many great helpers.  There is no way I would have survived without them, and I know my kids wouldn't have had as much fun either.

This is almost all of us, Sarah was doing a little work in town and both Steve and Beth had to miss the trip for work.  I had originally had some hope that Steve could come on this camping trip with us.  That all changed when he became and Engineer  and his schedule changed (and also when all of California decided to burn...ok not really, but almost).  I loved the area so much I am trying to plan a trip when we can come back with him.

The view from Ceremony Rock, Agate beach is just below the trees.  The beauty of the area was so amazing, never disappointing.

That night we had some crazy family fun, starting with Jimmy wining  the first candy jar! 

We also had a meeting of the Tarweed Appreciation Society (Lake County Chapter), where there was much silliness and some seriousness. 

The next day we headed out for more beach fun.  We went to North Agate beach and had fun finding more beautiful rocks.  Eva especially liked finding rocks.

Colton even enjoyed some time in the sand after his nap in the car.

Ally loved playing in the waves, getting wetter than planned which resulted in her running around in her superhero underwear for a while.  Oh to be 5 again.  She really loved it when I was out in the waves with her, when a big wave came I would lift her up and the last second so it only got her legs wet.  Sometimes our timing was off but we had fun.

After the beach my mom and I took a drive to explore a little and to let the kids sleep in the car for a nap.  We drove north through Orick and into some Redwoods.  So many beautiful spots, I can't wait to come back and explore some more.  

That night we headed to the Samoa Cookhouse for dinner. It was so fun, they always serve meals family style and since we were such a big group the we had our own table.  Jimmy was so cute, he really wanted to sit next to Eva and I was more than happy to let him. Those two had a lot of fun together, by the end of the meal Jimmy was letting Eva spoon feed him water and they were both loving it.

Such a fun place and lots of interesting logging memorabilia.  It made me think of Steve's Grandpa Fury and his time in logging camps.  

That night we had a "Biddie" night where we remember my Uncle Harrison by being silly and a bit outlandish (it comes easier for some than others).  Ally recited part of the poem Tyger by William Blake and we all shared some memories of Uncle Harrison (or Bid, as his friends called him).  I never got to know either of my Grandpas, my mom's dad died when she was young and my dad's dad died just before Wes was born.  Uncle Harrison (he was actually my great uncle) despite his eccentricities became like a Grandpa attending every sporting event, birthday, paino recital, camping trip, holiday and more.  We have many fond, and many crazy memories of him.

Ally was so excited to win the second candy jar!  I think I have Aunt Sarah to thank for helping her with her guess.  Ally thought it was pretty hilarious that two kids won the candy jars, I thought it was pretty perfect (though the adults did try).

The last day was filled with packing up (which is always such sad work) and heading back home.  I was surprised at how well all the kids did and how much fun I was able to have.  I think I had really low expectations and that might have helped.  Even though everyone did great I was ready to get back home and back to some regular sleep patterns for the kids.  

I took a bit of a detour on the way home and drove through the Avenue of the Giants.  I was really trying to buy some time to keep pace with my parents pulling their trailer in case I needed their help with the kids on a pit stop.  I am so glad I took the long way, it was beautiful.  Those Redwood trees are just amazing.  I turned off the DVD player so the girls could enjoy the trees as well, they really liked it for the first 15 minutes but then Ally kept asking when I would turn the show back on and Eva had fallen asleep.  I made Ally wait until we were back on the freeway, I don't think she enjoyed it nearly as much as I did.

Even though these trips are a lot of work it is so fun to see how much fun the kids have.  I think they officially love camping.  The good memories and fun family times are worth all the work, every time.