Stephens' Stories: Trip to Tahoe

We left for a week-long trip to Lake Tahoe on Saturday, June 9 (Austin's 10-month birthday). I attempted to capture a 10-month photo with the Savannah dog before we rushed off to the airport, but Austin was not cooperating and just wanted to crawl around. We are still in Tahoe and the stuffed Savannah did not make the trip (neither did the real Savannah). So, I will post a 10-month update post when we get home. I also forgot my camera cord to upload pictures to the computer so these pictures are just the ones from my phone. David's parents just bought a time share last November in Incline Village (North Lake Tahoe) and this is their first time to use it. We are very fortunate to the be the first guests! We flew into Reno on Saturday. Thankfully, Austin was an angel child on the flight!! It was not full (Southwest) so we had an empty seat in the middle that he was able to sit in like a big boy. He enjoyed having his own space to play and he did sleep for about 1 hour of the 2-ish hour flight. We tried to travel as light as possible but with an infant, this is difficult. The time share luckily had a pac n play and a high chair so we did not bring those. We still had the BOB stroller, car seat and base, 2 big suitcases, David's golf clubs, and 3 carry-on type bags. Somehow we managed without a cart or assistance to get through the airports. We rented a large SUV (a Tahoe) and started off on the 45 minute or less trip from the Reno airport to Incline Village. David's parents had arrived a couple of hours earlier so we met up with them and walked around a bit while we waited to check in to our condo. The condos are about a 2 minute walk from the Hyatt hotel, which has a casino, spa, big pool, restaurants, etc. The residences also have a smaller pool and hot tub basically right outside our back door. It is on the bottom floor, has 2 bed rooms and 2 baths, and is one-level, thankfully. Stairs and crawling infant without baby gates would not be ideal. It is beautiful property - large pine trees everywhere, about a quarter mile to the lake-front and beaches.

Austin took a late afternoon nap on David's chest while Mary and I made a big grocery store trip to get things for the week. Right across the street from the condo is a restaurant called Austin's (named after Austin, TX). Of course, we had to go there. We walked over for a dinner of salads, chicken fried steak, mac 'n cheese and yummy cornbread. Austin went to sleep and David and I went for a walk down to the beach. So pretty!

Hungry big boy

Namesake

Sunset view from Lake Tahoe beach

On Sunday, I went for a morning run along the Lakeshore Blvd jogging/walking path. It is a 3-mile path that runs along the lake and next to the multi-million dollar private homes. After that we all loaded up in the car to go on a beautiful, scenic drive around the lake down to south lake Tahoe and over to Emerald Bay. We timed the drive so that Austin would nap during the drive and he did - for 1.5 hours. We took some beautiful pictures but unfortunately Austin was not in any since he was snoozing. We did pass through the Renaissance festival. David begged us to let him stop and join in, but we convinced him to keep driving (bribing him with a burger stop). :) On the way back, we stopped at a hamburger joint for a short lunch. On Sunday night, Mary and Ed kept Austin and put him to sleep while David and I went to eat at a Mexican restaurant around the corner called Lupitas. It was supposedly authentic Mexican food, but we were unimpressed. I guess it's not the Tex-Mex we are accustomed to.

Emerald Bay

On Monday morning, we went on a drive to Truckee, CA, Tahoe City, and Kings Beach. Austin snoozed again. That afternoon, David played golf and his dad rode with him. I went on a 6.5 mile run in the afternoon while Mary watched Austin. After that, Mary and I took Austin swimming. This boy loves the water! Austin took a long, late afternoon nap; swimming wears him out. During his nap I went to the grocery store to shop for our dinner supplies. We ate grilled steaks and chicken, baked potatoes, salad and broccoli.

Getting used to that water

Floating

On Tuesday morning, David, Austin and I went on a short hike. It was at the very nearby Diamond Peak ski area. We hiked up one of the service roads to a restaurant picnic area that overlooked the Lake. It was about 1.25 miles each way. We didn't bring the hiking backpack on this trip but Austin can still use the Bjorn (not for long though). He loved facing forward and being able to look out. We got home in time for his morning nap. I went to check out the gym in the hotel while David so kindly stayed with Austin while he napped. Mary and Ed had gone for a drive. That afternoon, we went to the big pool and baby pool down by the hotel. Austin had his first go at crawling around in the baby pool. That was NOT nice on his knees so it didn't last long. He also sat in grass for the first time. I can't believe he hasn't sat in our yard yet; I guess I am just an overprotective, sheltering mother. I thought the grass pictures were adorable so sorry for the abundance of them. We went to eat at Austin's again for dinner and then walked the .25 miles to the beach for some pictures. I have more beach pictures on my camera (as opposed to these from my iphone) and will post them when we get back to Denver.