Reservoir Lake 2012--Fishing

 Each year that we go camping in Montana, Rusty buys a fishing license for 2 days so he can take the kids fishing.

 The kids look forward to this every year.

 You can see how anxious everyone is.

 This is Kitty Creek near Reservoir Lake, Montana.

 After Rusty gets things going, he lets Emmalee & Ben fish by themselves (that is after he casts the line out for them).  Callum and Zane are up the creek a little bit on their own.

 Even with the smokey conditions, it sure is beautiful!

 Emmalee caught the most the first day.  And she caught the biggest one out of all of them.  We only kept one fish to eat--and one tiny one that died because he swallowed the hook & we couldn't get it out.

 This is not the biggest one--but it is a nice sized one!

 Benjamin is telling me how many he caught--one--so far.

 Another nice fish, Emmalee!

 Callum's little "baby" fish--I think he caught 3 that day.

 Zane baiting his hook

 and showing us the fish he caught.

Emmalee's up to 3 already & she hadn't been fishing for very long.  

Reservoir Lake 2012--Canoes

 Each year we have 2 of Grandpa Stewart's canoes at the lake so everyone can enjoy canoe rides.

 This year, Grandpa didn't make it up for the whole time.  We were glad he was able to come up for 2 different days.

 Rusty, Benjamin, and Emmalee on a canoe ride.

 Rusty had our dog, Zeb, retrieving his "dummy" from the canoe.  Zane is in the water at the back having fun.

 Some of the group watching Zeb (up close) as he fetches.

 Notice how "red/orange" the sky (and reflection on the lake) is from the fire smoke.

 Callum jumping into the water from the canoe--nice action shot!

 Callum climbing back in with Brienna's help.  Zane is holding the canoe so it won't tip over.

 Zeb jumping into the lake.  It was fun to watch Zeb--he sure loves the water & will do anything to get his "dummy".

Callum getting ready to take a ride.

Reservoir Lake 2012--4 Wheeling

 Benjamin climbed right on as soon as we unloaded it.

 Emmalee's ready too!

 Brienna giving Benjamin a ride.

 Zane going on one of his many 4-wheeling trips.

 Riding with Rusty on my one 4-wheeler trip--we did the Selway Creek loop.

 Benjamin is too cute!

 Taking a break on one of the trips (possibly to Goldstone)

 Emmalee eating a cookie while everyone else gets ready to go.

 Benjamin trying out his cousin Colter's little 4-wheeler.

A 4-wheeler ride puts Benjamin to sleep within minutes.

Reservoir Lake 2012--Smoke from Fires

 There were fires in Idaho--just over the mountain from where we were.

 By Monday evening (after we had camp set up), my eyes were watering so badly & burning, I could barely keep them open.  

 At first I thought it was allergies, but my nose never was runny.  And then I thought it might be a cold because I had 3 big cold sores pop up the night before we left.

 I get cold sores when I am getting sick, but don't have time to "be sick".  I knew there were some fires, but I really didn't see much smoke until days later when I went on this 4-wheeler ride.

 So each day, by 3 pm or so, my eyes would be so watery I could barely keep them opened.  They really didn't itch, and they weren't blood=shot, but my eyes were very watery and swollen.

 So this is how I spent a lot of my time up camping--ready to keep my eyes closed. That is the only time I felt "okay"--with my eyes closed, covered with a wet washcloth, or first thing in the morning.

 I was able to take a few "rests".  I took a few books up camping to read, but only was able to read 1 the whole week.

I was bound & determined to read the one book "The Hunger Games" because I planned on taking Zane to see it on the day he had an orthodontist  appointment.  He wanted to see it on the big screen before it came out to DVD--and I like to read the book before I see the movie.  So between squinting of my eyes, and hiding out in the tent trailer in the afternoons/evenings, I was able to read the first book.

The only day my eyes felt "ok" was on Sunday--so I was hoping for a day of rest, relaxation & reading, but that's another "story" (or post).

Reservoir Lake 2012--Part 1

 On the road--Brienna drove the van (Ben & Emmalee in the middle), Zane with Pamela in the Jeep (pulling our utility trailer) & Callum with Rusty in Grandpa's truck with the 4-wheeler, canoes, and pulling the tent trailer.

 We're in Montana.

 The girls put their bandannas on their hair==Emmalee's wearing a "banana bandanna"  :)

 Zane's wearing a bandanna too--but not covering his wild hair!

 Benjamin wearing his "fishing" hat.

 Sisters

 Walking to the creek to do some fishing.

 Swimming at Reservoir Lake==it looks like evening, but it is around 3 pm & very smoky from fires just over the mountain.

 Zane splashing with the canoe paddle.

 Benjamin & Emmalee cooling down in the lake.

 Benjamin helping Brienna roast a marshmallow.

 Emmalee caught the biggest fish from our group.

 Emmalee playing with little Gabe--It was fun to have her cousin Meagan & Jerry there with Gabe--even though Gabe wasn't sure about the whole camping thing.

Benjamin beating Aunt Pamela in a game of Connect 4.

It was a challenging week of camping for me.  More to come later.