Monday, July 31, 2017

Cabin Camp

"Cabin Camp" looks like summer camp, tastes like summer camp, and smells like summer camp-- and is basically the version I grew up with. A 50 year old cabin in the woods, a loft full of beds with cousins to sleepover, Scotcharoos and card games at all hours of the day and night, and the best darn scenery in all of Idaho, sounds pretty good, right? 
We had a pretty stressful week leading up to Cabin Camp, and I was definitely questioning my sanity as to why we should want to go drive 8 hours to get there. We left Colorado amidst a newly finished kitchen remodel (new granite countertops and tile backsplash), and a fridge/freezer that decided to die, causing us to chuck about $150 worth of groceries in the trash. Our 6-year old fridge had the compressor go out, and the new replacement part would cost upwards of $1000+ and be 3-4 weeks for delivery. You tell me how I'm supposed to feed 6 people with no fridge or freezer for a month?? So, unfortunately, we had to buy a brand new one. Such is life, I guess. Anyway, a road trip-- with an antsy, chocolate-covered one-year old was the last thing on my mind...
We left Colorado around 3 in the afternoon on Friday, and headed for Wyoming. Poor Wyoming. I'd say about 75% of it is just desolate prairies with nothing to see but ranches and cattle. Thankfully though, we got to visit the 25% of the state that is amazingly scenic and gorgeous. We got to drive all along the Grand Teton mountain range Saturday morning as we headed into Idaho.

It was a banner July day for Wyoming-- no wind, no thunderstorms, and gorgeous clear blue skies. We absolutely had to stop for a picture in front of the Tetons.
We made it to Jackson Hole, WY around lunchtime, and the kids thought it was so cool to see the Sheriff on his trusty stead. Welcome to the wild, wild, west kids!
We had to get a picture in front of the famous antler archway in town square! My kids even remembered this archway from our pitstop last summer. I guess it is a little morbid if you're not of the hunting variety.
We had some yummy sandwiches at the Bunny Cafe and were ready to hop back in the car to finish the drive to the cabin (ha, ha, see what I did there?).
Way to go, Idaho! This is where potatoes grow. We drove past hundreds of potato fields on our way, and it made me think of when you eat at Five Guys Burgers, and they always list where their french fry potatoes are from it's usually Driggs, or Ashton, or Rexburg ID.
Hooray! We finally made it to Island Park and Lizzie finally made it out of the car! Idaho got SO much snow this winter there were wild flowers EVERYWHERE. Gorgeous, but bad for allergies!
Beautiful view of Henry's Fork of the Snake River from our cabin's back deck.
Lizzie playing with the bugs and grass and rocks out on the deck.
We had my sister in law Sarah take our family pictures that evening and it was an unbelievably gorgeous night. I can't wait to see how they turned out!
Wildflower country
Picture time with four kids and a not-too-enthusiastic-husband is always interesting, but we couldn't have asked for a better backdrop.
That night the sunset was breathtaking. It did my heart good to be there and see so much beauty all around us. I needed to stop and smell the wildflowers, so to speak.
Beautiful Lucy taking in the scenery so near and dear to my heart!
The next morning I stayed home from church with Lizzie who was fighting a cold, and we wandered down to the river so she could put her little feet in. She sure loved it!
Once everyone was back home from church we headed over to Mesa Falls for a little Sunday scenic drive. The moss covered mountain walls were so gorgeous and green from all the mist!

Don't go chasin' waterfalls, Zach-O boy.
One more beautiful view from a higher lookout point. I like how Zach is dabbing in this picture.
Cute cousins Eva and Lucy loving the waterfall. Lucy actually flew out to Boise all BY HERSELF a few days earlier so she could have some grown-up girl bonding time, as well as get to the cabin a little earlier and check out Yellowstone. Lucky duck!
We headed back to the cabin for some bike rides and canoe rides and a little more R&R in the mountain sunshine.
Grandpa and Lucy paddling Zach and Leah out and about in the canoe.
Jon, down at the dock checking out the sunset.
Cousin camp at the cabin! Think the sun was just a little too bright?? Ha ha.
Apparently selfies with a selfie stick are now Cabin Camp tradition. Just missing Taylor and Devin who were there, but not pictured.
I love this picture of these cute cousins. Leah and Sophie could play Barbies all day, and Eva is enough to entertain both Lucy and Zach. They played Cover Your A$$ets and Sleeping Queens and Bohnanza for hours.
One last picture in parting. I look at this and immediately just feel peace. Like I said at the beginning of the post, I wasn't too thrilled about leaving all the little unfinished messes back at home, but I'm sure glad we got to go to the cabin this summer. It was so good for my soul to be there and see through nature, just how much our Heavenly Father must love us to have created such a beautiful place for us to live. Jon flew back to Denver by way of SLC on Monday afternoon, and the kids and I drove on to Boise to spend the rest of the week visiting Grandma and Grandpa's house!

2 comments:

Joan Morris said...

I'm so glad you guys made it to the cabin. It was sooo fun to all be together even it was only for 2 days. Great pics.

Tom said...

Good times were had by all at the cabin. Allow me to correct one thing. When you eat French fries at 5 Guys, they are most likely from Bingham County, Idaho (aka Blackfoot) because that is the potato capital of the world. They only grow seed potatoes in Ashton and Rexburg has always been jealous of Blackfoot. Now you know.