Tent Camping Adventure at Baker Lake

We just got home from camping in the North Cascades this morning with Dad---about 14 hours ago at 2 am to be exact.  Anyway, Dad decided to take just the kids camping for a couple nights in the mountains, so Mom could stay home and prepare for the coming school year. We arrived Monday afternoon at the Park Creek campground to find it humid and miserably hot...we guessed the temperature was in the 90s. After setting up camp (which took longer since we sold our trailer last spring), we decided not to go hiking as planned, and went to the swim beach on the western shore of Baker Lake. What a beautiful place!

The campground sign...we were the only campers there when we first arrived!

Sören's first frog he found

Baker Lake with the mouth of Swift Creek at front

I am pretty sure this is Mt. Blum...gorgeous!

Happy Kids!

Enjoying the view...

Lil' Tree Climber

Back at our campsite:

Roasting S'mores

Yummy!

 

We did a lot of this-mosquito killing-during our trip...they were BAD!

Yesterday morning:

Dad taught Sören how to start a campfire

Enjoying the warmth

The rushing whitewater Park Creek behind our campsite

 

Esther loves to camp!  :)

Our little camp stove would not cook the pancake batter Lillian made! Dad got creative and moved over the pancakes and bacon over to the campfire:

Trying to cook them

Dad using his widdled spacthua to dish up the pancakes...it worked great!

Yesterday, after breakfast we decided to go for a hike. We drove across the Baker Dam up a dirt road but couldn't find the trailhead! Next, we drove down to another trail but decided not to hike there, athough we had a nice tuna sandwhich lunch with an awesome view: 

Mt. Baker from the highway

The view from our lunch spot...Mt. Shucksan

A waterfall

Mt. Shucksan

We went back to the swim beach:

More playing with frogs

A Cool tree with moss at the campsite

Esther!

For the most part we had a great time. The worst part was how it ended abruptly at midnight last night. I woke up in the tent and heard rain...literately POURING rain. Then thunder...and then flash!  Lighting.  Everyone was awake by now and dad ran outside to rescue things that were getting soaked . He came back and told us to get into the truck. We ran outside and stepped into a deep puddle, causing our shoes to get soaked. We waited in the truck while Dad broke camp. After a few minutes, he got in the car completely drenched and drove home. All was well when we arrived home at 2:30 a.m. and we all climbed into our real beds.   Mom was surprised to see us up so late!  Everyone slept in until late this morning and enjoyed Dad's bacon and eggs breakfast.

Skagit County Fair 2014!

This week was the county fair. Lillian and I entered things we made at our local 4-H club.We just finished our 3rd year and we were excited to again participate at the fair. Aunt Julie and Elin came up for it too. Dad and Sören were at a Mariner's game, so Dad took us  again last night.

Here are a couple things we made:

Lillian's duffle bag

Lillian's rag quilt

I made this apron

My duffle bag

We both entered cooking contests for the first time. I was super nervous, but thankfully they both went well, with blue ribbons!

Lillian blending her smoothie for her judge

I made chocolate chip cookies

Posing with Elin! :)

Cheese!

Mom took Esther on the ferriswheel:

Family

Lillian & I demonstrated Kumihimo, which is Japanese braiding for the public. We thought we should demonstrate Kumihimo after Barbara, the host at the campground by our house, taught us how to do it. We were asked lots of questions because it's not very well known. It's super fun and easy to make!