Weekend in the woods

We left early afternoon on Fri to break free from the grip of this heat and enjoy the cabin for the first time this summer. It was glorious. Honestly, I am having a hard time finding to words to describe the whole weekend because to be frank Shane and I both feel like this was the best weekend our family has ever had up there. (The snow trips are the exception) We did a big hike, which we have been waiting for many, many years to do with the kids on Saturday. After our summer vacation to Yosemite and Sequioa we knew we had some tough kids and that they can actually go a lot further than we ever no thought so we decided to give it a try. It was a joy to see them do something hard and finish strong...we cannot wait to go back again...maybe in Oct.

Once we got up there and settled a little bit we just wanted to be outside and at 75 degrees who could not!!! My In-laws have a swing tied to a tree that the kids get many thrills on so that was where we spent a good part of the late afternoon.

I even took a turn...it was a bit more scary because the rope was not in the best condition so Shane decided to pass on his turn...we found out Mon morning that was a good idea...more to come about that.

Can't go up there without the campfire...our favorite part for sure!!

Also, why not a game of hide and seek too...

First Shane explains the rules and boundaries much to the chagrin of our 10yr old. I think he figures he has an edge up on everyone, but with rules it makes it a little more even.

Look at the face...yup, rules are sooooo unfair!!! (wink, wink)

Samantha's turn to count....1, 2, 3....ready or not....here I come!

And this is what happens when you get tagged and know you have to count...oh the horror!!!

I think I enjoyed just standing watching them all have fun while I took some pics. Their laughter echoed throughout the mountains, and well so did the screams...but in a good ol fashioned fun way!

I cooked a roasted chicken and Nathan and Hannah got the pleasure of pulling the wishbone...although the winner I am sure will not be granted his wish to become spider-man.

It was harder than it looked...

SO Saturday come along and we ate a great big breakfast, made sandwiches and packed up the rest of our lunch to head out on our BIG hike to what the Self's call the "bathtub".

We left at 8:30am

The 'meadow'...half way point at 10am!

A quick 10min water and rest break...then we were off again!

 This is the bathtub...it is a large, deep spot where a spring bubbles up. We arrived at 11am. I was not a full as normal since the area hasn't had much rain in the past couple weeks, but the kids of course found a way to have fun.

Then we ate, played, someone fell in the water and was 'saved', fought off bugs and more bugs then packed up for the long two hours back. We left at 12pm.

God sent some angels to help us in the last little bit...my In-laws!!! George and Cindy had come up for a community potluck and met us in the last 15min of the 2hrs it took to hike back. The kids were really struggling and it was a great boost of enthusiasm we needed to push through the last bit....AND the best part of all they offered to walk back the rest of the way themselves and offered their closely parked car for us to drive back...it was a blessing!!! 

The rest of the weekend we relaxed outside almost all day, read books and more books and more book and took naps and enjoyed God's nature. We of course thought we were going to get off injury free this trip, but we are the Self's so 20min before we left Samantha was swinging on the swing and the poor rope finally broke. She fell on the back of her head about 3 ft to the ground. We quickly finished packing the truck and drove about 6miles to Christopher Creek for the local fire dept to look her over and see if we needed further evaluation or if we could get home. She was given and ok assessment, an ice pack and we just watched her. By the time we got home she was fine...so crisis averted. Now begins the laundry washing and clean up since taking 7 people to the mountains is no small feet....but we are already thinking about out next trip...Oct break we hope!

Blessing to you all on this Labor Day Weekend...we hope it was as good for you as it was for us.