Boot Scootin' Boogie
Picture five minivans caravanning across the desert for an epic spring break, then picture just the desert. Yeah. COVID took our spring break plans to. It was perfect that for once all my sibling's school districts lined up with ours for spring break and we were going to go to Lake Tahoe for the very first time. However, it was not meant to be.
The resort opened back up just a week before our summer vacation so we booked it again. Well, just the Bocs this time. I think little cousin Scarlett was the most disappointed when the trip was canceled, we were to leave on her 12th birthday. Soooo, between a conversation with Callie, they decided that she should be the one to still come with us! Katrina would no longer be able to join us so that was fine with me and Matt.
Ava and Mallerie drove our kids out the weekend before to get in some Elko time. Since Mal was on her mission the last time we were all there for Thanksgiving, the cousins promptly took her on the famous BOOT HUNT.
AMERICA!
Matt and I got on the road Monday, June 29th to meet up with the kids before our final destination to Tahoe. It is a weird thing to get to travel with just your spouse on a "family" vacation.
We stopped for dinner at Wendy's in Sparks, Nevada. For all the kicks and giggles that Mal is 24/7, we got to see her express another emotion: hangry! She didn't want anything at Wendy's and then struggled to find peppers and string cheese out of the coolers once we got settled at the park to eat. I'm not saying that I am glad she was hangry, but it was amusing to see another emotion.😉
This left Ava to explore the little beach with C.
As we entered California and gained elevation, the terrain changed into something new to look at.
Lake Tahoe is a very quaint destination spot. The little cabins in the woods reminded me of The Parent Trap (even though in the movie they are in Maine), "Marva!"
The villa was larger than we had anticipated—there was room for ten. We were a party of eight, which was perfect because the boys each got their own bed. They just do better that way. Callie and Scarlett snagged the beds next to the fireplace and under the windows.
The evenings were a bit chilly and I enjoyed falling asleep with the fireplace on.
There were three full bathrooms and plenty of room for all of our stuff. Grayson hadn't taken the tour and asked where he could take a shower when the other two were occupied. I told him, "There is another bathroom down the hall by the kitchen."
"There is???"
It was just an all-around comfortable place for us to stay. Thanks again Bill Marriott!
The first order of business was to walk across the street (yes, it was that close) to the grocery store. Mallerie came with me and Matt so we, of course, came back with items to make s' mores!
We would visit that grocery store several times throughout our stay.
She grabbed a handful of brochures on our way out and I was glad to know she would have an itinerary that she was happy with. I hadn't looked into anything previously. She had and was surprised I hadn't, "Mom it's so pretty!"
I worked on school work in the mornings while the kids swam and then we went out for the daily adventure. It must have been the high elevation that caused Ava's legs to burn so badly after only twenty minutes! I could watch them at the pool from the deck of my room. We were surrounded by pines and it was glorious. I chatted on the phone with Kat one day while on the deck. It was a favorite spot for sure.
Hike to Eagle Lake!
The parking situation was pretty crazy. 2020 is the year of outdoor activities for everybody. There were parked cars parked wedged against the mountain. Matt pulled into the parking lot anyway and miraculously, someone was just leaving.
Mallerie took Ava and Grayson to the mall as soon as she could after arriving in Utah. She wanted them to have Chaco's just like her. Grayson's gave him blisters at first and then a wicked tan line. He hated the former, loved the latter.
Mallerie read in her brochure how crystal clear the water is at Emerald Bay. People rent clear-bottomed kayaks for it. Other people. We found a trail and hiked down. The water was beautiful!
Beautiful but COLD. We were all plenty content just looking.
But Ava, whose legs were burning, opted to get in. It was an intense situation.
The grandeur of the lake was seen better as we hiked UP.
FREE Sunsets!
After dinner, Mallerie wanted to walk across the way to watch the sunset. Matt and I were game but the only other little one was Scarlie-boo! Once we got to the beach, we saw that it was a private beach and therefore, $18 per PERSON. No thanks. So, we walked back. It was nevertheless a lovely walk, and we even passed the motel with the dog in a swimsuit, affectionately nicknamed "Swimsuit Dog," which is where some of the family would have been staying in April. It wasn't too far from our place!
As we approached the center of town there was a live band and people were milling about and eating. Mallerie noted that it was so good to see people enjoying themselves finally. The mask requirements were strict when we were inside businesses but thankfully, that wasn't very often.
The next night we had to drive down the road, but we found a perfect place to watch the sunset for freeeeee.
Mallerie kept declaring that she was not going to spend any money on the trip...then she saw this hat...which she then also talked Ava into buying...and then Matt as well! I figured I better not even go into the shop with her. But on our other outings, you can bet she asked me, "Do you wish you bought a hat?"
