Escape to McCall

Finally! We got away for a few days. We've been working like busy little beavers for some time now and hadn't had a real vacation for over a year and a half. (I've decided that it doesn't count as a vacation when you combine it with family responsibilities. Those quick trips for baptisms, mission farewells, and the like are fun, but I can't really term them a vacation.) Anyway, the boys had school off on Friday and Monday, and I somehow finagled a work-free weekend as well. So, we took off on Friday morning and had a super relaxing four days in McCall.

We rented the cutest little condo. It was much smaller than the one we stayed in two summers ago, but it was very well appointed and comfortable. I especially liked the little wood-burning stove that made the place feel cozy and warm, sometimes too warm, in fact. We had fun just watching the flames and enjoying some unhurried time to talk and get reconnected with each other. I realized again how much I love my family. The boys keep me laughing, and well, Mike's the best husband around. I did miss Karen and Andrew and Rachel. This was our first trip without them.

The place had three bedrooms, so the boys each got their own. Adam's was a little loft type space with a single bed and a trundle bed beneath. Matt actually got the master bedroom since Mike and I opted to take the downstairs one which was a little more secluded. We also had a pullout couch up in the loft area that could have slept a couple more people. Man, maybe we should have invited some friends or something. . .

The boys went to Brundage on Saturday. Adam skied, and Matt snowboarded. They both said they had a great time. Matt is even convinced that a season pass to Bogus Basin for next year would be a really good idea. It is pretty cheap, but I am still thinking about it. They both claim that they kept very warm and had no major wipeouts. Adam evidently got much more daring as the day went along and, according to Matt, was "booking it" down the mountain by late afternoon when we picked them up.

While the boys were alpine skiing, Mike and I opted for nordic skiing at Ponderosa State Park. This was just my second time cross country skiing--see an earlier post--and I loved it again.  It was so peaceful, and the scenery was just gorgeous. We got lucky and had an absolutely picture perfect day with bright blue skies and fairly warm temperatures. Since I had gone running there several times a few summers ago, it was really fun to see the winter version of the park. This time I only fell once or twice, and I felt like I wasn't quite as much of a novice as last time.

We also enjoyed sledding a couple of times while we were there. Matt and Adam make me hold my breath a few times with the things they try, but I remind myself that they are boys. For instance, it didn't even occur to me that the huge piles of snow in parking lots are the perfect sledding hill. Nor did I ever once as a child think to ride a sled standing up. Fortunately, no one got hurt.

One of our last activities of the weekend was to construct a sort of half igloo on the golf course. The snow was perfect for packing, and we got a little carried away on our winter construction project. I'll have to admit that it was pretty cool once it was done.

Oh, and one other cool thing I heard this weekend. When I went to Relief Society on Sunday, the person who was conducting made an announcement that the Humanitarian Center in Boise was in need of more fabric donations for quilts. I didn't mention it in an earlier post, but all of the fabric for the quilts I talked about is donated. Since the earthquake hit in Haiti, all of the quilting kits have been snapped up, and the center is completely out of fabric. How awesome is that?! (I have one of my quilts almost done, and I should be able to start on the other one soon.)

Anyway, it was a truly relaxing, rejuvenating weekend. We added in some Olympics watching and some NBA All-Star Weekend events, and it was just perfect. Adam remarked during the weekend, "Man, this is the life!" I agree. And, lo and behold, we came back and found all of our responsibilities still waiting for us, so it's nice to know that the world can survive without us for a few days. Can't wait for our next getaway. . . whenever that is. . .