FINALLY ALL TOGETHER PART 2

I love that my daughters-in-law all took pictures of our family at the cabin, and posted them to their family blogs. I just go in and swipe them. This picture to the left is a first. Here is the beautiful screened in porch that overlooks the Weber river in the backyard. Usually this porch is set up with a ping pong table and a few 100 year old chairs. I feel, although beautiful, it doesn't get the use it should and could be sealed in, creating two more bedrooms that are desperately needed with our growing families. So (and I think this is a first), we made full use of it with aerobeds for those that had no place to sleep. Kids were in the loft on air mattresses and sleeping bags, all three bedrooms were being used, so here is the ultimate "sleep over!" Ashleigh and Joshua brought the best aerobed I've ever seen. Instead of the usual uncomfortable version, they had borrowed a deluxe model that was as comfortable as a real bed. Love to purchase a few of those and store them somewhere (maybe my moms basement in Utah?) The only challenge? It does get very cold at night. There is still snow on those Wasatch mountains!

To the right is a view from one of the beds. There is nothing more beautiful on earth. With having been blessed to travel extensively with various Network Marketing company Trips-of-a-Lifetime, and Chris' basketball trips, I've seen gorgeous places.  My fav? Besides Sydney, Australia --- definitely Pines Ranch, Utah where my families 100 year old cabin sits. Above and to the left, baby girl Siri supports herself on one of the memories at the cabin - the chairs. I remember as a little girl when my grandmother Clayton painted this chair green to match the beautiful trees. This chair has been in the cabin, out on the lawn, in the backyard, and now stays in - out of the elements - in the screen-in patio. Forever a memory. Generations have sat on that little chair.

Grandpa Burgess teaching how it's done.

Nolan, age 9 using his Scouting skills.

Chopping and collecting wood is a
requirement, necessity, and also a memory of cabin living. Each family must leave the cabin clean, and fully stocked with wood for the next family. Here is Ken showing the grand kids how it's done to the left. Nolan is using those Scouting skills to chop wood like the big boys. Most of the morning was grandpa's helpers carrying the wood after being chopped from the chopping area to the cabin, and to the fire pit for the bonfire. I will ask my mom to send me a copy of a picture where I was doing the same thing with my grandpa Clayton. I was about their same age. Again - memories :-) xo

Jane, Oliver and Zoey helping grandpa Burgess with wood.

Speaking of cabin memories, my mom came everyday we were there. She would drive up first thing in the morning from Centerville, Utah (about 1 1/2 hours away). There was no room at the inn...since Ken and i had her bedroom occupied (best bed in the cabin). She just wanted to be a part of the historic moment when my family was all together. She sat outside and watched with tears and memories. She feels my dad there at the cabin. He died nearly ten years ago, but helped build various parts of the cabin. He loved to fly fish, and was very good at it. It relaxed him. He didn't care that it lacked brand new furniture, better flooring, better insulation or better access to the bathroom (have to go outside to the porch, then to the added indoor bathroom.) He loved it there. I can still picture him walking up the meadow with a couple of sticks and bag full of freshly caught trout. He always was whistling and smiled from ear to ear letting us know how many fish he had caught that day. He was such a quiet, loving man with an incredible sense of humor. His little jokes were softly spoken, but always made me laugh. He never once raised his voice to me. And only one time gave me a swat when I was sixteen and had been talking back to my mom (as teenagers tend to do.) And in the evening he would light a huge fire inside the cabin and sit a read and study the scriptures and books about the gospel. Such a sensitive, good man. He never said an unkind thing to anyone. I miss him. A picture of him in full fishing gear is framed above he and my moms bed in the cabin. I hope to get a copy of that to post for my children.

Well, as they say, that's a rap here. I've tried to document our experiences through words and pictures. Impossible to describe the feelings we all share about the trip, and the beauty of the cabin's surroundings. But, it is special to all of us. And I know my kids will remember this trip fondly, and stay in touch with each other. That is an easier task with texting, Skype, email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Our lives are open books!

FINALLY ALL TOGETHER

Joshua, Christopher, Angela, David, Benjamin at the cabin.

Fifteen Grandkids!

I was waiting for Eddie's pictures and video's of our family vacation to post, but after reading Cooper's three posts this afternoon (with tears in my eyes), I had to begin the process. My dream of having all of my five children and fifteen grandchildren all in one place at the same time finally happened July, 2011. It was noisy, hot, messy at times, but heavenly. I loved it. Finally all together. Grandkids that hadn't met each other, not only met but played together, roasted marshmallows together, cried, laughed and got dirtier than anyone can imagine, fell off that old seesaw and fought over the swings . But, again, it was heaven to me just having them finally all together.

Ken with some of the grandkids getting  ready for roasting.

Families are forever and having them together was magical. Yes, my children are a bit sarcastic with each other, but they adore each other and always support one another, no matter what. I love that and know there is nothing they wouldn't do for each other. Some new to the family may not realize that with their constant joking, that they are just having fun, and they are, and it makes me smile, even as I write this post. That's what makes a family unique and special - the different personalities, but same eternal family goals.

Adelaide (11) roasting a strawberry?

Pictured above is the famous little walkover step ladder that goes from our cabin yard to the meadow. I remember sitting on this ladder (recently repaired by my thoughtful brother, Kim ) as a little girl, then again as a teenager, a college student and an expecting, pregnant young mother. I would sit there and often just think about things, ponder the future, and visualize my future family there enjoying the gorgeous surroundings. I love this cabin and I know my children do to. Granted, there are only three bedrooms, a loft for laying out sleeping bags, a kitchen, front room and screened in porch overlooking the Weber rivers, but oh so many memories.

Nothing better than hot dogs, chips, potato salad and smores.

I used to bring the kids up by  myself, and we'd wade in the river, skim rocks, fish, swim in the water holes, (after numbing our entire body from the frigid water) hike, take walks to the spring at night and to the gate during the day to open it for arriving guests, ride the river on inner tubes, roast marshmallows, both inside the cabin and outside in front of the firepit, sit in front of a roaring bonfire at night, and always play many competitive rounds of the games Sorry, Monopoly and Chinese Checkers.

Roasting, bonding, loving.

We've discussed wanting to plow down our side of the cabin and rebuild something larger, newer, more comfortable. But, according to my cousin, Ellen, the county considers it an historical site. So, the now shoe shack, storage area is still standing, which was the original cabin. And the rest has had lots of add-on's and repairs, but it is a century old and will remain like it is forever, I think. The couches change with one wearing out and others brought in from various families redecorating their homes. But the rocking chairs are still the same, dining table in tack just as it was when my dad helped build it, and the window sills have a different coat of paint (although someone must have closed their eyes when painting since it's all over the glass!), but the spirit of love, memories and family warm your heart and take you back to a simpler time and place. I remember studying for exams there - junior high, high school, college. I remember sewing maternity clothes there when I was pregnant with Angela. I remember sorting through sad times there, and having them turn from sadness to happiness. The cabin does that to you. And finally...my family was all together at last, and I loved it!