Friday, August 10, 2012

CranHill Ranch Family Week

Since Torrey was a baby, since I married him, and since Cameron was 6 months old, we have been spending a week at CranHill Ranch in the summer.  It truly is one of the hilights for our family every year and a tradition I hope will continue for MANY years.
We do it all...fishing, swimming, hiking, eating, s'mores(and I think I might have actually NOT taken a picture of s'more eating this year?!), singing, frog catching, water balloons, eating, dock jumping, kayaking, row boats, games, bike rides, pony rides, skate park, tye die, frisbee golf, ice cream, game room, playground and more ice cream!  It is quite a lot of work getting things together for a week of who knows what the weather will be, being prepared for what the kids will all of a sudden be interested in doing or wanting, packing food for us and for the entire family and overall trying to be as prepared as you can be for a week away from home in a little pop up--but, the memories and smiles my boys have every day is completely worth it.
The pictures speak for themselves...and there are A LOT.....just warning you ;)

 
(Sometimes I can get creative!)   


A "drive in" movie in the woods...complete with popcorn and trips to collect pine cones and sticks!  

Here is the (almost) entire Vruggink Family.  The UP Vruggink's had just left ;(  We need to remember next year to not wait until the last day of camping to get a group shot!


This little man became MUCH more confident swimming to the point where he would swim between 2 people out in the deep by himself.  He loved the sense of accomplishment and was so fun to see his smile when he made it(not to mention watching his little legs just kick, kick, kicking away under the water!)

This trip Haiden chose pony rides and Cameron did target shooting.  It's nice now that the little guy is able to do some of the more "adventurous" things he always sees his brother doing.

Happy campers!

Cameron fine tuning his scooter skills in the skate park.  He did great and trying to go down the higher ramps(and with only one good arm rash he did pretty good!)

Haiden and cousin Levi don't need fancy scooters!  Look how fast and fun your buns can take you! ha!

Bedtime stories and smiles...oh how I love these boys of mine. Pure joy in their faces.

Water balloon fight!!

Meal time.  This is quite the circus act getting the food all ready, kids sitting down and food passed around to all be eating at the same time!  But we did it all while the food was still hot ;)

Slip sliding away!!

Heehee..so tiny but look at the proud smile!  Nothing beats reeling anything in!!

And this one was SOOO proud of his catches.  

This is the little dock we fish off of....and this is not all the little ones plus adults to bait, cast, untangle, unhook and rescue dropped poles that we had on there!

Haiden and goggles is hilarious!  He thinks they are so neat and insists on putting them on himself.
On the search for fish!

CranHill wouldn't be complete without ice cream on the porch.
This is about the only picture I could get of the 2 of them together.  Every time one or the other would just walk away when I asked to get a cute picture!  Silly boys.

Haiden is such a good little player by himself, especially if it involves a truck, scoop, sand, rocks or dirt;)

More fun in the sand.

 Ever since they were able to do it on their own, both boys have always pulled something over their faces when they sleep.  Here Haiden needed Free(which is how he says three) to do the job.  Usually it is their blankets.  I would always try to take it off, just for them to put it back!

Falling asleep while talking and praying about our day.

Mornings with snacks by the campfire.  I love traditions.


And just for the fun of it.....
I {heart} camping!

1 comment:

  1. The CranHill Ranch must be a total package! Everything is in there, from leisure, outdoor activities, clean and green environment, it’s like heaven on earth. All I can see are smiles! No doubt, everyone enjoyed your ranch vacation! I’m sure our family will enjoy that kind of vacation too, since we all love the outdoors. I can’t wait for our turn to have a breath of fresh air!

    -Darren Lanphere

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