Cabin

So as I was driving home from Coeur d'Alene I got a call from Jackson. We were nearing Dillon, Montana and still had about two hours to go. The kids were doing okay. They had both just fallen asleep so I was pretty happy about that. Jackson told me that no one would be home when I got there because they were all at the cabin. They said I should come up too which meant another hour added onto my drive. The other option was to go home and unpack and then repack and come up the next day - or not go at all and spend the whole weekend with Kanyon and Miranda alone at my mom's house. Seemed like the best option was to go up with everyone that night. I had some clean clothes in my suitcase because Len had done laundry for me (thanks, babe!) so we drove to Idaho Falls, got gas for the car, and headed to Palisades.

I am so glad that I went. It was a long day and Miranda didn't go to sleep that night until 12:30am so we were really tired. but it was so fun to visit with my family and spend some time with them before we move. We got there Saturday night and stayed until Monday. My dad was there earlier in the day but he had gone home for Sunday meetings and then he came back Sunday night. Jake and Jana stayed the whole weekend as did Paul, Scott and Traci, Jackson, Kalli, and Tarek. Dan was there every night but he went home on Sunday for church too and then came back. We rode motorcycles, played outside, and played games. I even taught my brothers and their wives how to play Rummy. It seemed funny to me because Scott said, "How do you remember these rules?" Paul and I both laughed. Funny because I cannot even begin to count the number of times I played rummy with my grandma and cousins growing up. Let's just say it was TONS of times. The rules are engraved in my head - seriously. Jake and Scott must have been too little to play when we all went to the cabin nearly every weekend because they didn't remember it at all. It was fun to play with them.

Sunday was pretty rainy off and on. We tried to go to the beach once but the rain was coming in so fast that we turned around and went back. Monday the weather was much better and we spent a couple hours on the beach. I let Kaydra ride a motorcycle for the first time. Jake has a little 50 dirt bike that doesn't need a clutch. We didn't teach her how to shift so she stayed in first gear the whole time. She did really well. It made me nervous to watch her but I was eight when I started riding so I thought, why not? She only rode on the beach and seemed to have a good time. She said she liked it better than the four-wheeler. Kalli tried it too but she liked the four-wheeler better. We hit a bunch of golf balls while we were down there and then walked around collecting them all.

Tarek taking a shot at golfingKanyon swingin' away

I think we came home with more than we hit! We drove down the old highway and let the kids wade in the lake. They had a good time and then later that afternoon, Dan took them back and let them get really wet. Kanyon fell in the mud and I had to throw his t-shirt away because there was no way that I was going to get all the mud out! Dan washed him off and brought him back in only his underware wrapped in a towel. I guess he got quite the cold bath before Dan would let him get in the car again! While they were playing on the beach I had the two baby girls at the cabin by myself. I took the opportunity to take some cute shots of them together. Editor's note: I love this next picture but I didn't edit it before I posted it on the blog so it is turned the wrong way. I am too lazy to go back and do it so you will have to just turn your head to the side!They are both so dang cute! Miranda was the bully this weekend and managed to hit Riley with a pot (one you cook with) and a remote control. I am pretty sure she was going for reaction and found it interesting that Riley would cry when she hit her. I am sorry Riley, I will try to teach her better manners as she grows up. On the way home we stopped for square ice cream in Swan Valley as is tradition after cabin visits. I got huckleberries n' cream and it was delish!

I am so glad I went. I don't know when I will be able to go back to the cabin and it was so fun to spend time with my family. I love it there. It's like a home away from home because we were there so much as I was growing up. It makes me sad that my kids will not have that experience because we will be in Coeur d'Alene but I am sure that they will have experiences that they wouldn't be able to have in Idaho Falls. All the same, I will miss the cabin.

These are a few pictures of the lake and the cabin, I love the clouds This one is looking at the cabin from the old highway. You can make out the cabin if you know what you are looking for. It has a green roof and is down just to the right from the peak in the center of the picture.