Cameron's b.day Weekend

I've heard it said that Mountain Home is the "armpit of Idaho" {and not just by me!!}. So, it is even more amazing that this beauty is only less than an hour away from our house.

Cameron's birthday was last weekend and we spent it in a tiny town in the mountains called Featherville. We "borrowed" our friend's cabin and had a great weekend - the kids were bummed that it was just us (we've always gone up there with friends) but after a while Austin said, "Well, actually, I'm glad it's just the six of us. We're cool!"

We spent the first day getting our beds ready, playing in the snow, fixing the snowmobile, making Cameron's birthday dinner: his fave lasagna, and trifle instead of cake, snuggling with stories by the fireplace, playing a little rock band, watching a movie, singing Happy Birthday and watching Cameron open his presents.

We woke up to a TON of snow and it snowed all day. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL... We read a Christmas story by the fire, ate breakfast, and cleaned up. Then the boys all got a LONG ride on the snowmobile. I got a little work done on my 365 book while Ella napped.

This is the back yard of the Cabin. A kid's paradise - well Cameron's too, okay, I love it too!! Isaac can't go out by himself - I don't trust him by the river... but, in spite of it, I could still go up there all the time; it's just so peaceful.

Happy Birthday, Cameron. I hope it was a good one; filled with people you love, things you love, in a place you love....

(and P.S. If you're wondering why I have time to post this on CHRISTMAS EVE, well, I gotta say, I'm quite proud of my organizational skills {today at least}. I have this spare moment because my awesome husband helped me finish wrapping last night, the clothes are packed for our trip to Utah after present-opening tomorrow, the crab is ready to cook for tonight, Christmas is in the works, and there's no stress... it's a first and it feels SO good!)

S N O W day

Mountain Home has some funny traditions: February 6 is "Mountain Home Snow Day". The schools are closed and the base shuts down. Everyone is supposed to go out and enjoy the snow.

Funny thing is - there isn't any snow that sticks around here. You have to drive into the mountains to find the snow. We live about 45 minutes away from some pretty mountains and and a resevoir. Really, so much prettier than Mountain Home {or, Saudi Arabia, as we call it}.

Anyway, Cameron got an extra day on paternity leave since "Snow Day" was the day he was supposed to go back. So we took the kids up to the mountains with the snowmobile.

{Two babies were admitted to the hospital the day we left with Ella. Our pediatrician gave us a pretty stern warning about RSV and flu this year. We're not supposed to take Ella out in public places for 6-8 weeks. (I think it's mostly because the emergency facilities here are not the best and no one wants to life flight a baby to Boise) So, anyway, I'd only left the house once or twice since I'd been home from the hospital so I went along for the ride.}

It was fun seeing the boys have such a great time with their Dad, especially Landon. Isaac hung out with me and Ella in the truck most of the time and he was still happy and having fun. That kid can't get enough of "The Wheels on the Bus". Austin has fun pretty much no matter what he's doing and his last "wish upon a star" was for snow. So it wasn't surprising that he had a grin from ear to ear the entire day.