In 20 min.

This is where I can be, in 20 min from my front door.

How could I resist right??  We went up the canyon a couple of weeks ago, and decided that we must go up more. A LOT more.  So, I packed up my kids.  And my sis-in-law packed up her 3 kids.  And my mother-in-law packed up herself, and we headed up to explore the Great Outdoors, once again.
We left our Hubbie's, (which meant I got to pull up the tent trailer and park it by myself) and went on a mother and kids camping trip. And we had a great time!

Here is the Trailer after I parked it.  Seriously people... this is not as easy as it looks!

And here is our beautiful campsite.  The tree's were towering around us, which gave us great shade all day.  It also was perfect for the kids to go exploring and look for pot bellies, and squirrels.

Once we set up the trailer and got camp organized, it was time to attempt a fire.  Now usually my husband is on the fire immediately, cuz he is like a fire-crazy man...but like I said, he was not with us.  SO, mother-in-law and I started working on it.  I built the tee-pee with kindling, and she built the cool looking Log Cabin.  And poof, just like that...FIRE!

 DISCLAIMER:
(We are quite capable of starting a fire by ourselves...BUT we did have a little help from a fire starter block that mother-in-law picked up from Wal-Mart.  We TOTALLY didn't really need it though, if you know what I mean).

 It rained on us the first night, so good thing we had the umbrella's and poncho's.  It was actually kind of soothing to go to sleep to the rain.  And when we woke up the next day, it was a beautiful blue sky.  So we cooked some pancakes and bacon, and packed up to go on a Hike.

I didn't realize that we were really going on a Hike...you know, like a REAL hike.  But my 3 yr old, and my 5.5 yr old did amazing!  They both hiked the whole way (except for 1 little spot where I held my 3 yr old) with minimal whining! My 9 yr old was in the lead pretty much the whole way, and I was at the end with my 3 yr old.  The way up was steep at times, so a break was needed every now and then.

 

We even saw some wildlife along the way...ok I didn't get any pictures of that, but I did capture this cool SLUG!

 

We keep hiking, and hiking.  My mother-in-law had a certain place she was looking for.  Once we found this sign she knew we were close.

We keep hiking for a bit, and then my mother-in-law decided to go ahead with the two oldest to try to find the turn-off for the place she wanted to show us.  My sis in law and me, stayed with the younger kids and slowed down and rested on and off.
Finally it had been a while and we started hiking again.  We passed some people on the trail, and keep hiking.  Finally thinking we had passed the turn off and nervous that we had gotten separated we sat down on a log beside the trail.  We sat there trying to figure out what to do, and discussing our options.  We didn't even realize that right behind us there was a trail!  And who comes walking up that trail...my mother in law and the two oldest kids! So funny how things work-out sometimes.  The place she wanted to show us was very overgrown and a lot of the tree's had died, so we keep hiking up looking for a meadow so we could eat our snacks.  

We finally found a meadow, ate some snacks, got eaten by flies, and turned around to hike down.  I tell you our kids did amazing!

We got home safe and sound, ate lunch, and then took a time out for a bit.  

I put together a Scavenger Hunt for the kids to play before we left.  I prepared a ziplock bag with a peice of paper with everything that they needed to find.  Who ever found everything first got a prize!  They had a great time finding things to collect in their bags, especially the bug requirment.  

That night we got word that another Storm was coming so we decided to pass on going to the Lake, and wait out the storm.  It came, and wasn't anything to crazy thank goodness, and passed just as it was dinner time.  So we got out and made dinner and roasted some marshmallows. Bree's husband came up both night's and joined us for dinner and marshmallow roasting.

The moisture in the air from the storm provided us with an amazing Sunset.  I absolutely love a perfect sunset.

 

 They must like SUNSETS as much as I do!

The two oldest kids...

 

 The next morning we woke up ate breakfast and finally made it down to the lake.  I brought our 3 fishing poles and we fished and waded in the water, and fed the ducks.  It was a perfect morning to end our trip with.  I didn't get any pictures of that, I was too busy watching the 3 hooks on the fishing poles and making sure they didn't end up IN anyone!!

And just for fun...an I SPY.  I spy with my little eye...2 squirrels!

 

And another, just for fun...just cause I love this kiddo of mine and he cracks me up!

All in 20 min...

Where can you be in just 20 minutes from your front door?  There are always places to discover and things to see.  Step out and see what you can discover. 

Loves,

Jill