Fall at the Cabin

While Nic was on paternity leave we decided to take a trip up to the cabin in Island Park. Jonas was only 2 weeks old, but I figured there wasn't a better place for a newborn then in a nice warm cabin, away from technology and noise and people.  Mason actually had his Primary program in church that Sunday (Primary what we call our kids' sunday school) and so we asked him if he would rather stay and do that or go to the cabin. He didn't hesitate. He wanted to go to the cabin. And I don't think he regretted his decision for a moment.

 

The kids had a fantastic time. One major reason for this is the SRP. Yes, the SRP. That is my dad's program for catching squirrels that are chewing up and otherwise trying to destroy his cabin and then relocating them elsewhere in the forest. Hence SRP-Squirrel Relocation Program. My dad and Mason set the trap with a fishy cracker and peanut butter and waited to catch the first squirrel. My dad wasn't sure they'd catch any because of his program's previous success. After only about 20 minutes, however, Mason looked out the window and started to jump up and down screaming. He had caught one and he was beyond ecstatic! He showed the same enthusiasm with each catch. And there were a lot of catches.

 

After each catch Mason and my dad would get on the 4 wheeler and take the squirrel a few miles away and release them into their new home. I guess the little critters would just leap from the trap and scamper off. The only way to improve upon the program would be to tag the squirrels to ensure that they don't, in fact, return to the cabin to cause more damage. But we decided that that would be too difficult and besides, they give a very active 4 year old something to do for the weekend.

Between capturing rodents we had a few fires where we cooked hot dogs and made s'mores. There was even a very large s'more incident with a marshmellow the size of my fist. Pictures are below. I can't even look at them without laughing.

 

 

 

If you look in upper right hand corner of this picture you can see the beginning of the creation of the monster s'more.

 

The s'more required heavy involvment from both granparents. All while I just laughed and took pictures.

 

Finally it just become necessary for this to happen.

 

Nic's perfect mallow.

 

Dad's perfect mallow. (I love this picture!)

 



 One day we took a little walk to where the Buffalo river empties into Henry's Fork. The kids had fun walking around on the rocks and finding ways to walk as far out into the river as possible. As usual, everything Mason and Nic did, Sage wanted to do. Lucky for us we had grandpa and grandma to help her walk out on to log bridges and rock hop out into the middle of the river. This girl has no fear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also spend some time going for walks around the cabin and going on 4 wheeler rides.

LOVE this picture!



 

I also LOVE this picture. I can't stop laughing when I look at it.



 

This is a picture of Mason crying while playing checkers with Nic. He got so upset when Nic would "jump" one of his pieces because he thought the pieces were his points. He is just starting to show an interest in board games and we are working on the idea that he won't always win (though I'm sure Nic let him win this game.) 

 

Tiny baby in a great big chair.

 

Jonas got lots of snuggle time with Grandma and Grandpa. I love the cabin. 

 

On the way home from the cabin we were able to stop by Idaho Falls to celebrate Grandma Pierson's birthday and meet little Amelia. She is only a few weeks older than Jonas and sure to be a favorite cousin for him!