The week of July 29 to August 3 was camping with my aunts week at the Trial Lake campground up Mirror Lake Highway. I have had the tradition of going up on Sunday night with my aunt Nancy to reserve a spot for everyone else to come up on Monday. This year, Nancy's health has been declining so Gaylene, Elliott and I headed up the mountains on Sunday afternoon. We ran into an awful rainstorm by Jordanelle Reservoir and visibility was so bad that most cars pulled over, but Gaylene kept driving and it was hard work for me to see her tail lights and stay right behind her. But we made it and it was only slightly raining when we arrived at our campground. Luckily I had checked the forecast and we were prepared with rain boots and an umbrella.
We hurried and put up the tents before it started raining again and while it was still light out. Once the tent was up, Elliott entertained himself on a cot while Gaylene and I kept unloading and setting up.
We had a picnic dinner of bbq pork sandwiches and spent an hour or two in Gaylene's car staying warm and dry before we went to bed early. I was concerned when I saw my breath that Elliott wouldn't stay warm enough, but with enough blankets in and on top of his sleeping bag, he was toasty warm. The next morning we had breakfast and then Elliott and I moved the van to extra parking to make room for the other cars coming up. We stopped by this tiny waterfall for a picture or two.
On the walk back from parking, we got this close to a deer. The deer looked up at us, then went back to munching on grass.
Later in the day, we were headed to the bathroom, but had to wait while it was being cleaned and Elliott hopped up on this rock and said, "Take my picture mommy." He has figured out that is what usually happens anyway.
He's not so sure he likes this flower behind his ear.
We thought the aunts would be there with the trailer around noon and so didn't have much planned for the day. They didn't show up til 3 so we had some time to kill. Elliott chased bubbles for quite a while.
He also lined up his cars with the stunning lake behind him.
The aunts finally arrived, but brought more rain with them so backing up the trailer and stabilizing it were done in a downpour. But then it eased up and we had cool weather to set up more tents and the rest of camp. Eileen and Nancy brought their dogs Oreo and Diesel and Elliott and I gladly helped take them on walks, however we wouldn't pick up their poop - we have limits.
Elliott with his trademark hat and glasses. He will not go into sunlight without his sunglasses. Sadly, tragedy occurred in the outhouse. Elliott ran ahead of Nancy into the bathroom and tried to show her how he stores his sunglasses in his hat and then took his hat off his head and his favorite ninja turtles sunglasses sailed right into the open pit toilet. I heard his screams back in camp and immediately knew what must have happened. He was heartbroken, but it was a good lessen to learn to listen to mommy when I won't let him hold anything near those toilets. No one was willing to go in after the sunglasses, but my aunts assured me they would have helped rescue Elliott if he had fallen in the toilet.
Camping with my aunts is super relaxing!
Elliott was such a good little camper! He played with his cars and shovels in the dirt for hours, allowing us to play games and prepare meals without a whiny little kid slowing things down.
On Wednesday afternoon, Elliott and I went home to collect Brian after work and bring him up for the rest of the week. It was fun having him there for a few days!
Brian quickly caught on to an essential part of a good camping trip, the afternoon nap.
The entire week was chilly and overcast and I was too wimpy to get into the cold water, but not the aunts and my cousins Sammie and Garrett. They blew up their floaties and had cool, refreshing fun. I love this shot of Elliott and Brian by the water.
Brian is such a patient, sweet daddy. Elliott is lucky to have him for a dad.
My cousin Garrett is about 14 and Elliott adores him and followed him everywhere and wanted Garrett to play with him all the time. Luckily Garrett liked playing with Elliott too. A little hero worship also makes you feel pretty good.
Tossing the ball.
Two boys sitting on a rock in the mountains. All is right with the world.
We are not kicking a ball here. We are kicking a magical round contraption that has cream and sugar inside and rock salt and ice in the outer layer and by kicking it, we are making ice cream!
The ice cream was delicious, even in the chilly, jacket and coat cold weather. And it helped that we ate the ice cream with hot cake from the dutch oven.
On our last afternoon, Brian and I with Mona, Garrett and Sammie "hiked" around the lake. It was a beautiful little stroll and a beautiful area.
As always, camping was relaxing and fun and we saw some amazing stars and the milky way. We even saw Camelopardalis, Perseus, Andromeda and Pegasus which are harder to see, even on Antelope Island. Thanks to my awesome aunts for letting us tag along and enjoy the camping fun!
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