REDFISH LAKE ADVENTURE AUGUST 2008

"To see a WORLD in a GRAIN of sand and HEAVEN in a WILDFLOWER, hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand and ETERNITY in an hour."
- William Blake
We are back from our Redfish Lake adventure and ready for the school year to begin. I wanted to document some memories before they fade from my memory! We had an awesome time with the Burningham family this year. We were joined by Amber & Tyler, Kaylee, Trevor and baby Ashley. Thanks for the memories guys and for putting up with us as we showed off our treasure in the Sawtooth mountains of Idaho. Everyone got along beautifully and we couldn't have had a better time(unless we had more time!)


Amber & Ashley happy to be out of the car finally

Madison at the Lake front with her awesome, happy grin!


Here we are at the Redfish Lake Lodge waterfront the first evening

Kaylee & Madison waiting patiently for their dinner in the Lodge.

Tyler & Amber are awaiting their awesome food (gotta have the salmon chowder).
Kelly is always giddy when good food is on the way. We love this rustic lodge and have ambitions to be campground hosts here in about 20 years. Then he can have all the salmon chowder and Idaho potatoes he can manage to eat!







Kelly couldn't wait to get Tyler out on the lake in the canoe. Apparently Tyler was excited because he shouted "I gotta call Greg Pettey and then my mom" as they paddled away!


Katie &MJ joined us on Friday with Samantha, PJ, Bella and the latest addition, Lucy the dog, who stole the show. The kids had so much fun playing with her and with the chipmunks. They had chipmunks eating out of their hands!






My beautiful sister, Katie, relaxing while MJ babysists Lucy and the kids play

Madison is in love with the new puppy and doesn't want to share. This is her last day with this smile, as she lost a tooth the next day!
Katie & Kelly are off to an intense tetherball tournament inspired by the Olympics.

I had to take pictures of the guys doing the dishes to remind myself it DID actually happen once upon a time. It was even Kelly's idea, good job, honey. I found them laughing at a joke which I can't remember, but they sure thought it was funny!

I have to agree with the person who said there are few things as sweet as puppy breath on your face. Passed that one on to my sweet Madi.

Madison lost her tooth and we didn't even know it was loose! One of the greatest experiences of childhood- she was told if you put salt & pepper with your tooth under your pillow you will get twice as much money...

Here is MJ trying to look like a GQ model and being almost successful




Kaylee on top of the world!
Kelly & I in front of the Indian dwelling on our way out of the camp

Mack's Inn 2008

Our annual Brown/Cole camping trip changed location this year to the beautiful Mack's Inn near Island Park, Idaho. We were lucked out and got the campsite right off the river and were able to pull out of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River after a float and be right at our campsite! We had a blast floating the river many times and loved waking up to the steam coming off the River. We arrived just in time to set up our tent in the evening before a major rainstorm came through, wetting everything while we hid out across the street at the cafe. We had mediocre pizza but awesome ice cream and returned to our campsite and went to sleep listening to the peaceful pitter patter of the rain on the tent top. The next day we had a great time playing in the river and relaxing around camp. That night we went to the Mack's Inn dinner Theatre and saw a hilarious presentation of "Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid" where Marissa believes she saw her husband to be. She plans to apply for an acting job the summer she graduates and hopes he will be waiting for her!
We were joined by Katie and the kids but I have no photos to prove it(Don't let your child put his benadryl cup with sticky in the car pocket with your brand new camera, it will cost you$$ to fix). But we had an awesome time with Samantha, PJ, Bella and Katie. Katie and I went on a little wilder canoe trip and Turbo stowed away as we floated out!
The Coles joined us on our 3rd day and the fun was endless!
Some of our favorites:
Homemade Ice cream in West Yellowstone
Big Spring and the huge trout
Filling our water bottles at the fresh spring outside of W. Yellowstone
Minnow catching
Tanna's awesome syrup (renamed Jenny's awesome syrup, thanks Tanna!)
Flushy toilets and running sink water
Being with my beautiful family and forever friends in God's country

heartbeats...
"I was trying to daydream but my mind kept wandering"
Steven Wright