Memorial Weekend Campout

During Memorial Weekend we ventured off to Ensign Ranch, along with six other families, for a good dose of mother nature and some well earned time off. It was a beautiful place with lots of great things to do, and we were even blessed with nice weather. The kids had a ball and loved being able to get dirty. We loved having the camping "aura" of campfire smoke, bugspray, and dirt that seems to linger for a few days after you get home, eating lots of Smore's and delicious dutch oven desserts, and spending time together as a family and with friends. We made wonderful memories and will never forget our time at Ensign Ranch!

Our great little campsite! There's a river just to the right which kept us on our toes with the kids. Isaac couldn't get enough of throwing rocks into the water.

I love this picture! Brooklyn, her friend Sam, Brian, and Isaac going on a walk to play in the big grass field. Isn't all the greenery so beautiful!

Sammy, Brooklyn, and Isaac. The best of friends!

Daddy and his little sidekick.

Brian helped the kids make this great little "village" in the dirt. There were a lot of little roads that they drove their little trucks on, and they each had their own house and driveway. This was by far one of my favorite moments of the trip. Just sitting at the picnic table watching my sweetheart down in the dirt just being one of the kids. What a great dad!

Take a close look at Isaac's lips! He was vrooming his little truck around and making the cutest little face with his pouty lips.

We went for a fun canoe ride on this beautiful lake. We supplied Isaac with a bucket full of rocks to toss into the water and keep him occupied, which he emptied quickly. I was kicked back, enjoying my surroundings, in the back of the canoe, which Brian soon pointed out that is where most of the "steering" happens. (I was wondering why my honey was working so hard.) So I kicked it in gear and helped out a little. You can get those babies going pretty fast with both of you rowing at top speed! With the wind blowing in our hair and the sun on our face, we had a great time working on our canoeing skills!

Our fearless "Banana Boat" Aaarrgghh!

Our trip ended with a little good old fashioned, home-made slip'n slidin'. Brian and Brooklyn braved the cold water and took a few trips down the slide. She had so much fun and even worked up enough courage to go down by herself!

This is a shot of the "Big Slide". They pump water from the lake to keep it wet and it's quite impressive. Aren't those mormons inventive! (p.s. for those who don't know, Ensign Ranch is a church owned camp ground, recreational place.) Brian and Brooklyn are the one's on the yellow tube in the center, on their way down.

Our cute little water bug getting warmed up after all the slip'n'slide fun.
The kids were so worn out after their weekend of adventure. Isaac was asleep before I could get his seatbelt buckled! And they both slept the whole way home. We had a blast at Ensign Ranch and look forward to our next adventure together!