A new beginning: ♪♪ oh how I love to go camping ♪♪

I don't know how many of you know this song. It's a tape that I used to listen to growing up. We would listen to it over and over again. MOm.. if you still have it.. I want it :)

♫"Going camping feels so good... camping, here in the woods... oh how I love to go camping!"♫

Anyways, the reason for that song is that our summer holidays were camping.. every long weekend. And the funny thing is.. we very rarely visit the same lake twice.
We've gone to:
-Pimainus
-Boss/Davis
-Bellos
-Puntzi
-Abhau
-Leighton
-Fishpot
-Charlie
-Spanish

There are a few more, but those are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head. Each one has been sufficient for us. We have been able to relax, have a good time with the kids, eat lots of smores,
enjoy the beauty of God's creation, etc. 5 of those above mentioned lakes have been visited since we moved to Quesnel! There are so many beautiful places here to camp. There's beautiful places everywhere.. that's why we like to visit a different lake everytime! Here are some pictures of our most recent trips. Enjoy!

The first series of pictures are taken on our trip to Puntzi Lake. This lake is located on Hwy 20, west of Williams Lake. It took us 4 hrs to get there, pulling the camping trailer. John's truck is getting old and is not able to pull like it used to. There is also a seriously steep hill to climb, just getting out of Williams Lake. The reason we went here, is that John has a moose draw in this area. We wanted to scout it out before he actually went hunting. Good thing we did.

On our way, we had to go through Alexis Creek. So here we are driving, go around a corner, and there's a cop. Fortunately he was a nice one, just giving warnings. Apparently we were going 62 in a 50 zone. He had a chuckle when he saw my camera on my lap and said," The camper in front of you had their camera out too." When I said that it was because the river was such an amazingly blue color, he suggested he stop at the Bull Canyon Provincial Park up ahead. So we did. And it was worth it!

This picture does not do it justice.

Loving her daddy!

Chilling after driving for 3 hours. And for those concerned with the beverage of choice, I drove after we left this park.☺

One of the views from our camp site. We stayed at Kokanee Bay campsite.

This is one of the things that I love about my man. The willingness/eagerness to teach the girls life skills! Mckenna can probably light a campfire better than some of you!!☺

Beautiful night view

Don't ask.. I don't know what she was doing

Posing for Daddy. She was first scared to go on this dock. But John helped her get over it..I didn't see how.

and even ate her breakfast out there!

We went for a drive to scout the area. A one point, we got lost and ended up in a farmer's field. But we turned around and with a little prayer, we found our way out.

Rock sandwich anyone??

Fishing.. more for fun than with the hope of catching anything.

and driving the boat!

And then our latest, and last of the season I think, was Abhau Lake. It was closer to home, and bordered a region where you could shoot any buck. It's hard to go hunting though when you have the family along, and when you aren't a morning person. (John)

This picture is the definition of peaceful.

She has a tin of rosehips. I think she was calling them her jewels.

I was sitting at the campfire when I took this picture

They didn't get to go swimming, but they put on their water shoes and got wet up to their knees.. Too cold for me, I was in pants and a sweater most of the time, sitting by the fire!

On this trip we went with friends. We took care of their kids while they went hunting and got some more firewood. This is their youngest Garett. He is 3. John was helping him use the ax. I am not sure his mother was impresed, but it kept him occupied for awhile while the other kids played together.