Camping in Death Valley

Over Martin Luther King Holiday, 5 families including us set out to Death Valley for a fun filled weekend of camping. We stayed at the Furnace Creek Resort RV Campground. The resort had lots of things to do: shopping, swimming, bike riding, a nice playground for the kids, museums, and much more. As for the RV park.... well, we won't be staying there again. We were embedded with several full timers. So needless to say they were old and a bit grumpy with young families like us entering into their territory. I sure did feel like trailer *&*&^% at that campground. What made it lots of fun is who we were camping with. All the kids played really well with one another and the adults just had some much needed relaxation and conversation.

Enjoy the pictures.

The Smith Family
Kris, Gayle, Nathan, Zachary, and Kayla

The Morrell Family
Mark, Jessica, Reagan, Madison
Badwater Basin

Walking over to meet everyone

Family Shot below sea level

Gwen helping daddy push up the Natural Bridge we hiked to

Checking out more dirt and rocks that Death Valley had to offer

Gwen absolutely loves to hike on her 'OWN' now. Not sure we like that too much with a cliff right next to her.

When you live in Vegas and its New Years Eve...

why not go bowling with fighter pilots? Because, you know there is really nothing better to do in this city! Ha. It was actually a lot of fun.

Gwenyth's 2nd Birthday Party

Since Gwen's birthday is two days before Christmas we waited to have her friend birthday party after the holidays. So, on January 7th we had a big butterfly themed birthday bash for our big 2 year old. She loved getting into her birthday dress and testing out all the candies before everyone arrived. We truly have made some great friendships with many of the wives and their kiddos out here.

Birthday Girl Dressed and ready to go

The big 2 daddy made for us
the butterfly cupcakes I made

Gwen and Haden playing with the balloons before all the other kids arrived

Gwen loves her friend Haden

Mommy and Gwen before the party

Gemma and Reagan

Little Sydney showing everyone how the pinata game is done

Liam's turn

Madison's turn

Sierra

( she got really upset with the idea of hitting the butterfly with a stick)

Haden giving the other kids a pep-talk on how he was going to tackle this butterfly

Birthday girl's turn

Abigail's turn

Next up... Annie

Pure determination on Gemma's face

Go for it Eva!

Zachary knocked it down

But, we still gave the bigger kids a turn...

and yes, that is me holding it up

Happy Birthday Gwen

Blowing out her candles

a bit dark but she got the job done

Getting ready to dig into those yummy cupcakes

All of her friends

Time for presents... This is Gwen in the middle of opening asking for more

What is this?

A soccer ball! YES!