We spent Labor Day weekend at my brother's family cabin in the pecos mountains just north of Santa Fe. Had a GREAT time minus Hank screaming for 90% of the 6 hour drive down. Our last trip was when Mr. T was a baby, so this time marked his first real cabin experience as a boy -- and he loved every minute of it. Especially the freedom to get a root beer or other sugary beverage whenever he pleased. All bets are off when it comes to healthy habits down there. Dirt, rain, mud, rivers, fish, wood, fire, smoke, melted marshmallows and no baths made the kids very very happy. I tried not to look at their little fingernails too much.
We had some great food, fellowship, games and good laughs. Almost everyone napped in the afternoons and I got to read for a whopping HOUR (without getting up!) while listening to the sweet sound of the river. This made me very very happy. It was nice to have down time without feeling like I was procrastinating something at home. I really wish I could learn the fine art of just "being", even when we aren't some place far away. Top on our list is a cabin of our own someday closer to home. However, it will be very difficult to top the charm of the Pecos. My sister-in-law Juliette's grandparents built it in the fifties starting with the riverrock fireplace. Most everything in it is just as it was back then. Metal dishes, burnt orange linolium, retro cowboy curtains and all. The coolest part though has to be the walls and ceiling in the kitchen (and now bathroom) that guests have been signing forever. A thousand or more names, quotes, and dates to mark the coming and going of its lucky friends. Sophie did not take the task lightly and signed her own name amongst some hearts enough times to count for all of us. It was fun to mark the kiddos current heights on the door jam and to see the dozens of marks for my nephews who will soon be taller than me! I still remember Nathanael's first trip to the cabin as a baby 13 years ago. Those boys are a riot and never cease to amaze me. I love thinking of Hank's first trip to the cabin, and what he will be like 13 years from now...
We had some great food, fellowship, games and good laughs. Almost everyone napped in the afternoons and I got to read for a whopping HOUR (without getting up!) while listening to the sweet sound of the river. This made me very very happy. It was nice to have down time without feeling like I was procrastinating something at home. I really wish I could learn the fine art of just "being", even when we aren't some place far away. Top on our list is a cabin of our own someday closer to home. However, it will be very difficult to top the charm of the Pecos. My sister-in-law Juliette's grandparents built it in the fifties starting with the riverrock fireplace. Most everything in it is just as it was back then. Metal dishes, burnt orange linolium, retro cowboy curtains and all. The coolest part though has to be the walls and ceiling in the kitchen (and now bathroom) that guests have been signing forever. A thousand or more names, quotes, and dates to mark the coming and going of its lucky friends. Sophie did not take the task lightly and signed her own name amongst some hearts enough times to count for all of us. It was fun to mark the kiddos current heights on the door jam and to see the dozens of marks for my nephews who will soon be taller than me! I still remember Nathanael's first trip to the cabin as a baby 13 years ago. Those boys are a riot and never cease to amaze me. I love thinking of Hank's first trip to the cabin, and what he will be like 13 years from now...
His favorite ride
A few tantalizing flies
This was probably his tenth or so
Charlotte, Lucas, T, Sophie, & Sammy
Auntie JJ brought along her nail polish of course!
My mama having a great time playing spoons
Beautiful Juliette
A very tired boy - FINALLY!
A very tired boy - FINALLY!
Nathanael playing Apples to Apples.
Want S'more..
Happily eating the leftover scone dough
The best place to wake up in the morning
Me and my friends back in 1996.
Totally high school.
Sophie prefers to "draw" her name
A shower could be useful
Most photogenic family EVER.
The Bryant ladies
LuLu and Aunt Linda
Cousins
