Birthday Camping Weekend

After we got our family pictures taken Ry headed back to work for a bit while I went home and quickly packed for Coop'slong camping slash birthday weekend (we left Wednesday and got back Sunday). Mareesa rode with us which Coop was very happy about because that meant he had a backseat buddy to hang out with. We finally got out of town around 4:00PM just in time for a huge thunder storm that came with lots of rain. Since we weren't really in a big rush to get up to Warm River we took our time and stopped in Idaho Falls for some Olive Garden. We got to camp and got the trailer all set up, played some games and went to bed. Coop did not sleep well at all, we set up his pack and play where the table folds down, so the first night was a rough one.

The next morning we went fishing, the weather was gorgeous and super warm, which Warm River never seems to be, but it was perfect. We went down passed the bridge to feed the fish, Coop was amazed, he kept saying "fishy fishy jump" and he'd throw bread out and it would make it maybe three inches out. We also took a drive over to Cave Falls and wandered around there for a while. After that we went down to Ashton and rented a redbox for that night. Since none of us slept well the night before we all took a nap when Coop did. That night we had a fire and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, played games together and all slept much better.

The next morning, Friday, Ry had to leave for a girls basketball tournament which was over in Twin Falls and was Friday and Saturday. So Mareesa and I were left with Coop without a mode of transportation, but we weren't too worried because my family was coming up that night. We went on lots of walks through out the day, wandered around, watched movies, colored, played games and lounged in the sun while Coop napped. Coop loved just romping around in the trees, finding rocks and sticks; he really is one thousand percent boy. While Ween and I were getting ready to start dinner my phone rang and it was my Mom, this is what I heard "Dad... in the emergency room...." I had a million thoughts run through my head, first of which my Dad is having another heart attack and we are stuck up here with no way to get home to him, finally the call came in a little clearer and we found out my Dad got the tip of his finger completely severed off minus one small ligament that it was hanging on by. He went in for emergency surgery with the hand specialist and luckily the doctor was able to save is finger and revasculate the finger as well as he could, he now has a  plate in it and is happy to still have a finger, one that doesn't move so well nor does it look so pretty. Needless to say my parents stayed home while my Mom helped my drugged up Dad. Ween and I made dinner together and hung out with Coop until bed and then stayed up watching GCB, it was a little scary being up there with just us, luckily we had Nana to protect us.

The next day we woke up and had breakfast, it was pretty chilly so we waited for it to warm up a bit before we went on our exploring hikes, Coop loved the Ergo because his legs would get tired and he would just stop and say "hold you". Finally Ry made it back and we went up to Bear Gulch to fish, it was absolutely gorgeous, we hiked a ways to find a good place since they place we normally go is a steep, long hill of rocks and boulders, not so Cooper friendly. I snagged pretty soon after we got there and decided to just hang out with Coop while he threw rocks in the river and played with worms while Mareesa and Ry fished (and snagged a fair share). On our way back Coop had to stop at every rock he thought was cool, about every four feet or so, smelled the flowers, found pinecones and sticks and Ry finally just put him on his shoulders and carried him the rest of the way back. We got to the tunnel and Coop wanted to walk again, or should I say run since that is his only speed, and he tripped and fell and hit his poor head so hard right smack in the middle of his forehead, it had a goose egg almost immediately, such a sad ending to a fun afternoon. We had a fire and sat outside for a while before bed enjoying our last night there.

The next morning was Coop's actual birthday, we had breakfast together and decided to pack it up early so we could go celebrate at home with Mae Mae and Boppa. We stopped at the cemetery to see my grandma's headstone and a few other extended relatives headstones in Ashton before we grabbed some ice cream and Dave's and headed home. We were about half an hour from home and the tire blew on the trailer so we had to wait for Ry's family to bring us an extra and fix it and then we got home and cleaned up and headed out to my parents'.

Finally ready to hit the road.

 

Boo boo loves to fall asleep in the car.

 

The gorgeous Tetons, the sky was so clear most of the time we were there so our views were always beautiful.

Coop's first time trying to fish, he mostly just liked swinging it around, he may have inherited my lack of patience.

My cute almost two year old!

More swinging the fishing pole around...

"Whoa Momma, wazthat?"

Buddies, Nana didn't leave his side, they are so sweet together.

My cute boys fishing together.

Ry caught a fish and tried to get Coop to touch it, he said "gucky" and did not love it.

I didn't catch anything, had lots of bites but no success.

I think this was the most beautiful weather we have ever had up there.

Coop playing in the rocks by the ranger station.

On our way to Cave Falls there were fields and fields of stunning wild flowers...

I'm sure Ry was not annoyed at all when I kept making him stop so I could get out and take pictures.

Looking out at the falls with my little family.

Lower Cave Falls

Bestfriends and sisters!

Love these boys!

My little mountain goat, he would love to hike all day.

Best buds.

Upper Cave Falls

On the way down and of course Coop insisted on walking down, "Cooper do".

Smelling the flowers along the way...

Still coming down...

Still refuses to be carried...He thinks he's such a big boy, and I guess he is getting to be.

Driving with Dad on the dirt road back to the main road, he loved it!

 

More exploring over in the new development across the street from our lot.

Oh yes, she's stuck, it was high-larious!

Our family sitting around the fire.

Feeding the fish by the bridge.

Ah the sunshine.

Love. Them.

Aunt NeeNee trying to snuggle...

Rocks and dirt, a little boys heaven.

I was so surprised when Coop wanted to touch the worms, he usually doesn't like the feel of slimey things, but this kid could not get enough of the "wums".

Stretchy worm... so gross and cute at the same time.

 

"wow momma"

"look"

Inspector gadget.

Dinner around the camp fire.

He thoroughly enjoyed the junk food he got while camping, he kept asking for "mo chips peez".

Roasting marshmallows...

To make 'smores, i'm sure I gained ten pounds on this camping trip.

 

Watching Tangled (the only kid movie that made it into the movie bag) and yep, eating more chips.

 

Exploring...

"a cone"

One of his many sticks he had to haul back to the lot.

Dragging his stick with his bear right next to him.

His face says it all...

So glad I brought coloring books for Mareesa.

More exploring...

Lover boy

We thought it would be a good idea to walk down to the river, it's like a 3-4 mile walk, not the greatest idea, we made it maybe half way there and then it started to sprinkle and Coop was over it.

 

At the train tunnel by Bear Gulch.

One of the few times Coop let Ry carry him while we were hiking up to Bear Gulch.

Looking down at our fishing spot...

The view from our fishing spot, breathtaking right?

A rock that needed exploring...

"One, two...freee!!" and he jumped off, he's got no fear, makes me a little nervous.

Playing in the fire pit.

Meeting his great grandma for the first time, at least that he can remember, i'm sure he talked with her before he came down to us.

Since it was his real birthday we let him open one present in the car and decided to pack the rest home and open them at home. Aunt Nee Nee gave him this his eyes show his excitement.

A mater pillow, still Cars obsessed. He snuggled that all the way home.

Oh yeah, get it Coop, it's your birthday you do what you want!!