Josh and Coley left at 5:00 a.m. to go fishing but Annie and I slept in until 8:00 a.m. (She goes to sleep pinching her neck and she wakes up pinching her neck.)
When the boys got back, Josh made breakfast. (Whenever we go camping, he does all the cooking and I do all the clean-up...and I love it.)
He made pancakes.
And he always sets aside whichever pancake he thinks turned out the best and saves it for me.
Coley took that one. (Much to my delight, Coley has recently taken a serious interest not only in taking pictures, but also in the technical aspects of photography.)
Annie took that one. (I'm not giving up hope though.)
And then Josh Downs said he had the perfect place for us to go - somewhere he had always wanted to fish and someplace he knew I'd love. (Coincidentally, I had driven by this very same place several times and had always wanted to stop and shoot.)
Josh & Coley had to wade across the water to get to that log.
Annie and I chose to stay on a log that was a little closer to shore though.
And then we headed up to Crater Lake. (Coley took that one too.)
I took this one of Coley to teach him about catchlights. (And I told him that if there ever came a day that I wasn't around and he wanted to see me, all he had to do was look at the reflection in his eyes in all of the pictures I've ever taken of him...because I'm always there.)
There's still snow at Crater Lake.
And then we went back to the cabin and hung out for awhile.
And later, we walked across the street and waited in line for 20 minutes for ice cream. (That's Annie sitting on my feet while we waited.)
Worth the wait.
How DO you get those great reflections in people's eyes? It never works for me! Love your pics and LOVE that Coley is into photography!!
Posted by: Karen Travels | July 07, 2010 at 08:20 AM
LOVE your shots! You get the most amazing everyday moments! Love that!!!! In your shots of the kids jumping on the bed, would love to see how you do that in one of your making the shots..... Those are awesome shots.....
Posted by: Lynn | July 07, 2010 at 08:27 AM
oh my gosh you had tears in my eyes reading about the catchlights. Love your pictures.
Posted by: hanna | July 07, 2010 at 08:28 AM
ditto what Hanna said!
I love that Josh saves you the best looking pancake!
Posted by: Kelli | July 07, 2010 at 08:30 AM
Love what you said about Coley's catchlights. I also love Coley's pic of Crater Lake because that's where my husband and I got engaged.
Posted by: Erica Hettwer | July 07, 2010 at 08:36 AM
um.....wow! I LOVE the picture Cole took! It is fantastic. He is a mini you for sure.
Posted by: Monica | July 07, 2010 at 08:46 AM
that photo of crater lake that coley took is AMAZING! i hope he keeps taking photos, so cool to see photos from a kids perspective. also, what you said about the catchlights in his eye, that's so sweet! what a beautiful place to spend the fourth of july!
Posted by: sarah | July 07, 2010 at 08:50 AM
Hey, I like Annie's photo - those trees were in perfect focus!!!
Posted by: krys72599 | July 07, 2010 at 09:10 AM
As always, your writing and photos have moved me. The catchlights moment made me tear up, your photos made my heart happy and I am IMPRESSED by the photos Cole took! Go him! Go you! Hooray! :)
Posted by: Tanya Anguita | July 07, 2010 at 09:14 AM
oh these pictures are awesome - looks like a beautiful and fun trip!!!
Posted by: lori | July 07, 2010 at 09:16 AM
The cutest post from the kids to the pancake and gorgeous pictures!! Grace xoxo
Posted by: Grace | July 07, 2010 at 09:29 AM
These are SO great! Cole did fantastic! (is it wrong of me to be nuts over that sweet little spot on his cheek? He really is too cute!) These kiddos get cuter every post. Though I'm missing Courtney and Ross! I swear, I really am too silly. My little girl is all over your blog too and is always asking after everyone. (But I could have lived without her asking what "hot calves" meant! :)
Posted by: Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita | July 07, 2010 at 09:37 AM
oh oh Karen
what you said to your sweet son.
Well I just lost it really big tears.
you are right i never thought of it that way
A great lesson
Thanks
Miss you
Lisa Hall
Posted by: Lisa Hall | July 07, 2010 at 09:44 AM
oh, oregon! i love this place. incredible! also, the awesome peeps at the scrapbook store downtown on G told me about you, and i mentioned that i follow your blog too! that's awesome you're doing photography workshops!
Posted by: wrecklessgirl | July 07, 2010 at 09:45 AM
OMG, Karen! I could not finish reading the post because of the catchlights lesson! TEARS FLOWING! I remember that from class, and I see my reflection in my kids eyes, alot : )
By the way, Great job, Coley!!!!
Looks beautiful out there!
Posted by: Jennifer S. | July 07, 2010 at 10:19 AM
What a gorgeous lake!! Coley did a great job on that picture!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 07, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Wow! Those are some awesome photos Karen! Crater Lake is one of the prettiest places that God has given us to enjoy!
