Camp DuRoss- Part 1

Victor, Idaho, and Nana and Papa, we have arrived!  All the DuRoss cousins together again!  Yehaw.   

First adventure- a through hike on the Aspen Trail. Four miles doesn't sound like a lot of distance to cover until it turns into five and you factor in a few doddling four year olds.  ;) We made it, snacked a lot a long the way, played a lot of hide and seek, and sucked the nectar out of most of the Indian Paintbrush along the way.  

Dinner with 7 kids.  I feel so grateful for all the progress and development that has taken place over the years.  The kids can have their own table without much supervision and, as seen below, they are starting to carry their own gear, get their own shoes on, and, in future pictures you will see, the older kids can already paddle their cousins in their own boats/boards!  Amazing.

We paddled the Teton River a few times.  This is a gorgeous and beautiful stretch of river.  It was a highlight last year and again this time.  

Joy

The clouds!  What a show.

Cuties- both of em.  :)

And, after an afternoon on the river, why stop the water events?  Let's hit the pool!

Nana and Papa scored this awesome membership at the this amazing pool that we usually take over and have mostly to ourselves.  The views are great, the kids are happy, and the adults are often able to catch a minute to read....yeah, I said READ people.  Life is good poolside.

Nana is a horse lover and feels at home on the ranch.  We are so grateful she shares this love with our little ones.  Even the younger kids got to ride full size horses this year! 

My little wrangler.

Owen and "Fuzzy"

Ruby and "Annie"

These four.  Melt my heart.

I brought a few projects to entertain the kids at the house.  We made masks and played with water balloons.  I think I nearly got exiled from Camp DuRoss by Papa.  I guess I am so used to messes that I forget to consider the mess a project or activity might cause.  Whoops. ;)  It all cleaned up just fine....I think.

Nola

Ruby

Ruby

Judah

Owen

Selah

Despite the mess, I think they came out smashingly, don't you?!

Erika noticed this phenomenon taking place on the counter.  I have never seen this before.  Glorious.

Palisades Reservior- We have been thwarted on this adventure two years in a row, but not this year!  It was another highlight.  The boat was running, we rented paddle boards, and found one very special spot on this earth.

This family is nuts!  15 people, at least 6 large water "toys", not to mention the towels, food, and water necessary to sustain all those people for a day in the sun...loaded onto ONE boat trip to this private dock in a cozy little cove.   We made it and we LOVED it!  Thanks, Papa, for sharing this love of yours with all of us.  

Notice the creative transportation going on- two paddle boards floating the tube with a few kids in it.  I love the "we can do it" attitude around here. 

I think this is our only family picture from the trip. ;)

Hope kept calling this her "happy place".  I would have to agree.  Pretty dreamy.  I will do my best to recreate these images in my head and heart in times of stress and throughout the mundane details that life sometimes offers us.  Ahhhh....

Shenanigans. 

Boys swimming under the dock. 

Ruby learning to "surf".

And, what better way to end a day on the lake than to enjoy an evening of burgers and lawn games with the sunset.  The lighting was incredible...not as incredible as the company, but close.  Thanks to Nana and Papa for a fun night out. :)

Speaking of the company...look at this beautiful group!  So many special smiles.  You got it Selah, PEACE.