Sweetwater Cabin

 

Our Boyer Family vacation started the night before my Triathlon.  But, the Princess and the Pea decided it would be best to sleep in her own bed the night before and the in-laws were soooo kind to watch all three kiddos for the night and most of the day.

Mommy saying goodnight to her little man.  He was bery tired.

So we headed out to the Sweetwater Cabin Friday night, got everything set up and unpacked, had supper, bathed kiddos and did our best to settle them down for bed.  Ha ha, not quite.  Sleeping in a new place with cousins around is not the time to go to bed on time, MOM!  So we got home and in bed kind of late, considering the excitement I was going to endure the next day.

Our family the cousins’ family and the grandparents, all 12 of us, stayed in a 12-sleeper rustic and cozy cabin (are you picking up on the subtle realtor terms) with private access to the Sweetwater Springs which empty into the Juniper Run.  The springs were BEAUTIFUL.  There were two of them side by side and they were crystal clear.  The area surrounding the springs was shallow enough for the little ones to enjoy without having to worry about it being too deep.

 

We did take a Nature Walk every morning, while those who chose to cleaned up from breakfast and readied themselves for the day.  We found lots of deer, bear, raccoon and whatever else tracks.  And scat.  The kids loved that part.  Well, maybe the boys did.

 

Here's what happens after the Nature Walk.  Somebody notices a turkey strutting across the driveway.

Thank goodness, even in the heart of a National Forest, there’s a little technology to the rescue.  Every now and then, we all just needed a break from the nothingness of being in the woods and same went for the kids.  Jim needed to sit there to referee and time out each turn.  Even the smallest ones got a chance to enjoy the iPad.

 

 

Jim was right on the money with thinking about bringing these minnow nets.  The kids, all of them, played with the nets every time they went down to the water.  The only problem was there were only 2 of them.  I remember loving to catch minnows, collect them in a Dixie cup and would sadly find them belly-side up the next morning.

Uncle Buddy was some fresh, new and exciting entertainment when he, Aunt Vivian and Aubrey stopped by for the day.  He is master kid-flipper and water-bottle-squirter.

 

 

 

The cousins:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some beautiful scenery:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Enjoying the water:

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

The rustic cabin did not have a TV.  It’s rustic, in the middle of the woods and meant to create relationship-building time.  So one of the babies myself along with Bamah, Aunt Niki, Uncle Rob, Uncle Willet and Papa (reluctantly) took on was a 1000 piece puzzle.  It’s one that’s been unopened at the house in Pedro for years.  One I’ve been eyeing for as long.  I am a puzzle person.  I love the challenge, the fine detail and concentration needed and the number ‘1000’ sounded like fun to me.  I know, weird.  The picture was priceless and appropriate for this farming family of multiple generations.  Behold, our masterpiece.

 

 

No trip to the forest, or the springs or a cabin next to water would be complete without a little fishing.  It's too bad the kids weren't that productive this trip.  They really need the positive reinforcement for them to stay interested in fishing.  They did pretty good one other fishing trip.

The family canoe ride, minus a couple family members.  Nathan was the only one interested in going, so we took him on his very own, personally chartered canoe ride down to the Run.  As he was sitting next to me in the front he said, “Mom, I have somting weally important to tewll you.”  And I said, “What’s that big man?”  He said, with the most serious face, staring me in the eyes, “Mom, I WUUUUVVVV sitting in the front of da canoe!”  I just wuuuuvvvv that kid.

 

 We had heard glowing reviews of this place, but none of us had ever gone.  I won't lie, there were some reservations we had going into the trip, but something about it gave off a magical feel.  Nothing will ever compare to my own bed, but the springs made up for that.  It was a wonderful family vacation.