Happy Valentine's Day from the Cabin

For Valentine's Day weekend we went up to the cabin.  There wasn't much snow and it was difficult to ski on because it had been thawed and frozen so much.  It hadn't snowed since December, but we were able to snow shoe along the river.  Brian actually got stuck on the ATV with tracks twice trying to lay tracks for the skis with our track setter behind the ATV.

A highlight was on a drive back from West Yellowstone when we saw this snow sailor.  We only got a glimpse of the rider but could see his or her sail floating along the sky next to the road.  Pretty cool, eh?
 

Cabin Christmas Adventure - Day Eight - Time to go home

Today we got up, ate up, cleaned up, and headed out.  There was a lot to do. Everyone helped with the work.  We were done with the bulk of the work by 11.  But getting everyone and our stuff out took a lot of time.  We didn't actually leave the parking lot until almost 2.

I skied out.  There was never a more beautiful day, except maybe the day after the creation.   The sun was shining on the snow.  The wind was calm.  I had to peel off layers part way into my journey.  My camera battery died before I could get a picture of Moose Creek, which was pristine.

On our way home we stopped in Pocatello for dinner at Sizzler.  There Keith's old friend Luke and his wife Bridget met us.










Now I am back home on my computer in the kitchen finishing this up at 2:15 am on Monday morning.  Keith and Jackie and baby Penny have to fly back to Texas later today.  Jake and Aimee should be back in California by now.  Everyone here is in bed, asleep.  I can't express in words how much I love my wonderful family.  Thank you to my wonderful husband, Brian, for making this all possible.  I love you dearly.  You and our children and their families are the best part of my life.  I only hope I am the best mother and wife that you all so greatly deserve.  Here is a poem I wrote some time ago about closing the cabin.

The trash can is left in the middle of the kitchen floor - empty. 

 The windows are closed, shades lowered, curtains drawn.  

The old sheets are hung in windows that face the river, 

covering windows that should never be covered when we are there.  

The beds are made, 

the fridge is off, 

towels are folded, fire is out.  

The mop is drying, vacuum is away, dishes are done.  

Coats are hung, doors are locked.  

In the stillness of the quiet, flies wait to die 

and my cabin waits for my return.

By the way, I cry every time I leave the cabin.  Until next time...

Cabin Christmas Adventure - Day Seven

Today Kelsey's snowman was a little dusty...














The little girls finger painted in the snow with colored water.  See the masterpieces?

Then we visited Myron.  We saw a hole in the snow at the base of Myron where Chewy has a tunnel to an under the snow lair.  

Later that afternoon Scot and Chris skied over from the parking lot.  Brian and I met them half way and skied the rest of the way in.  It was a little cold and snowy.

Helen and I made puppets to go with our book, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, by Laura Numeroff.  We made a moose and a mouse. 

 

That night the girls gave us the second of two 'shows' they performed with a mixture of ballet and mime.

And later the big kids took pictures of Penny for Pinterest, uh, I mean, like some baby pictures on Pinterest.  

Isn't she sweet...

Cabin Christmas Adventure - Day Six

This morning Kelsey and Jackson had to head for home.  She needed to get back to work.  They took off after breakfast, much to our dismay.

Then the girls and I got busy making our gingerbread bears, moose, bison, fish, and squirrels.

Helen is really proud of the results.  She made a bunch of fish for Papa and even a boat cookie so he could take her fishing and catch fish.

We spent the afternoon getting to Scot's cabin to shovel a path and get the heat going because they were on their way up and we wanted them to be warm when they got there.  Lots of fun.

Cabin Christmas Adventure - Day One

The kids wanted to spend Christmas at the cabin.  Of course, we were more than happy to comply.  Brian spent a year (maybe?) researching ways to get us all into the cabin on snowy roads.  Here is what he eventually came up with.

Okay, so he wanted to go up before the rest of us could.  Thanks to his good friend, Brent, he was able to.  Brent drove his truck and pulled the trailer up, and then Brent came back the next day.  Here they are getting ready to leave.  Not much snow on the ground at our house.  We hoped that would not be  a problem at the cabin.

Ask Brian about some tall tale of getting jack knifed once they got to the warming hut turn off. ;)

Did I mention that Brent is a 'good' friend?

A week later, Keith and Jackie and Penny flew into the Salt Lake airport.  Sarah and I picked them up late Friday night.  We loaded up on Saturday morning and took off in both cars fully loaded with 6 suitcases, 5 adults, 4 helmets, 3 tubs, 2 babies, 1 cooler, and a partridge in a pear tree. 

You can see that by now we had some snow at home.  And lucky for us, snow was falling nicely at the cabin. 

As we traveled we got hungry.  So first stop (after Walmart for diapers) was Neilsen's Frozen Custard in Rexburg.  After a sandwich, I had to try the peppermint custard.  Wow was it delicious!

The next stop was Rexburg Motor Sports.  Keith needed goggles and Kelsey wanted a new helmet.  Jackson and I tried out all the toys. 

Finally, on to the cabin!

When we arrived Brian met us at the warming hut parking lot on the ATV.  We were off on our Christmas adventure!

Kelsey, Sarah, and Jackson were the first ones in.  It was a little tight but hey,  we are a tight family, what can I say??

Jackie, Keith and Penny went next. And last Brian and I went in.  This is what we saw as we came around the corner to the cabin...

 Brian had wrapped the entire cabin in red ribbon laced through all the trees.  He said, "Merry Christmas!" as I exclaimed my delight.  This promises to be the best Christmas adventure yet. 

Tomorrow is Sunday.  Wait until you hear what that day brought...