We finally had a weekend to go camping up to Steve's dad's property on the mountain behind Lava Hot Springs. Only our third trip out this year - compared to the usual 10 or so by this time of year. We were itching to get out of town and was hoping to leave Thursday night. However, Aly had "Back to School Night" that night. So, after attending all 8 classes for 15 minutes each - in order, we went home and packed. Aly decided she didn't want to miss any school (she's really not a camper anyway....), so she planned to stay with my mom. Kelsey went to school for a couple hours while Steve and I continued to pack and load up.
We loaded up the truck. With Steve's and my 4-wheeler on top, we SO look like the LP Hillbillies! It's not quite as bad now that we don't have the dog kennel up on a tool box in front of the wheelers, not to mention the picnic table on its side between them....THAT was bad!
We loaded up the trailers - yes TWO trailers. It was the only way to get Kelsey's 4 wheeler up there with us. This is the first time we pulled doubles - I was a nervous wreck - and I wasn't even driving!
By noon, I picked up Kelsey from school and we were ready to go!
Kelsey was so excited to be in the mountains on a 4 wheeler!
Steve and I were glad to just be there. I was mostly relieved to have arrived with both trailers still attached! Steve wasn't even worried - like he'd done that before or something??
Were were so happy to have our friends up there with us. Harry and Toni camped with us the whole time, and Jeff and Rhonda and their son Mitch joined us for the day on Saturday. They made it up just in time for Steve's gourmet breakfast.
Harry, me, Rhonda, and Jeff. Our best side??
After breakfast, we headed down to town (Lava, ID - about 20 minutes from Yates' property). We decided to float the river - which was VERY low! But, we had a great time!
Mitch, Kelsey, and Jeff.
Jeff, Kelsey and me.
And Steve with Rhonda, who were perfectly happy doing the driving. Dropping us off at the top, and picking us up at the bottom...
Steve taught Mitch, who had never driven a 4 wheeler, how to ride. Kelsey sweet talked him into driving hers with her. Later that day, Kelsey was driving Mitch around, and somewhere between driver error and a mechanical mishap, Kelsey went off the road into a small ditch and rolled it.
Don't worry, according to Mitch - who was laying under the 4 wheeler, Kelsey managed to be up and standing over him in record speed. They walked back to camp, and according to Mitch, Kelsey was fine - she debated walking or running back to us, and they laughed as they walked. However, as soon as Kels saw her dad, she BuRsT into tears. She later told us that she thought her dad would be very angry, but that wasn't the case at all. Thank goodness they are both okay and can laugh about it now. (Kelsey more than Mitch I think...) She had a good story to go back to school with!
Thanks Harry and Toni for hanging out with us for the weekend - and through the rain on Sunday, and to Jeff and Rhonda for sharing the day with us Saturday - and Mitch for humoring Kelsey ALL day - even through a roll over!
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Yates for all the hospitality - we hope to come up one more time this year!
Kelsey was anxious to shoot some targets with her new BB gun.
This is our "WANTED by the law" pose.... (you know, with a BB GUN).... I couldn't quit laughing at Kels taking our picture, so I didn't get the look as well as Steve.
Just having Grandma's homemade peach pie! YUM!
The texting tent: Kylie, Bailey, and Aly.
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