Posted by: Kimberly | July 07, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Man. That catchlight statement really choked me up.
Posted by: Yolanda | July 07, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Amazing pictures!!
Thank for sharing!!!
Posted by: ScrapbookCamera | July 07, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Just Beautiful! all of it the kids, the place, the photos! The catchlight lesson you taught Coley...Priceless!
He did a great job taking those pictures! You must be so proud!
Posted by: Terry D | July 07, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Dude. I am totally getting weepy over your lesson to Coley. Made me go over and hug my little boy real tight.
Posted by: kaydrenth | July 07, 2010 at 11:47 AM
More great photos - but especially LOVE LOVE LOVE the one Coley took of Crater Lake - it looks like a postcard - it's SO beautiful! :o) Thanks for sharing - hoping to see even more from your trip tomorrow! :o)
Posted by: Tracy | July 07, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Wow, I love these photos (as do many, I see!). And what a great view. This looks like such a great place to vacation. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos!
Posted by: donya | July 07, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Great Pictures!!!
Posted by: Irina Klassen | July 07, 2010 at 01:29 PM
i love all your photographs but you are a great storyteller too! glad you had fun! susan
Posted by: susan | July 07, 2010 at 01:39 PM
I love reading your stories- you have an amazing way of capturing your life and events and emotions through your photos and one line sentences. One second I'm laughing, another I'm about to cry!
Coley- you take awesome photos!! AND you have the best teacher there is!
Posted by: jacki | July 07, 2010 at 01:52 PM
You are so kind to share your life with all of us. Your photos and words are wonderful.
P.S. I like the photo Annie took - it looks like the ones I take!
Posted by: Deb Zorn | July 07, 2010 at 02:27 PM
How exciting that Coley is getting into photography!
Beautiful photos.
Posted by: Tara | July 07, 2010 at 03:43 PM
I really love the picture of you with your kids! It's so nice when us photographers actually end up in some of the photos! Looks like you guys had a fun time!
Posted by: Brandi S | July 07, 2010 at 04:07 PM
Another perfect vacation.
Posted by: Domenico | July 07, 2010 at 05:48 PM
Go Coley -- Karen I love you and your photography but the wide angle shot of the whole lake is my favorite in the bunch -- go Cole!. Cole -- you are a great photographer -- keep up the great work, you have an awesome teacher to learn from!
Becky (aka: beckywedd)
Posted by: Becky (aka: beckywedd) | July 07, 2010 at 07:14 PM
I see I'm not a complete weirdo :) the tears started flowing from your comment to Coley about the catchlights. That is so special and his pics were very good!
Posted by: Sharla | July 07, 2010 at 07:16 PM
Love the pictures as always. So glad that Coley is showing an interest in photograpy. I have always loved it growing up, but never pursued the technical aspects. So wished I had started earlier.
Posted by: Dina | July 07, 2010 at 08:09 PM
Great pictures. Love the one Coley took of the lake, how beautiful! So, I almost cried when you said you told him to look into his eyes of photos you've taken and that you will always be there. Ugh, how sweet and true!
Posted by: Martha - EP | July 08, 2010 at 12:00 PM
What a gorgeous place! I love that you're including the dog more at our request. ;) And wow, that photo-stealer moves fast!
Posted by: Cyndi | July 08, 2010 at 07:19 PM
The photo with Annie sitting on your feet is adorable! She is so cute!
Posted by: ashlynhalee.blogspot.com | July 09, 2010 at 09:33 AM
Outstanding!!
Posted by: teresa b | July 09, 2010 at 03:23 PM
They are so focused and sharp. I think that I need to reread that weeks lessons. Okay, if I am being honest, I need to reread all the lessons again. I just bought a Kindle and I have already loaded up all the lessons so I can read them while we are on the plane headed to California.
I love the photo of you and the kids at Crater Lake.
Posted by: Melanie | July 09, 2010 at 09:38 PM
wow coley is quite the photographer! he is doing a great job(at such a young age)
Posted by: Nadia | July 09, 2010 at 11:54 PM
What you said to Coley about seeing you in his eyes made me cry. I read through the comments and see that I wasn't the only one who was touched by that. Love these pics. The shots Coley took are awesome too. You must be so proud of him. That's so cool that he is taking an interest in photography.
Posted by: Janna | July 11, 2010 at 06:02 PM
LOVE your pictures that you take, how do you get your photos to look so sharp and clear like that??
Catherine
www.photoofyou.blogspot.com
Posted by: Catherine | July 12, 2010 at 05:13 AM
that catchlighting is awesome! Great pix (as usual). Tell Coley his picture is postcard worthy!! Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Sylvia | July 13, 2010 at 05:37 AM
Just beautiful photos! Can you share what lens you used (24-70??), especially for the landscape shots??
Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Rhonda | July 14, 2010 at 07:31 AM