I think it is awesome that we can live in a generally ugly desert (but natives argue it has its own kind of beauty) – and yet within an hour and a half drive we are in the mountains with cooler temperatures, pine trees, wildlife and even snow in the winter.
Our friends invited us up to a family cabin to escape the heat before school started and it was a beautiful and relaxing 48 hours – as relaxing as it can be with 11 kids between the two families! Luckily, every one has a buddy and they entertain each other well. The older kids spent their time building a fort, playing frisbee golf and hours and hours of time were spent playing games. The younger kids jumped from one activity to the next and it seemed to always be naptime/bedtime or snack time! Life with toddlers.
I’m pretty sure we started 6 games of shuffleboard and never completed them because kids needed one thing or another. After tucking them all in bed we had our time talking late into the night!
The large tree swing on the family homestead could’ve entertained the kids all day. I kept hearing, “My turn, my turn!” I got in line and tried it out – it had such a long chain that the swing seemed to float in the air as it slowly made its way back and forth. It was oddly relaxing and I was reluctant to give it back to the kids!
These last pictures are really for my dad – as soon as the kids saw the elk on the side of the road – they demanded I shoot photos and videos to send to grandpa. One crossed the road right in front of us as we were driving and they didn’t seem to have any fear of people as they were hanging out in people’s front yards. It must not be hunting season!
Mountain air is good for the soul and we loved smelling the pine trees The best part was the relief in temperature, it was hard driving back to the valley watching the temperature gauge in the car continue to rise into triple digits. Good thing summer weather will be over in two more months. 🙂
