Hunting Camp Extravaganza 2009

Rather than spending an entire week with Seth in the mountains, this year we decided to tone it down a bit. So Seth left home on Sunday, September 13, and we followed him up on Wednesday, September 16.

Wednesday

While I was making our final preparations to leave that morning, Seth called me to proclaim, "Dad just shot an elk. We're waiting for her to die." After that business was finished, they cut off the legs and backstrap, called Jim (Seth's uncle) and Eli (a hunting buddy), and hauled all of it about two miles to the truck. They were all pretty much exhausted by the time they returned to camp.

Meanwhile, the girls and I had finished packing, made the trip to Island Park, unloaded our stuff from the truck, and were sitting around waiting for them to return when they finally got back.

Dennis and Seth securing the elk on a pole.

Ana stroking the elk's leg. Soft and furry. At least that end of it.

That night we had dinner, enjoyed the fire for a while, and tucked our little ones in bed. Seth and Dennis were both too tired to go searching for more animals that night, so I had company in camp.

Thursday

After a long night of "Is it morning time yet?" "It's dark, Bekah. It's the middle of the night." "But is it seven yet?" "No! It's 1:30!" Seth took off early with the others to search for more wild beasts. The girls and I got up, got breakfast, and commenced the business of keeping ourselves happy and entertained all day. This included:

Taking Eli's dog, Tank, on a walk.

Playing on the trailer.

Doing some arts and crafts (leaf rubbings and stickers).

Playing T-ball.

And roasting marshmallows that night.

It was admittedly a little eerie after I had tucked in the girls and gone down by the fire all by myself waiting for the guys to get back from the evening hunt. I think the fire kept the werewolves away.

Friday

We had company to keep us busy this day. Grandma Susan had brought up Calvin the night before, so the girls had a playmate, and I had someone with whom to converse.

The girls resume their play on the trailer, this time with their cousin, Calvin. The was what Bekah referred to as "The Crazy Lazy Game." It consisted of running up and down the trailer and screaming.

Bekah gets to help Grandma get the steaks ready for dinner that night. Yes, that is a sharp knife my four-year-old is holding. Under close supervision.

That night, Susan offered to watch the girls while I went out with Seth to stalk the elusive elk. We heard a few moving in the trees, but we didn't see anything.

Can you spot the carefully camouflaged hunter?

The girls got to bed late that night, with Ana staying up almost as late as me. Squirrelly girl. She/We paid for it the next day.

Saturday

This was, by far, the most eventful day at camp. Not only did the girls have extra playmates--Eli brought his family up, including a six-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy, and Jim brought up his two boys, Mack and Tav--but Tav also got to celebrate his third birthday. His mom Anne brought up the presents, cake and pinata, and the kids had a ball.

Tav and his Diego cake.

Jim overseeing the unwrapping of presents while Tav and Mack do the work. Bekah paid close attention to it all.

After all the kiddies got two tries at the pinata, the adults handed the stick over to Seth to finish the job.

Immediately following the party, we loaded up the girls for the trip home. We knew we needed time to unload our stuff, get some long-overdue baths, and get to bed on time that night. Our little grumpy troll (previously referred to as Ana), fell asleep before we even left the dirt roads. After our shouts of "Hallelujah!" subsided, we enjoyed the rest of the drive in peace.

All in all, 'twas a good camp. For more exciting pictures, click here.