Eagle Lake

The hike to Eagle Lake is fairly easy, only a mile and about 420 foot climb in elevation altogether.  With eight kids in tow, especially the younger ones, it took longer than expected, but overall we had a good time.  River, Zuri, and the puppy loved all the attention from Chantal's kids.  The lake was supremely cold (it always is), so even the kids really didn't want to get in.  The puppy was the only one who really played in the water, but the poor thing was shivering when she got out.

Emerald Bay; you can barely see the island center left through the trees

Interestingly enough, before this trip, I had been rethinking the idea of adding another child to our family.  At times it feels as though I am stretched as far as I can go, and I am comfortable with the family dynamics as we have them now.  Watching Chantal's kids (crazy and chaotic as it was) really brought to light a certain longing for a big family like that of my own.  Growing up in a very unusual family situation, there were times that I functioned as an older sister, but mostly I was an only child; it just being my dad and me.

On the hike, once you go past the falls, you need to have a wilderness permit.  I don't remember having to have one when growing, but we dutifully filled one out at the entrance.  Parking fees are another new thing.  It's sad that everything has to be so controlled now, although I think it may have deterred some people from continuing the hike to the lake because the falls were a lot more crowded than the lake.  There were still quite a few people at the lake, but it seemed that most people turned around after the bridge at the falls (where you have to have the permit).

Another, clearer shot of Emerald Bay

Nana with Pepper--she loved walking the puppy, although I had to take over about midway through the hike because Pepper was pulling too much trying to get to the lead person.  We're still working on that with her

River being cute

Hiking up

Chantal, and Travis holding Bryson

The river with Lake Tahoe in the background

All eight kids together--getting a picture with all of the focused and looking was hard; this was the best one

Lake Tahoe; the view was breathtaking

I guess we should have brought the hiking carrier; J. ended up carrying River most of the way

Cute Zuri--always doing poses

More poses--Brooklyn and Zuri

Bradley and Maddie

Taking a quick break to let other hiking on the opposing side go by; the puppy was eating up the attention from the kids

Zuri hiking

Eagle Lake! We made it!

This was the first time the puppy has been in water where she has to swim because it's over her head.  It took her a bit to learn but she loved it

The kids waded to the rock but huddled together on the rock not wanting to play in the frigid water

If you look behind Zuri, J. went across to the small beach area with River but no one else wanted to be in the water long enough to go across

hiking back

She almost fell asleep like that

One last glimpse of the lake

A pooped-out pooch!

Zuri taking selfies on the drive home.  I had no idea she was doing this, haha!

River was exhausted--it is a very rare occurrence for her to fall asleep in the car.  Her nap lasted less than an hour, but was still much needed!  The girls were both awake the majority of the ride home

The moon rising.  It was huge in the sky; this picture doesn't do it justice

An Evening in Tahoe

Sunday we went to church, and that afternoon my best friend, Chantal, from high school came up with her family.  They live in a very small town a few hours from Tahoe.  I haven't seen her in about three or four years--since her mother passed away.  She is very busy--a working mom of six--so we aren't able to connect with each other as often as we'd like.  Still, even after so many years and different life experiences, it still feels like nothing has changed when we get together.  It's so refreshing, and if I'm completely honest, a little heartbreaking.  It's really hard to make close friends in this stage of life, and to be so far from the close friends I do have is hard, especially when I see them and have to leave again.  Visits are way too far and few between.

Nostalgia aside, it was a lot of fun, and a little chaotic to have Chantal and company stay the night at my dad's house.  When they got there, we headed down to the beach while my dad and Shin stayed behind to get dinner ready.  We spent time playing in the water and the sand, had dinner, and just enjoyed being together.  Chantal and I would have stayed up late talking (like old times) but my dad had been relegated to the couch and he had work in the morning.  Mindful of that, we said goodnight way too early--it wasn't even midnight yet.

The next morning we packed everything up and hiked up to Eagle Lake.  After the hike we had to say our goodbyes because Chantal's kids had tournaments they had to be at later that afternoon, and we had to drive home.  We had wanted to leave Tahoe by one at the latest, but when we got done with the hike, we met up with Shin and Heather and Ellen (Heather's mom) for lunch.  We also got lunch for my dad and met up with him just as we were leaving.  We didn't end up getting out of Tahoe until after four.  Needless to say, we didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning.  J. who hadn't felt well all weekend, seemed to be getting over the worst of it Monday, but the cold lingered for a good week.  Poor guy, he always seems to get sick on vacation.

Lake level was much higher than the last time we made it up, but we still had far to walk to make it past our knees; the kids and puppy all playing in the water

River and Bryson

Ellen and Hailey

Heather, Ellen, and Hailey

Me with my niece!  Every time I see this picture, I can see my resemblance to my dad

Zuri with her puppy

Playing in the sand.  Makayla started it with burying herself, then Brianna and Brooklyn got in on it, and finally River.  They had a blast burying themselves in sand.  It's funny, because I remember loving to do that as a kid, but it's not something I would enjoy now. 

 Pretty pictures of Lake Tahoe just before sunset.  I can't believe I ever took the beauty of this place for granted. 

Watching Brave and settling down for the evening

Zuri and Bradley

Maddie, Brooklyn, Makayla, Zuri, and Bradley

Brianna fell asleep in the chair and ended up sleeping there all night