Crystal

We got back yesterday from our annual trip to Crystal with the Anderson family. James seriously has been looking forward to this trip since we got back last year, this is his 3rd year going and he already has such wonderful memories of it up there. It is such a magical place, words and pictures can not really do it justice. We don't do a whole lot of anything, yet the days fly by while we are there. James (and now Mac) get absolutely filthy playing in the dirt, we eat and drink pretty much all day long, play games, hike, ride ATV's and catch up with good friends.

This year another friend from dental school, Natalie Jones joined us with her husband Luke and daughter Josie. This was the first trip that James has had another kid to play with and he was in heaven. He was constantly asking, "Where is my friend?" or "Let's go find Josie!" all day long. Here we are in front of the Anderson's cabin. Our family with Steff and the Jones stayed in cabins in the meadow behind their cabin.

Our obligatory family photo in front of the mill.

James checking out the view and throwing rocks with Josie.

We hiked down by the water so James could get in some better rock throwing (and Mac could get in some scenic nursing).

Mac was a trooper and did better than we expected, but that kid is most definitely a little homebody. He is just not as happy or as content anywhere but our own house. He sleeps like complete and total garbage and really just wants to be held by me anytime we are not at home.

Between hikes and naps, Macky spent a lot of quality time in the Ergo.

He also spent a lot of quality time eating dirt and chewing on rocks. 

James is in love with everything about Crystal and he loved having buddies to share it with this year. We brought up his Strider bike and he rode it all around the meadow and the "road" through town.

Taking it easy in the hammock.

He and Josie spent a lot of time playing in the creek in front of the Anderson cabin, which also doubles as a beer fridge.

                              

A close second to the creek was playing in the dirt pile with sticks and trucks.

I don't know what it is about Crsytal, but everything up there tastes better. We use this excuse to spend the vast majority of our days eating and drinking. Brynne's mom typically cooks for everyone, but this year we took turns preparing meals, which worked out great. Most breakfasts and dinners we all eat together at the picnic table outside.

Everyone's favorite time of day is happy hour, which usually starts around 4 and lasts until dinner is ready. Brynne's mom made a signature drink and special appetizer each afternoon.

During nap time (for the big kids) we would all hang out in the meadow playing games and having pre-happy hour. Mac's baby cage was a life saver and helped to limit the amount of dirt, rocks, bugs and other foreign matter he ingested.

The weather was gorgeous, we did have a few afternoon rain storms which were actually really nice. The last afternoon we were there, there was a rainbow that ended right in front of the cabin! So as it turns out, there isn't a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, just Crystal :-)

On our last night, it was rainy and we ate by candlelight in the parlour (there is no electricity anywhere in Crystal). Not a great photo, but it was beautiful. We had flank steaks, grilled corn salad, roasted potatoes and homemade peach pie. Best meal ever. Thanks Jones family!

We love our time in Crystal. It is the only time all year we are completely "unplugged" with no electricity, no phones, no tv, no computers, etc. It is so relaxing to just have the time to sit around and be together with no distractions.

As we were packing up to head home yesterday James asked, "When do we come to Crystal again?" We are already looking forward to next year. We got home and immediately put both boys in the tub. They required an initial wash, a draining and rinsing out of the tub, a full second bath and a scrubbing with Tim's soap (California Baby was not doing the trick) and an old toothbrush to get all the grime out from under their nails. I have spent today doing mass amounts of laundry and running around like crazy running errands before James starts back to school tomorrow. So I guess summer is now officially over, Crystal was a great way to wrap it up!

Weekend in the Mountains

We spent the weekend up in the mountains at the cabin. It was nice and cool and beautiful, and our friends the Haleys were up at their mountain condo too, so we had someone to enjoy our weekend with! 

 James still loves looking at, talking about, and sitting on the 3 wheeler and ATV's. But he won't go for a ride on one.

Extreme Macky. (safety disclaimer : we did not move while he was sitting with me)

 James was pleased to discover that for whatever reason his Papa currently has a giant digger tractor parked in the garage of the cabin.

 Playing peek-a-boo through the deck door.

 Saturday night we had a campfire for s'mores.

 James skips the s'more and just goes for the toasted marshmallow part, just like me.

 We went for our second annual Dillon Lake boat-stravaganza with the Haleys while we were up there. It was a little more crowded this year with the addition of 2 cute babies to our crew.

 The big kids have learned quickly that the best part about boating is the snacks. You will notice that they are eating in every picture.

 You can't see their faces here, but trust me, they were eating.

 You can't ask for a more beautiful background for a boat ride than that. 

 We had a great weekend and it made all of us super excited for our annual trip to Cyrstal next weekend!

Our Week

James woke up one day last week and decided he was "Very interested in volcanoes." He asked if we could make a volcano, so we invited over the Haley boys and made it happen. All of the boys' collective diosaurs were invited for the big event.

 Each boy got to build their own volcano and then we made each one erupt about 7 times. It never really lost it's appeal.

 The babies and the schnoodle were all fairly impressed by the experiment too.

 James checking out the volcano snack that Kelly made for the boys.

 James loves to rough house and wrestle around with "Moo Moo" (his newest name for Macky). I am always alarmed at first and worried about Mac getting hurt, but he spends the whole time laughing hysterically and, let's face it, he almost weighs as much as James does, so.....

 Watching the two of them play together makes my heart happy.