Our Sweet Escape Continued..

As always our first trip of the season to The Cabin did not disappoint. In fact, our trip was so successful we decided to pack up the following weekend and escape once again. The first weekend was just our little family of 3 for two nights and three days. The next weekend, Mother's Day weekend, we joined Zac's dad and step mom along with his step sister, Jennika and her family. This trip was cut a little short due to the weather, but both trips were the sweet escape we had been looking for.

Our first trip was just as relaxing as expected. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the fish were {kinda} biting, and we were together. Drayze absolutely loved getting dirty and throwing rocks. It was a little hard for both Zac and I to fish at the same time while keeping up with the little. From eating rocks, kicking his shoes off every two seconds, and getting far too close to the water. He sure did have a good time though. I also realized I wouldn't survive two seconds stranded in the wilderness with nothing. We found ourselfs low on the water we  had to bring, as the water was not turned on yet. In a panic I drove one hour round trip to buy a couple gallons of water to last us the 8-10 more hours we expected to stay.

The following weekend with the entire family was fun, but we have to admit it probably wasn't quite as relaxing. Housing 9 people, The Cabin was packed to nearly its maximum capacity. It is fun to spend time with the family and watch the kids play together. Drayze and his cousin Kallen are only 6 months apart. Watching them interact and grow together is really fun. Kallen wasn't the happiest of campers during this trip, but he did occasionally play toys with "Baby Drayze." The fishing was actually hot this trip. They were biting as quick as we could get the line in the water, and Randy caught an impressive trophy fish. As Saturday came to an end, Emma AKA Bucky decided it was necessary to go on a Zombie hunt. We were checking a spooky spot where we thought for sure we'd find a Zombie, when suddenly we noticed uncle Charlie (Zac) had disappeared. We thought he ha been taken, when actually he was fighting off a zombie. This sure did give Bucky quite the scare. The night winded down and we finally laid down for a {decent} nights rest. Unfortunately the next morning we woke up to a good 3 or so inches of cold snow. This, of course, sent us packing for home. 

Both trips were very different, but each made for great memories we will cherish for a lifetime. The Cabin is always a great escape and a wonderful place to spend quality family time. We plan on spending much more time there through the warm seasons and years to come. 

Priceless. 

Not sure he is too happy about being packed in to the car like luggage. We made it work. 

The drive...not always the best part about the trip. 

Chopping wood for the fire. 

Porch sitting

Kangaroo corn. Strangest thing. 

"Wits End"

Love this. 

Carving his name closer to mine and Drayze's. 

Cousin time. 

Because I adore my hot husband. 

Bucky on the top bunk. 

The girls (and Drayze)

Glad the hubby is always willing to unhook the fish I catch. 

On our zombie hunt. 

Drayze sure loves Emma. 

Until next time. 

Our Sweet Escape

We all love having something to look forward to. Whether it be a vacation, getting to see an old friend, something to arrive in the mail, or simply a break from the daily grind. The anticipation is almost as exciting as the actual event. Each year as the weather begins to {slightly} warm up, without question we start planning our first escape to The Cabin. It's like Christmas for Zac and I. Nothing beats running off to our secluded sweet spot where there isn't any cell service, no electronics for that matter, and spending a few quiet quality days just being together.

Waking up in The Cabin is the sweetest, most peaceful thing one could ever experience. The coziness and calming crackle coming from the fire accompanied by the warming smell of a fresh pot of coffee starts any day off perfectly. After waking up slowly, we take our cup of coffee and cozy blankets to sit on the front porch and listen to the birds chirp while the cold crisp air hits our skin. The calmness radiating from the lake is unlike anything else.
We will spend most of the day on the shore of the lake fishing, talking, and taking in the sun and our breath taking surroundings. The fishing isn't always the best, but "a bad day fishing {especially at The Cabin} is better than a good day at work." We can usually catch something. This year Drayze will be old enough to enjoy playing in the dirt and crawling around. Later in the year, when the water warms up, there are often people in boats, and kids {and dogs} jumping off the docks. It's such a fun time of year.
After the sun goes down, it's back to The Cabin for even more quality time together. We will prepare a "cabin meal" which usually consists of either a casserole of some sort, hot dogs over the fire, or a soup/chili cooked in the crock pot. We wash up with a pot of water that has been warmed over the fireplace and dress in our cozy comfiest clothes. We will plop in a movie, usually an older movie we have seen a hundred times or a cartoon movie of some sort. Playing games at the cabin is a must for me. Most times it is a card game we will play. I will expand our gaming options over time.
The lifestyle we embrace while at The Cabin combine with the location and company is what makes us love those weekends we are able to spend together at our quiet sanctuary. I'm {obviously} extra excited this weekend is going to be one of those fabulous weekends. It may be a little cold, but nothing a few extra coats and blankets can't take on. I can't wait to watch Drayze be able to take it all in. I have no doubt he will have more fun than any of us combine. Friday can't get here soon enough. I know the weekend will feel like it flew by.. as it often does. All in all, it will be yet another unforgettable weekend at The Cabin.

....to be continued.

(It's so much prettier not covered in snow.)

One of last years trips: