The Epic Castillo Family California Adventure Finale

Part of the family tradition was a yearly thematic family portrait.  This year Elena and Geneva carried through a previous portrait's motif "the Wild Coyote Clan" on matching shirts for the whole clan.  We donned these darling shirts and went to a stump we had found previously and took family photos. 

that's a crowd of kids.

My sister's family.  They are included with ours because her kids are the same ages as our grandkids.  It just works!

they are all just amazing!

After lunch we drove to Stout Grove.  My AMAZING  brother in law drove that huge RV on the dirt road to get to it.  He didn't turn a hair. We were behind him and I was having anxiety just watching.

 

 

 

 

 We made it and thoroughly enjoyed the walk in and around these breathtaking trees.  Perhaps you can get a little idea how huge they are.  I'm afraid we rather intimidated some of the other people there by our sheer numbers and the activity of our kids.  Keeping track of them was fun too.

How many kids will it take?

Grandma was a Trouper!

Those Dumdums sure make Uncle Keith popular!

Ring a ring?

The whole clan!

Poor Ellie's tummy hurt.  She hung in there though.

Getting to climb all over them was one of the best parts of these trees.

It doesn't even take any imagination to see a face here.

caves and hiding places!

Kelvin isn't enjoying it much yet.

Weston was fearless!

The parents were a little bit fearful but the kids did great.

Oh, so tall!

We all made it back to our campground safely.  Whew!
 We had  used the pick-up truck bed to store food and supplies, and the tailgate worked perfectly for a work surface and serving place.  Then, that evening it provided the 'stage' for a spontaneous talent show! The talents went from joke telling and math facts, to music and dance....oh and wood carving. We have a wonderful family!

 



Wesley and James did balance!

We sang songs for a long time doing requests from all genres.  What a talented sister I have.  They did 'You got a Friend' and I cried!  My cute hubby requested it....it's our song.

A gift for Alicia...who is soon to be a Bear!

 Rod got worst joke.....He's Pop pop to the grandkids....

Best sleeping baby!

 

 Friday morning we packed up and headed out.  We so enjoyed the time with our sweet kids and grandkids and family

 

 Several families went on to other adventures, and getting home was an unpleasant adventure for Todd and family...but that is their story!  We love them all!