This last week was a total blast. I had the opportunity to go camping with my immediate and extended family. This has been a long tradition, started by my Grandma and Grandpa Cain, that I looked forward to every summer since I can remember. We camped at a place called Monte Cristo this summer, and it was absolutely beautiful. It is an awesome feeling to be away from the hustle and bustle of real life, and just be able to reconnect to family, and mother nature!
My parents left to Monte Cristo on Tuesday afternoon, with a camper, and Emily, Brandon, Libby, Sammy, and I left on Thursday! We went shopping for all of our food supplies at Costco on Wednesday night, and by Thursday we were packed and ready to go. The drive was short and pretty. We stopped along the way to pick up Brandon and Emily's battery... We arrived at camp and set up.
Sadie Enjoyed the ride to camp! Kind of:)
I was very excited to see how many of my relatives were able to make it up to camp this year! All together at one time or another 62 total people enjoyed the Cain campout!
The first night we set up camp. Libby, Sam, Sadie (dog), Aunt Linda, Mom and Dad, and I slept in the camper. Brandon and Emily (and Poncho), slept in a very roomy tent. The temperature was perfect and I slept great for the first time in a while!
On Friday morning we woke up, ate Martha Stewart Blueberry Pancakes (prepared by Emily and Brandon). They were very delicious and healthy! After breakfast Emily and Brandon took off to go fetch the boat at his house. We met them at the lake for a day of the beach, relaxing, wake boarding, skiing, and snacking! It was very fun.
Some people could only make it for the boating day... Jack Ayre, Sarah and Cozy Skeem, John Ayre, and Ronnie and Jessica Haws. Jessica also had a boat!
Here is Brandon, Em, and Dad...
Dad's head needed some shade from Em's hat!
Sammy enjoyed the boat when it was moving! His little life jacket was adorable.
Tanner gave free boat rides around the lake. Natalie had had enough...
It was hot and so nice to wade in the water... Kriss, Oli, Tiff, and Shelby took part!
Tyler Trapp enjoyed the water too!
Libby inherited a new sun hat from Aunt Jan!
After boating we headed back to camp and were exhausted from a day of fun. We prepared dinner, Chalupa! It was yummy. We sat around the fire and shared old stories and memories. We turned in early and tired!
Saturday we planned to take it easy, play games all day, hike, and play. We also had a special meeting as a family. We were able to share testimonies, memories, advice, and love with each other. A big focus of the meeting was on my Grandpa Cain, and how amazing he is. He started the camping tradition, and we hope to carry it on for a long long time! Camping isn't the same without him, but each of us have learned something from him to carry on the camping tradition! Saturday was a really great day, full of the spirit!
Tiffany and Shelby taught us some fun games...
The Ayre cousins entertained everyone! Oli, Truman, Natalie, Emily, and Grace!
Sadie almost dug her way to China chasing squirrels...
We gathered around our camp often under Grandpa Cain's old camping tarp!
He was watching over us... here is Tiff, Coleen, Sammy, and Mom!
Oli enjoyed playing in the dirt, Kriss enjoyed cleaning him up:)
On Saturaday night it decided to rain, but it was quite nice because we had enough shelter to keep us warm, and we still managed to roast some BIG marshmellows.
Sam was all smiles on his first Cain Campout.
Caralee, Emily, and Ashlee
Brandon and Emily cooked Peach Cobler in the dutch oven!
Brad arrived Saturday night!
Tanner
Ben, Josh, and Shelby found over under the tarp too!
Sunday was the last day of camping. We took our time cleaning up. We managed to fit in a fun card game that Tiffany taught to us! It is like scrabble but with cards!
I decided to let the Josh Ayre kids use my camera to get some canids. They did an awesome job! Here are a few photos they were able to capture....
All in all it was a very fun and relaxing Cain campout! I'm looking forward to next year! I love my family, and you can see why!
