Thanksgiving at Castle Rocks

 thanksgiving this year was fabulous! we all brought dinner to mom and dad's and enjoyed our turkey feast.

then, that afternoon, we packed up and took all of our families to a lodge and bunkhouse at castle rocks.  it had just enough room for all of us, and the lodge (house) was very nice.

 we lucked out and the days that we were up there, the weather was perfect for november, so we spent the daylight hours out on the rocks.  the 3, older boys had a b-l-a-s-t!  we went through most of the castle rocks area and then went over to city of rocks for one afternoon.  we went to all the old favorites...bath, twin sisters, etc.  the boys were running/climbing up and down them, exploring caves and all sorts of routes.  all but bath rock where the handholds are now.  i remember going with my lavendar church shoes up there.  that was not smart.  i didn't make it to the top as a kid but as a teenager and again when i took roommates there in college.  heck, i took mission friends and even ben and some of his sisters there.  it's a great place!

 i enjoyed getting out and having a chance to be active again.  i didn't quite have the arm strength back to make it up bath, but lisa and eldon did and the boys look forward to being able to come back and give that a go if we don't lose one of them flying down the rocks!!!

 we also played games, watched a few shows, ate lots of good food, explored, and did some kids crafts.  the older kids and dads slept out in the bunkhouse with a wood burning stove.  bentley quite enjoyed the stove and stoking the fire.  bridon, on the last day, decided to explore the ice on the nearby creek and came back soaked to his waist.  that is not the first time that boy has almost drowned.  oh bridon.  emerson had so much fun following tylee around and sleeping with her on the pull out bed.  then her and anni played 'weed barbies' while the rest of us climbed.  do not lose the weeds (brush) they are valuable!!

 wyatt took a nose dive our first morning of exploring, so he had a rudolph nose the whole time but it didn't seem to hurt him too bad.  ellee is naughty sleeping anywhere but her crib and is getting her bottom molars.  and ivy came down with a fever and was pretty sick by saturday.  but, all in all, it was great!  i am so thankful for my little family and all of our family members.  i am thankful for so many things and the chance to get out and enjoy this time together.  i tried to include a picture of everyone there, but i see we missed dad.  he had to leave thursday nite.  these times are such fun memories for my kids.  we ended the trip up at castle rock and eldon took the boys 'over the rock' and ran down the other side.  what fun!  we stopped and ate at the almo outpost and then drove straight home.  a miracle in itself!  happy thanksgiving!!