"ARH-WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" at the full moon.
The Bike Ride
To see the city via bike was on Matt's bucket list for the trip. He scoped out a rental shop right across the street, which made it convenient. We rode our bikes to Nevada Beach. The Vacation Club was in California so I guess I should acknowledge that we rode to another state! You could tell exactly when we crossed the border because the casinos were butted right up to the state line. As in, if you were in the casino and you put your arm out the window, your arm would be in California.
Mallerie schooled us in hammocking. She wasn't kidding that she can put them up in two minutes.
The pine cones lying around were huge! Callie collected one for a souvenir. She also got a life lesson on sap. For other souvenirs, she and Scarlett bought $5 tees and treasures at a candy shop. The shop was attached to the villa so they felt very mature at being allowed to go there unattended.
Watch and learn, Ava!
When Mallerie first arrived in Utah, we were talking in the living room when Matt started to tell her something. Before she even knew what he was going to say, she had her jaw on the floor. I laughed, "You don't even know what he's going to say!" That was the joke for the rest of her stay when I would start to say something, JAW DROP.
Later, we passed a guy who was sitting in his car with his hat on side-ways. I commented, "Cool guy." Mallerie totally lost it because she said she was thinking the same thing! This was one of three times she completely lost it on this trip. I will take credit for all of them. By "lost it" I mean an extreme giggle fit. Ava managed to get one on film.
You'll see.
The ride back up to the road got pretty steep in some places. I think if just one of us had kept on our bike it could have spurred on the rest of us. But as soon as one person got off to walk their bike, the rest deemed it impossible.
As we rode along the water's edge, we decided to go down for a better look.
It was a pretty steep hike down to the lake. So much so, that I wondered how most people brave it. It wasn't till we started up that I saw the stairs!
We rode to some shops and while the girls found treasures at Ross, Matt let Graham get a treat. He chose a big 'ol chocolate bar.
S'more BBQ!
Matt grilled up burgers and dogs for dindin. We were enjoying our dinner when I looked over and saw a staff member going to check the grills. I joked to Matt, "She's going to toss your leftover burgers." He got up to tell her they were ours. As he hobbled away from us, I mumbled, "Oh no, don't do the run." I'm referring to a walk that isn't a run at all but shows you are in a hurry. You don't get there any faster, you just look ridiculous.
Matt grilled up burgers and dogs for dindin. We were enjoying our dinner when I looked over and saw a staff member going to check the grills. I joked to Matt, "She's going to toss your leftover burgers." He got up to tell her they were ours. As he hobbled away from us, I mumbled, "Oh no, don't do the run." I'm referring to a walk that isn't a run at all but shows you are in a hurry. You don't get there any faster, you just look ridiculous.
To that comment, this was Mal:
We finished dinner with s'mores around the firepit.
Happy Dance.
Look of shock at what might be said.
The pit wasn't the only thing on fire. Ava's legs! Oh my.... she cooled them any chance she could get.
Having Scarlett there helped breathe new fun into pool time for Graham and Callie.
Round Hill Pines Beach
-All about the hammock life-
A hiking day, a biking day, and a beach day.
Perfection.
I loved how Callie looked eating her Cheez-Its on the beach. Mallerie couldn't believe how old she has gotten since she saw her last. JAW DROP. She could not stop saying, "Callie, you are so cuuuuute." Callie said, "Everyone keeps saying that!" I showed Callie this picture. She agreed, "That is a good picture."
Callie and Scarlett took off with Graham's metal detector and found all sorts of odd things. They came back and said, "We found Corona!" They had indeed. A Corona bottle top.
There were other odd things at the beach as well. PEOPLE! When Gray and Graham opted to stay behind for sports, I objected—till Matt said, "It's fine." I made them promise to get their laundry done though. Once we got to the beach, however, and I saw all that skin I said to Matt, "I am glad the boys stayed behind."
No pun intended!
1. There was a group of partying young adults that, as the day went on, got more and more inebriated. When they tried to go to the parking lot they were stumbling and cursing and dropping one thing after another. One young man came back who seemed to have his wits about him. He picked up all their trash and then, hopefully, drove them safely someplace else.
2. There was another group of four who were playing paddleball. They were standing in the lake, which—need I remind you—was not warm. Their legs must have just gone numb after a while. They were in those same four corners of the game the entire day! At one point one of them must have had the desire to quit right?
3. Next to us, a tan weathered woman was face up in the sun all day. LEATHER.
4. But the one we got the most mileage out of was a couple who seemed to be trying to enjoy their day at the beach on their folding lounges. The guy next to them was a BIG TALKER. He was sitting up so that he faced them, arms crossed to emphasize his biceps. They couldn't get a word in edge-wise. He had a lot to say. ALL DAY. They had to keep their heads turned to look at him.
