*Note to reader: I am officially a "Cutsforth" now when it comes to pictures. We came home from camping with 250 pictures (this doesn't include the pictures Cuts or Jason took!). This is just a small warning that this is a L-O-N-G post full of pictures :)
We had a fantastic Memorial weekend camping with our extended family! The weather was gorgeous, we couldn't have asked for better weather. The best thing was to hear on the news that it had rained in Oregon over Memorial day weekend for the past SEVEN years! Phew, we really lucked out! Belknap Springs is a beautiful place full of hidden gardens, spouting fountains, steaming hot springs, private camp sights and even a cozy lodge. Cuts and Suzanne were so sweet to get Addi and I a room in the lodge since 17 months is a little young to have around a campfire sleeping and napping in a tent. Mason was thrilled to get so sleep outside in the tent surrounded by Grandpa Cuts, Grandma Zana, Auntie Brooke, Uncle Jason, Sienna and Brisa. You would think we were camping for a month with the amount of "stuff" we brought. Somehow Donovan, the ultimate packer, got everything in the car. Addi is not a car sleeper (she has officially slept in the car a total of TWO times in her life) whereas Mason falls asleep in the car before we're out of the neighborhood. Thankfully, Addi finally crashed about halfway through the three hour drive. 
Both girls woke up as we pulled into Belknap Springs. They were giddy with excitement to see everyone! 
Once the campsite was set up the girls went exploring and then hopped into the hot springs swimming pool. It was 102 degrees, which had been cooled down! Pretty hot when it was already a hot day outside, but we couldn't keep the girls away from it! 
Cuts and Suzanne were in charge of dinner the first night. We had some delicious shrimp and pasta with different sauces. The girls loved dinner and hanging around the campfire in their little camp chairs. 
These silly girls, they have so much fun together! 
We ended the evening with some yummy cupcakes and a late night walk! 
The next morning Mason woke up with a warm cup of hot chocolate. 
After a great breakfast of blueberry and banana pancakes we decided to explore more of the gorgeous grounds. Of course this came at Addi's nap time so Cuts kindly stayed behind in the room to allow Donovan and I both to hike with Mason. It was wonderful, thanks so much, Cuts! 
The trail was beautiful along the Mckenzie river in the cool of the forest. Mason amazes me with her stamina, she pretty much ran the entire way! Close to the end of our hike she stopped for a rest, sitting down in the middle of the forest, and assumed her favorite "tired" position - twirling the hair! 
So Donovan threw her atop his shoulders for the last stretch and she was back to her smiling self :) 
Then he made us all laugh with his new mossy mustache! 
When we got back it was time for lunch so we packed some sandwiches and snacks and headed off to find the "Secret Garden". 
This place was something straight out of a fairytale - it was amazing! There were ponds, fountains, columns, bridges and landscaping that took our breathe away - all secretly hidden away in the middle of the forest. 
With Auntie Brooke, the artist, with us for the weekend, we took advantage of her skills and had her paint faces on the girls.
