The Monsens: UTAH - The Cabin Weeks

Sunday, July 17, 2011

UTAH - The Cabin Weeks

Once we told everyone we were coming for the summer, both families tried to put something together where the whole family could be together for a while. We are so grateful for Grandmas and how wonderful they are for putting things together.

The Monsen/Whitehouse vacation was in Star Valley, Wyoming. Dad and Thad were able to go for ONE WHOLE WEEK with half of the family, and I was able to meet up half way through that week and we were ALL (minus Trevor) able to spend time together in such a gorgeous valley and cabin.

The scenery was just utterly amazing and it was hard not to spend most moments outside enjoying it.

One of the first nights in Star Valley half of the family was able to have dinner with Richard (Great Grandpa Monsen's brother) and Jenille at their beautiful cabin they frequent in the area. They are wonderful people and it was nice to catch up with people we don't get to visit very often.

As mentioned, I met up with everyone a few days later and bummed a ride with Kelli and Merit.

We left late. Around 10:30pm. I slept, and our sense of direction got thrown off when we got to Evanston.

We went in the wrong direction for 1 hour. Yes. 1 whole hour.

It was July 13 (well technically the morning of the 14th) and we stopped to play in the snow.

We passed by it twice. The second time we couldn't resist.

We didn't arrive until 4:30 a.m. We were tired. Well, mostly Merit.

I think I'll pack my GPS next time.

Golfing was a huge hit with the boys. Our cabin was right on the 14th green/fairway, so when nobody was playing a round, it was free game for the boys to practice their short game.

I know Dad wants LOTS of the these types of pictures throughout the years! We're starting him young.

(That's our cabin right there in the background!)

Thad got pretty good at getting that ball into the hole!

Thad and Uncle Todd had a great time together on the course.

One night we all gathered around for a game of "Who Can Get it Closest to the Hole From a Certain Spot."

Yeah, we're crazy creative like that.

Thad adores his Aunt Kelli

All of the SUPERB pictures were taken by this lady!

This isn't the clearest picture because I took it with her nice camera...I'm not a great photographer.

It really is SO wonderful having a photographer in the family, especially for shots like the next:

We're obsessed.

Brian and I cannot get enough of this picture!

Best ever.

Thank you, Aunt Kelsie!

We were obviously a little heavy on the golfing pictures, but it was one of the only times we had the camera out to take pictures of everybody, so I had to include all of them! Golfing was definitely not the only thing we did.

TRIPS TO JACKSON HOLE & AFTON, WYOMING

SWIMMING

GOOFING OFF IN THE CABIN

GOOFING OFF OUT OF THE CABIN

MORE GOLFING!

We had to make a couples trip to the driving range to practice our long game!

And last, but certainly not least...

THE RIVER RAFTING TRIP!

Grandma and Grandpa Whitehouse took the whole family river rafting in Jackson Hole, and it is something we will not soon forget! Thad stayed with Great Aunt Jenille back in Star Valley while all the big kids headed for the rapids!

The crew on our way to do our scenic tour down the river.

13 miles of this is what we were lucky enough to enjoy.

We stopped on the bank of the river mid-tour to have a yummy lunch and re-apply sunscreen.

After this relaxing trip down the river we were able to head to the real rapids and show what we were really made of! We had an awesome river guide, and with this fun group of people we had an awesome time riding the white waters of the Snake River!

Thank you so much, Grandma and Grandpa Whitehouse!

MIDWAY

After our wonderful week in Wyoming, we were dropped off in Midway to spend a few days with the Wilson family at the Allred's amazing cabin. It was pretty low key with tons of fun being had around the cabin with all the fun activities right at our finger tips.