For Conference Weekend we decided to haul our trailer up the canyon and enjoy the quiet loveliness of fall, while still within radio reception of
General Conference.
We found a lovely spot surrounded by quaking aspens, and were able to face the trailer in such a way that we always had shade to sit out front of the trailer and just enjoy relaxing.
The kids played and played. The younger two made friends with some close by Campers and they played with them as well!
Sophia loved it... she found so many wondermous sunny spots to nap! LOL
Jestin went on walk with the kids and found the perfect stick! He whittled most of the time, creating a cool walking stick with a rattle on the end.
Cody got a ton of reading in...
Emmalee and I worked on our Personal Progress together. It was lovely reading the scriptures & discussing the Attonement with Em & Cody. I have such great kids!
Across the next canyon a fire was burning. It was pretty at night! LOL
We gathered wood for our fire and found this cool tree stump!
On Saturday, between sessions, we drove down to this little sign we had always passed by before. It said "The Grotto". We had heard it wasn't too long a hike and so off we went!
Cam waiting for us to be ready to join him on the trail... LOL
And we're off! It was SOOO beautiful!!!!
Along the path there were these cool "improved" half log bridges.
About 10 minutes into our hike Caleb yells: We found it!!!!
Just around the bend ahead was this beautiful little grotto!
It was like a dream! A little cave, with a water fall, surrounded by lush green. The tinkle of the water was just lovely! We loved it!
They all started looking for pretty stones.
(Huh. Wonder where my boys get it from?? LOL)
A family had taken a tougher route, and were above the falls. The kids were so excited to wave at each other! :)
Cody took a ton of pictures... he has quite the "eye"!
Love my rocks!!
Jestin even started checking the stream for gold. LOL
He has a friend that has him interested in panning for gold as a hobby.
No time like the present to start playing! *grin*
The walk back down was just as lovely!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the fall colors! It is my most favorite time of year! I was in heaven on earth!
That night, Jes drove down the canyon to attend Priesthood Meeting. The kids and I worked more on Personal Progress and we worked on TONS of Cam's Wolf cub-scout stuff and passed it off.
We made chili and scones, and s'mores and sang every song we could think of around the campfire. Then we all shared our dreams of what we want to be when we growup!
Emma wants to be a singer.
Cody wants to be a farmer, novelist, beekeeper, massage therapist & a scientist.
Cam was SO reluctant to tell us what his dream was for fear we would make fun of him... finally he shared that he has a passion for singing, but he would like to sing Opera! (wahoo! that makes this mommy excited at the thought! LOL)
Caleb want's to be a builder like dad, and "a guy that digs up dinosaur bones". :)
I told them that I want to be an airline stewardess. They all thought that was weird! LOL I also want to be a missionary or a temple worker someday. :)
Emmalee taught us a "magic trick" she learned at girls camp. The kids all thought it was wicked cool!!
Jes came home around 9 pm and we ate more s'mores (so he wouldn't feel left out after all) and headed into the trailer to play card games until wee hours of the morning. (the boys were excited to have to put the fire out and sent Em and I inside so they could "take care of it"...translation... they peed on the fire! LOL
Sunday morning came and we ate a quiet breakfast and listened again to Conference. Between the 2 sessions, we took another explore and drove to "Devil's Kitchen".
This is a view of the valley way behind Cameron... so pretty! Pictures don't do it justice!
Can you see our lake in the distance?
We got out many times on our jaunt to enjoy all the beautiful vistas!
We are so blessed to live where we do! It is just breath taking!!
Sophie had the time of her life! She LOVED hanging out the window and all the walks! It was really cute!
We followed this really windy road, with sheer drop offs and gorgeous shades of red, orange, pink and yellow!
Finally we arrived! And after a little hike, in the middle of these normal northern Utah mountains, here was this little canyon:
"Devil's Kitchen"
Also known as "Little Bryce Canyon".
Such strange random formations!
But just beautiful!
Our family at Devil's Kitchen
We headed back to the car, glad for the sucess of our "explores".
After our drive and hike we were hungry, and some clouds were gathering. We headed back to camp. While we ate our lunch and gathered up camp a bit, we listened to the last session of Conference.
Some more of Cody's Photos (above and below)
We were headed home as Conference wound up, making it just in time to not be caught in the main vein of a fall thunderstorm that lasted for days.
Our family really enjoyed each other, the words of the Prophets, and forgetting about the stress that seems to not slow down of late.... It was SUCH a perfect weekend!
