Camping Adventure!

Friday afternoon, we headed up to the annual camping adventure at Boiling Springs. This is something I look forward to all year long. And we thought for sure this would be the year the rain avoided us. Not so much! Every year! We had fun, regardless. Lots and lots of fun.

 

 

 

 

Fall has definitely hit head-on up in the mountains. The colors are amazing!

 

 

The first night, we had a roaring fire and stayed up as late as our eyes would let us. We had quite the crowd, some great music, and lots of laughs. The kids were determined to stay up as late as the adults....I think all three fell asleep at various times. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banks' first camping adventure with us was a total success. He LOVES sleeping in the tent, all cuddled up with the kids, and stealing our blankets.

 

 

This was our view from our tent Saturday morning. Sunday's view was SNOW. Brrrr! As soon as my parents were awake, we made a mad dash for their trailer where we stayed warm through breakfast, when the sun finally came out.

 

 

Carter used to be the one obsessed with the 4-wheeler, but Kendall is now the one asking for rides every 30 minutes or so. She loves it! And she definitely isn't reserved like her brother - she likes to hit the gas, and her giggles definitely prove she's loving it!

 

 

 

 

We also loaded up on some ammo before we left, and spent some time shooting mine, my dad's, and Matt's guns.

 

 

 

We also walked back in to one of the hot springs, so the kiddos could splash around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timing is truly everything in the photography world, and Kendall afforded me about 0.0246887 seconds to grab this shot before she was back to wrestling with Banks.

 

All in all, it was a great camping trip - minus several shoes going missing from the phantom skunk or fox, who drug the shoes away in the middle of the night. At some point, some random hunter is going to stumble upon a treasure of shoes (always the left foot, strangely) and wonder WTH is going on up in the mountains. Punk animals!

The Cabin Adventure / Part 3

Monday morning, we decided it was finally time to hit the hot springs. Considering it was a Monday, we figured nearly every hot springs would be empty. We decided to hit Kirkham since it was the closest and easiest hike for the kids.

 

 

When we pulled up, we were the only vehicle there, so we were excited to have the place to ourselves.

 

To me, it was perfect conditions for hot springs: cold, foggy, and we even got a little bit of snow as we sat in the hot water.

 

 

 

 

It was quite the challenge for Eric to keep his cast out of the water, especially while sitting with Kendall. He managed to get the cast quite wet. Good thing he gets a new one this week!

 

 

Carter hiked around to a couple of the various pools - some too hot, some not hot enough. Ultimately, I made him stay in the same pool as us because that river running right below us made me too nervous.

 

 

 

The colors of the river this time of year are my absolute favorite. It's almost like tropical water running through the mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch, we packed it all back up and headed home. With the new snow, we took the drive slower than normal due to the road conditions (we saw a roll-over accident on HWY 17 on the drive up) and the high population of deer and elk on and near the road.

 

 

Someone slept the whole drive - just like her grandma. Except her grandma would slap a tooth out of my mouth if I took this picture of her. ;-)

 

 

All in all, it was a great trip and lots of R&R was just what the doctor ordered!

Mountain Air

I am quite pleased with the amount of times I have been able to get up into the mountain air this year. It's my favorite place to be. My parents and Rod and Taunya have been up near Boiling Springs again, so I took the kids up to visit. We did this same trip last year and it was rainy. This year, rainy. Seriously - we are jinxed! It certainly didn't stop me from taking the trip, and in fact, aside from some light drizzles here and there, it really wasn't THAT rainy.

 

It is no secret that Carter LOVES the 4 wheelers. Everyone had a running bet as to how long it would take him after we arrived to ask someone, ANYONE, to take him on a ride. He actually lasted longer than anyone had bet, but it still drew a chuckle when he finally did ask.

 

 

 

Papa was the first victim.

 

 

We also played catch a couple times, and Rod had some great pointers for Carter that I will be using in our drills from here on out.

 

 

Such a handsome goofball!

 

Taunya was always pleased to take Carter on a ride.

 

 

Just like last year, we took a walk down into Boiling Springs, to the cabin (though people were there) and the hot springs. I let Carter get in and he really enjoyed the warm water this year.

 

 

These two dogs and their incessant diving for rocks.

 

 

 

 

Dad and Rod watching the dogs and Carter.

 

 

 

 

Think he's relaxed at all?

 

 

 

 

 

We have all these chairs around and she plops on the ground with her food.

 

 

 

Heading to the fire to listen to the BSU game. My spirit socks did NOT help us win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My two favorite ladies.

 

 

Mountain sunset.

 

 

Since my parents and Rod/Taunya have brand new trailers (they are certainly set for retirement!), I didn't take a tent for sleeping. We just camped out inside the trailers instead!

 

 

Someone in a neighboring camp left two of these "chairs". I brought home the small one for Kendall. The other, which was Carter's size, was too big to bring home.

 

 

 

I'm not entirely sure what these berries are, but they were ALL over the place!

 

 

I stopped near Crouch to grab a shot of a barn with all of the fall colors, but with the way the barn is situated in proximity to the road, it wasn't the grand shot I thought it would be. but I did grab one of Carter since he was out exploring with me.