Family trip to Shasta!

Like last year we got together with my side of the family. Since we are so spread out and getting together for the holidays gets harder and harder each year, a summer vacation together is working out well. Unlike last year though, we had to shorten the visit length due to everyone's schedules and cost. Regardless, any time together is wonderful! This year we met from July 5-8th, a little more in the middle vacationing at Lake Shasta in northern CA. We actually got the shortest drive this year at 5 1/2 hours, which is no worse than our regular drives to Vegas so the kids were troopers in the car. Our 3 days were spent hanging out on the lake, hanging out at the rental house and a quick hike to some pretty falls in Dunsmuir near the Sacramento River.

Waiting for our boat to be ready. We managed to rent a party boat for a 1/2 day. It worked out great - had a bbq and bathroom on it!

Papa Vaughn got elected to be Captain. He let his crew take a turn at the wheel. Thankfully we didn't crash into anything!

Big Boy was SO excited about the prospect of fishing. Big Boy, Boopy and Jakub (nephew) all got kid size fishing poles to fish with Grandpa.

They really enjoyed the worms, especially Boopy. Just wish that one of them had actually caught a fish.

We found a nice little cove to dock the boat, ate lunch and too a swim.

Look at me Mama! I can do it myself! She's a bit too brave sometimes. Now to get them real swim lessons some time!

Sweet little nephew, Alex (Theo) enjoyed hanging out with Grandma.

That is until nap time!

Staying cool with shades and watermelon!

Back at the house there was no lacking fun. The night before boating the kids pulled out their fishing rods (Big Boy has a "Cars" pole and Boopy has a "Barbie" one) and practiced off the couch. No worries though they didn't have hooks on them. They came with practicing casting things on the end.

Alex (Theo) is such a happy little 9 month old!

I loved getting to let the cousins play together. Distance makes it hard to do it often, but since they are so close in age they play quite well when we are together.

The house had a hot tub that the kids wanted to take full advantage of. They talked Papa Vaughn into joining them.

For this years family trip, cousin Laurie from Illinois decided to join us again. (Yay! - we're all trying to convince her to move out west. She just graduated from nursing school and hoping to work with kids so if anyone knows of any good job openings out here, please pass them my way for her!) As you can tell, the kids enjoyed her company.

The "Prohaska" girls!

Just hanging out with Grandma & Grandpa Washington.

Adorable nephews - Alex (Theo) and Jakub

It wouldn't be a family vacation without games being played!

Lunch at the waterfalls. Beautiful scenery and weather!

Along with cousin Laurie visiting, we also got to have one of the youngest cousins out this year. Garrett (first one on the left) is 15 and from Arkansas. It was so great to have him visit and get to know him.

The whole group!

Visits like this make me wish we all lived closer.... at least though, we are making a point to do trips like this each year!

Stay tuned for pics from Laurie and Garrett's visit with us in Fresno and Yosemite. They had quite a west coast trip starting out in Seattle with my brother and parents, visiting Shasta and then driving back to Fresno with us.