These four groups did not vary from their activity. Not once.
We, however, were in and out of the water and the sun. At one-point, Mallerie was napping between Matt and me with our hats over our faces. Them with their cool hats, me with my lame hat.
We rented a paddleboard and all took a turn.
We rented a paddleboard and all took a turn.
The water was clear as glass!
I admitted that I've never really thought of the purpose buoys. It took me a while to realize the boats on the lake were empty, they were anchored by the buoys!
Mallerie was the only one who had paddle boarded before so she went to fetch it. We were pretty much all able to get up on our first try!
Once we got out of Matt's way, he did just fiiiiine.
Relax, get to it!
It worked out well for us to make all our meals at our "home away from home." I make stuffed shells every time we go on vacation. Mallerie was lamenting about all the carbs. It didn't help that I also made baguettes AND Matt picked up a pizza from around the corner. She kept saying, "I am just going to eat my Brussels sprouts." However, the said sprouts were cooking way too long in the oven and I needed it for my shells. So I moved the sprouts to the stovetop and used the oven. The sprouts looked a little bland and I did have some brown sugar on hand...so I candied them, same as I candy my carrots. As Mallerie gushed over her "healthy" sprouts, I mouthed to Ava, "They are candied." We got a giggle out of it. Mal couldn't help herself after a day in the sun and she had helping after helping of all the carb goodness.
It's not like we eat like that every day!
The only kitchen complaint was that we couldn't seem to get the cheese grater to work. A week after we got home, I got a pedicure. The gal used a very similar looking tool on my feet.
No wonder.
The kids all seem to be on a chocolate kick, and the girls seem to be on a Johnny Depp kick, so we watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He's so darn funny in that! Matt didn't join us and when I asked why he said, "There wasn't anywhere to sit." I said, "You could've sat on a dining chair like me, it was no less comfortable than our Heber theater. In fact, it was better because I could recline against the wall."
Because the 4th was coming up, we also watched National Treasure another night.
Mallerie has never caught what Nicolas Cage says after Abigail's "boyfriend" agrees to let them into the Oval Office. When I repeated the line, "Connor rocks!" She lost it again, only Ava didn't have her phone out this time to record. That movie was quite the comedy that night.
Callie and Scarlett made up a dance that they performed for us. Such a fascination at that age. I love it.
I was able to get in my 3+ hours of school each day including my Thursday gathering meeting. As I sat on the bed Zooming with my class, Matt was on the deck looking at his phone. The reflection was causing a dancing spotlight across my face. I texted him, "The reflection is on my face."
Other than that, it all went off without a hitch. Well, I barely remembered the night before about the time difference, so that could have been bad.
I even did some of my schooling out by the pool—which I never did dip into.
Mallerie thought my schooling was three hours a WEEK, not three hours a DAY. No wonder she thought it a bit of a joke!
Half of a Running Buddy
Mallerie and Grayson got up and went running every morning together. She is one who can get up and be out the door within 5-10 minutes. Grayson, on the other hand, takes forever. He sets his alarm for a good half hour before he needs to leave. I asked Mal what he does for that long. She said, "I don't even know!"
Well, one morning, after they got up to run, I needed something out of the main area. I crept quietly so I wouldn't wake Scarlett and Callie who were asleep on their little window seats. The room was dark but there was just the faintest light coming through the blinds. I saw Grayson's running shoes by the door, "Huh," I thought to myself, "I thought they already left." Then my eyes really started playing tricks on me. I thought I could see his legs sticking out of the shoes but there was no way because in the light I could see where his body would be and there was nothing there. I squinted and looked harder. There were definitely legs but they ended at the knee. I squinted again, "Whaaaaa?" I thought of that recent Disney movie Onward where half the dad is gone. Seriously, what the heck? Then I heard Grayson's laugh. He was laying on his back with his knees bent. I could only see his legs sticking out of his shoes.
Totally freaked me out.
Neither Grayson nor Graham is big on outdoor stuff so I was glad Callie had a pal in Scarlie. When we dropped her back in Elko I said, "We loved having you, hope you enjoyed vacationing with the Bocs!" She said, "You guys vacation fuuuuun."
When I asked Grayson what he thought was fun about the trip, he said, "Scarlett was there." So, it goes both ways!
The GPS took us a different route than we came in. This was fine because it took us around North Tahoe and it was a very scenic drive.
Matt has to laugh when I see something that I want to take a picture of. I usually get to my camera setting too late and end up with a lot of shots like these.
Thankfully, a lot of photos that were taken during the trip were shared with me later.
And now I have shared them with you.
Thanks to Boc for treating us, once again, to an unforgettable time.
