We just got back . . .

. . . from a perfect cabin camping trip. We were with good friends, at a beautiful spot, and now left with lots of wonderful memories. We were on Kelly lake, and David saw the moon for the first time. He kept asking for "more" and "please that" so we would take him back to the water's edge to watch the moon and its reflection in the perfectly glassy water.

Some of the hightlights:

• perfectly sunny and blue skies . . . probably the longest stretch of blue skies we've had since May.
• a little boy, water's edge, and lots of throwing rocks . . . perfect heaven!
• a row boat for the adults to take onto the lake.
• beautiful loons and their song, lots of fish jumping out of the water to catch the gnats.
• good company with good friends.
• a mid-day father-son hike.
• four adults, three kids two and under . . . but no one woke up in the night! Well, at least the kids didn't . . . I think the pack 'n play accommodations were much more comfortable than the solid boards the adults had for a bed.
• the toddlers figured out that they could move their pack 'n plays around while they were inside. I think the goal was to meet in the middle of the room for a pow-wow.
• campfire, s'mores, and a starry night . . . it's the kind of night you don't want to leave behind.

The menfolk went on a hike.

And the gals went in the canoe. (Look at that view!)

The cabin

The "accommodations" or latrine or loo or outhouse--whatever suits you.

We have now made this an annual tradition with the Larsens. Our first cabin camping trip was in the winter at Nancy Lake in 2008--and now we have shifted to summer time cabin camping with them. This cabin was in the Kenai Wildlife Refuge, and the perfect distance to hike in enough equipment to accommodate three small children, while still feeling like we were in remote wilderness. We love the Alaska wilderness!