Both girls woke up as we pulled into Belknap Springs. They were giddy with excitement to see everyone! Once the campsite was set up the girls went exploring and then hopped into the hot springs swimming pool. It was 102 degrees, which had been cooled down! Pretty hot when it was already a hot day outside, but we couldn't keep the girls away from it! Cuts and Suzanne were in charge of dinner the first night. We had some delicious shrimp and pasta with different sauces. The girls loved dinner and hanging around the campfire in their little camp chairs. These silly girls, they have so much fun together! We ended the evening with some yummy cupcakes and a late night walk! The next morning Mason woke up with a warm cup of hot chocolate. After a great breakfast of blueberry and banana pancakes we decided to explore more of the gorgeous grounds. Of course this came at Addi's nap time so Cuts kindly stayed behind in the room to allow Donovan and I both to hike with Mason. It was wonderful, thanks so much, Cuts! The trail was beautiful along the Mckenzie river in the cool of the forest. Mason amazes me with her stamina, she pretty much ran the entire way! Close to the end of our hike she stopped for a rest, sitting down in the middle of the forest, and assumed her favorite "tired" position - twirling the hair! So Donovan threw her atop his shoulders for the last stretch and she was back to her smiling self :) Then he made us all laugh with his new mossy mustache! When we got back it was time for lunch so we packed some sandwiches and snacks and headed off to find the "Secret Garden". This place was something straight out of a fairytale - it was amazing! There were ponds, fountains, columns, bridges and landscaping that took our breathe away - all secretly hidden away in the middle of the forest. With Auntie Brooke, the artist, with us for the weekend, we took advantage of her skills and had her paint faces on the girls.Brisa 
Sienna 
Mason 
Addison
Sienna Mason AddisonSienna had Brooke change her face into a tiger after seeing Mason's cool lion. How cute are these painted girls?? Thanks, Brooke! Unfortunately Mason has asked me to paint her face now that we are home and I just can't even come close to the amazing faces you painted! I need some lessons :) 
We had everyone up to our room (which was GIANT and beautiful!) for happy hour. 
Then headed back to the campsite for some great fajitas and guacamole. Addi was in heaven with the guac! She was literally eating by the cup! Her chip was used more like a spoon :) 
After a tummy full of guacamole, Addi rocked in the hammock a little.
For dessert Uncle Jason popped a perfect bag of Jiffypop! What fun! 
Then... the girls are off again! They had so much fun just running up and down the trail in front of our campsite. 
Grandpa Cuts took the girls to the field to play Boccie ball. The girls loved it! 
Even Addi tossed that heavy ball. 
Right about this time Mason was hitting a wall. After a fun filled day with lots of sun, running and eating she wasn't feeling so well. This is another time I was so thankful to have a cool, quiet lodge room to take her back to (thanks again, Cuts and Suzanne!). Addi and Donovan stayed behind to enjoy glow-stick hats (thanks, Brooke!) and her first taste of S'mores. SUCCESS! 
This is how I knew Mason was really not feeling well - she said she wanted to skip the s'mores. She had been looking forward to those the whole trip - poor thing! :( But after a great night of sleep she was back to her perky self in the morning. We were so sad to leave beautiful Belknap Springs but we know we will be back for another visit in the future. On our way home we all stopped at Sahali Falls. It was a great way to get last minute wiggles out before a long ride home. It was also a good way for Mason and her cousins to get one final picture... phew!
We had everyone up to our room (which was GIANT and beautiful!) for happy hour. Then headed back to the campsite for some great fajitas and guacamole. Addi was in heaven with the guac! She was literally eating by the cup! Her chip was used more like a spoon :) After a tummy full of guacamole, Addi rocked in the hammock a little.For dessert Uncle Jason popped a perfect bag of Jiffypop! What fun! Then... the girls are off again! They had so much fun just running up and down the trail in front of our campsite. Grandpa Cuts took the girls to the field to play Boccie ball. The girls loved it! Even Addi tossed that heavy ball. Right about this time Mason was hitting a wall. After a fun filled day with lots of sun, running and eating she wasn't feeling so well. This is another time I was so thankful to have a cool, quiet lodge room to take her back to (thanks again, Cuts and Suzanne!). Addi and Donovan stayed behind to enjoy glow-stick hats (thanks, Brooke!) and her first taste of S'mores. SUCCESS! This is how I knew Mason was really not feeling well - she said she wanted to skip the s'mores. She had been looking forward to those the whole trip - poor thing! :( But after a great night of sleep she was back to her perky self in the morning. We were so sad to leave beautiful Belknap Springs but we know we will be back for another visit in the future. On our way home we all stopped at Sahali Falls. It was a great way to get last minute wiggles out before a long ride home. It was also a good way for Mason and her cousins to get one final picture... phew!Cuts and Suzanne, thank you for an amazing trip packed full of special memories! I see even more camping trips in the future :)
1 comments:
What a great place to camp! It sounds like you all had an amazing time! We will definitely look up this place next time we are planning a camping trip!
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