Winter cabin trip

It's always an adventure when we visit Grandma and Grandpa Hendricks' cabin in Island Park during the winter. Even though the cabin winterizing is down to a science now, somehow snow gremlins broke in and mess with enough stuff to keep it interesting for us.

For starters, it was extremely cold in the cabin when we got there Thursday night (Jan. 22). We had anticipated that, so we turned on the furnace, started a fire, turned on the electric blankets of the beds we'd be sleeping in and bundled up until things warmed up.

What we hadn't foreseen was having the pipes frozen. And the six inches of water in the toilet tank and bowl. Fortunately, we were able to get water from a pipe in the front closet, so we filled buckets, poured them into pots on the stove, warmed up the water and melted the ice in the toilet. We all felt a little happier knowing we could flush, but with the pipes still frozen, we had to continue to transport buckets of water to the tank.

We spent the first night in our cozy beds, then went sledding, drank hot chocolate, watched movies and played with Hot Wheels cars and a track until the pipes finally thawed the next afternoon (during mine and Winnie's naps). With water running through all the taps, Seth was able to take a much-appreciated shower (he had spent a good deal of time crawling around in the crawlspace/tunnels underneath the cabin trying use space heaters and a blowtorch to thaw the pipes), and we were able to wash the dishes much more easily.

Our second night and day at the cabin were much like the first, with plenty of snow, sledding, snow cave building and playing, icicle harvesting, movie watching, hot chocolate drinking, snacking and playing with cars. Good times were had by all, and we were able to come home and find Peach and Cory (Miriam's goldfish from preschool) none the worse from our absence.

Gwendolen and Miriam playing with cars inside the cabin.

Rebekah in her "squirrel cave" she made by hollowing out the snow below the crust.

Analee and Rebekah inside the cave Seth dug out for them in the yard at the cabin.

Analee climbing through the chimney/chute they dug out later from the cave.

Gwendolen eating a "snow cracker," as she called it.

Miriam after successfully climbing out the chute.

To see more Island Park pictures, start here.

Winter festivities

Because we had two sickies immediately prior to Christmas, we didn't have the chance to go see Christmas lights or make gingerbread houses until after the holiday. Honestly, I think it worked out better that way, because then we had some things to keep us occupied during the break.

Analee and Seth with the house they built together.

Detail of their house. They were especially proud of the snowman they contrived.

Miriam with the house she and I built together. She decided where everything went.

The chocolate Santa peeking up through Miriam's chimney.

Rebekah with the house she did completely by herself.

Rebekah and Analee after the gingerbread house decorating.

It got so cold during the break that Seth was able to do this trick for the girls (again):

Take a mug of boiling water outside in sub-zero temperatures ...

... fling it into the air ...

... and watch the water turn into snow before it hits the ground.

And when it warmed up a little (after the break), the two older girls decided to make a snowman of a different sort.

Analee's teacher sent a note home saying that parents could take pictures of their kids' snowmen and email them to her so she could share them with the class. I think Rebekah and Analee's snowman was different than the others.

Breaking out of her snowman.

Miri-ism #30

Andrea was making Chex Muddy Buddies for a Family Home Evening treat.

Miri: When I get married, will you make this for the treat at my reception?
Andrea: Sure!
Seth: But first you need to find a nice boy who will take you to the temple to get married. What do you think he will look like?
Miri: Like Weird Al. Only without the crazy wigs and stuff. Just normal.