Elk Camp

Mexican Creek Elk Camp

October 2 and 3rd, 2010

The canvas condo.

Earlier the week I went up the mountain behind our house and set this camp up. Same place as last year. Probably will hunt elk out of it for most of the season. The weather was much nicer for opening weekend than it was last year. Last year I got stuck an extra day up there in two plus feet of snow. The warm, summer like weather is bad for elk hunting- good for camping though. So... I figured it'd be a good weekend to get the kiddos up there.

Friday night I stayed up there myself- so I could get a good hunt in Sat, but also to make sure everything was still intact and in working order, which it was.

This dude saved my bacon last year. Had to modify it (stone base) in order to get it to fit in this tent.

Very comfy.

Good night!

After getting in a 5 hour hike/ hunt and seeing nothing, except for a dead bull that my neighbors shot a few draws over, it was time to head down the hill and pick up the whole crew.

Didn't take long for them to stake out their territory.

Mom reads while kiddos make a rumpus in the tent.

Mom and the monkies go for a hike.

Tally takes a cookie break.

Hiking Seamus style.

The monkies help cook dinner.

Yummy!

Later, after dinner the kiddos enjoy some popcorn for a bed time snack.

Good Stuff!

Lights out!

Dad got them up early the next morning, while he was getting ready to go hunting.

Another good morning hike- lots of beautiful country- no elk though.

Looking down into the Wind River Valley (towards Ft. Washakie) from up above the camp.

Time to head back down- the kids super excited about driving the four-wheeler again.

Mom wanders how it will all fit.

It fits! With room for me in between Mandy and Tally.

The Dakota Five-O

The Dakota Five-O

September 5th, 2010

Smokey hangs out at the start of the Five-O

Didn't take longer for Tally and Seamus to find him.

They like Smokey!

Shad pedaled his way to his best time yet (4hrs 45 min), despite the course being about 10 minutes longer this year. Placed 30th among the 190 rider in his age group. Approx 50/ 500 all total.

Seamus lines up for the .050! Striders only!

Talkin' strategy before the start!

Tally lines up for the .50!

A little nervous at first, dad talks some pedal power back into her!

Dakota Five-O Video (the start and kid's races)

Wanna Go For a Ride??

Tally and Seamus ride bikes

(Tally is fresh off the training wheels!)

WORTHERN MEADOWS CAMPING TRIP- JULY 2010

So, what should we do while Dad races his bike at the Enduro in Laramie?

I know! We should go camping with Aunt Chris, Uncle Dino, Madison and Thunder. We can get really dirty hiking and playing around camp one day and then play in the lake the next day. What a super fun plan. And it was...

Grubby little Seamus

To add to the fun, the Garner family showed up to spend the day with us. They arrived just in time to go hike. Here is the whole crew headed out of the campground, searching for adventure (and fish).



After a couple hours, Seamus was wiped out so he and Mom went back to camp. He had a nice nap on the way.


Here the little kids are wondering why no one has fed them yet. (They knew that sometimes it is better NOT to wait for the big boys to get back to camp, as the big boys can get easily distracted by trout streams.)

Not sure what the little boy is doing, but I am glad he did not notice the box of matches sitting within reach.

Here, it appears as though the moms have actually started a fire. (The dads - are still MIA) Now, we just lay back in the crazy creek chairs, and wait some more.

The moms. Christy, Mandy, and Chris

The dads did eventually show up and it is determined that the Garners will feast with us: hot dogs and chips, (lots of chips).

After dinner, Tally works the bow and arrow under the careful supervision of Josie's dad (aka Jeff). Seamus patiently waits for his turn.

Finally!

Rylie and Madison wittle away the time sitting on the rock. Soon enough, it got dark. The Garners left and we sat by the fire for a bit before going to bed.



The next morning....

Tally and her big cheesy grin

Seamus walks the beach with his snack.

How far can we go? Apparently, Seamus is having second thoughts about this plan.

Yes, he definitely has a different agenda.

But Tally is still game for a romp in the lake.

The sand monkeys!

Then it was back to camp for a quick rinse in the wash basin and lunch. We packed up and headed home to see to see Daddy.

Summer Fun at the Cabin

Tara and Tally look for worms.

Actually I think it's yoga or something.

The "Flying T's"


Ha!

Jeep and Mini

The crew around the campire.

Trouble

Hangin' w/ Aunt Tara!

Aunt Tara hangs with Tally, California style, in a fort they built near the cabin.

Seamus shows off a treasure of some sort.


Tara and the monkies in the grass, in front of the ol' Dodge.

Tara and Tally... and Seamus (can you spot him?)

Lounging on the new porch.

Mandy below Castle Rock- a ways above the cabin.

Seamus roasts marshmallows... or something. Grandpa's quick to extinguish the flame.

It wasn't quite done.

Another perspective.

Shad manages Smore central- keeps them comin'!

That's my girl!

What goes up...

Must come down. The crew back in the cabin sleepin' off a sugar high.

Good times!

A couple weeks earlier on another outing...

Mandy, "Grammie" and crew play while Grandpa does "log work".

Tally and Seamus help with the "log work".

Our work crew.

Wayne's Hole Gothic?

Mandy's Bad Ass Mountain Bike Video