Tahoe with the Wigs

Our trip to Tahoe this year with the Big Wigs was just as wonderful as it always is. In a strange turn of events (um, remember you're in a flood California?) it rained for the majority of our trip, but it actually gave us the opportunity to do a lot of new things and per James' request, we spent every day in Nevada!

 

The Discovery Museum in Reno is a total must if you are in the area. I've been to my fair share of Children's Museums and this may have been the best one yet. They had science areas and history areas and water zones and climbing structures and everything was completely hands on. It was incredible and we'll definitely be going back!

A few years ago during our Tahoe vaca we went to Virginia City, an old mining town in Nevada, and James has been itching to go back ever since. We tried it out this year and the whole family really enjoyed it, especially our little boys who thought just about everything in that town--the trains, the guns, the mines--were the coolest thing ever. Now if only the roads to get there weren't so windy and steep I'd feel much better about the whole thing!

Talmage asked the conductor if he could touch the steam engine before we took our ride, and we were shocked when he let T make himself at home in the drivers seat. I can't even begin to tell you the level of heaven that boy was in, but I was right there with him! I just love nice people, don't you?

 

The train with T inside, and Ever's head. He was too afraid to enter the engine, but he was also afraid that the train and "his favowite fwiend T" was going to leave without him. He was very conflicted.

While all the men-folk took a tour of the caves, the girls (and Spencer!) took a tour of the old schoolhouse. I really wish T could have seen it because it got me all giddy about the new adventure he'll be starting soon. School is amazing, and this schoolhouse adorable.

Everett's favorite part of the day was the gun show. Three has been such a new experience with that boy. All of a sudden he went from a stroller-pushing, princess-loving kid to a rough and tumble, I like guns and swords and danger and never, never "gills" kind of macho-man. I don't really know where it came from, but spend two seconds with him and you'll see it. Crazy! Anyway...the gun show was hilarious and they actually taught the kids all about gun safety too, which I sure appreciated.

After the gun show the boys got big gumballs from the machine (my bribe if they took a picture with the cowboys!) and then we headed home. We were all exhausted, but boy was it ever a great day!

 

Other than those big activities, we also spent the almost-sunny day at the park on Commons Beach in Tahoe City and went on a hike in, take a guess, Nevada! Everett wanted all sorts of attention at the park and paid his dues with smiles and laughs and just the sweetest attitude ever. Talmage was practicing how to be a mountain goat and climbed to the top of that rock wall more times than I could count. I was so impressed by his determination and strength!

 

We actually didn't do a whole lot of water activities this year. The boys went kayaking with Daddy and Papa, and searched for crawdad's at the beach, but the water was desperately low and Everett said it was "gwoss, and fewt wike bubbo gum!" At least it still looks pretty ;)

 

Between going to bed late, waking up early, and partying all day our boys were toast as we left Tahoe. In no time flat they were both conked out in their carseats, a gorgeous site for this mama!