Trip to Cabin

   We spent the rest of our time up at the cabin aside from a few day trips.  We were there from Saturday until Wednesday afternoon.  We decided that next year we will be staying for a full week. It still just wasn't quite enough time up there for us.  I think we could live up there during the summer.
    Times are just so much simpler up at the cabin.  We are surrounded by old mining buildings and artifacts  from long ago.  It almost seems when we go up there we are stepping back in time.  We fill our days with things like hiking, throwing rocks in the river, watching hummingbirds, feeding chipmunks, looking for wildflowers, etc.  We all sit on the porch for hours talking and laughing with one another.  I am glad we don't have much technology up there.  It really does force us to unplug and truly spend quality time with one another without the distractions in our day to day lives.
   Here are some of the pictures from our time up at the cabin during our trip.

Gracie is a nature girl to the max.  She loves to be outside and running and exploring.  

We went on many, many walks and hikes.  It was our attempt to wear the kids out.  Unfortunately, the adults also got quite worn out too.  

A girl on the go

Dawson and I walking to town

We got to feed the chipmunks every morning

Such a nice picture of Ella

My loves

Jameson enjoyed the chipmunks this year

Gracie is really learning how to feed the chipmunks

My dad recently got this tight rope thing for the kids.  They love it and Jameson had to try it out

The cool boys ready to go on a ride

Exploring

Our river dog

These two live for the mountains

Playing by the river

The girls got these wax lips at the general store.  They were pretty silly

The girls are obsessed with the rope swing and spent every chance they got swinging.  

Dawson fell asleep pretty early on night on the couch.  So much fun really wears a boy out!!!

Playing with his cars

More river exploration

Cool stick

The girls picked out some ladybug playgrounds when we went to the toy store in Salida.  When we got back, they immediately had to go ladybug hunting.  Ashlyn has a good eye for spotting them.  

Looking for ladybugs

Bed buds in the whole world

Our view for the week

Ella holding her ladybug playground

Ashlyn showing off her bugs

Thanks to our handy wildflower guide book, we were able to identify a few new types of flower.  This particular one is a wild iris.  It's so much fun to find a flower and try to match it.  We learned the Ute Indians used to eat this flower.  

She really wants to pet one!

Being silly as usual

Too many kids for one chair

Popsicle time.  Boy were they excited!!!

Ashlyn swinging away

  On Wednesday, we left the cabin around 3:00.  We decided to go back to Buena Vista to grab dinner before heading home.  We tried a new restaurant that specializes in healthy food and it was amazing.  They had a really neat outdoor eating space with lots for the kids to do.  This pipe and magnet area entertained them well.  

Lots of building

    We decided to end the trip on a very sweet note and go back to the ice cream place one last time for a final treat.  It was the perfect ending to the perfect trip.

More ice cream

Such a nice brother to share with his sister