Labor Free Zone...

This weekend we stole away together to hit our favorite mountain spot with some of our favorite people.  It felt like a luxury to have nothing but fun "to-dos" on our to-do list for the weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's red house.  And you know what they always feel during their weekends at Grandma & Grandpa's house?  Love.  They walk in and they feel it.  They listen and they hear it. They reach out to touch and then they're snuggled up in it.  They LOVE it there.  They love the people who have made it feel like that.

And I love all of them.  I find myself squished in a love sandwich between my parents who loved me unconditionally, and my Ryno & boys who love me that same way.

It's a trip.  The best, heady kind of trip.

 Friday night we pulled in after sunset and we were greeted with hugs and flashlights.  The boys hit the front lawn for their first hunt of the weekend... night crawlers.  They were thrilled with this new found experience and two and a half dozen worms later - we felt prepared for our fishing trip in the morning.

Turns out, after a good night sleep the anticipation of a full day on the mountains is almost as good as the actual events...

Almost...

First stop - a trusty lake that Grandpa & Daddy-o had pinpointed for almost guaranteed success for our little anglers.  Listen, we have good guides like that.

Things started out a little slow.  But before long, we felt the familiar tug on the lines and...

Well, see for yourself.  :)

Our tiny yellow fishing poles got some real fishing experience.

Things got hot there for a few minutes.  Kaelster begrudgingly learned the art of catch and release.  (He's not a fan)-- Ryno caught an Arctic Greyling, which was new for us.  And miraculously, Ace Man stayed dry.  We consider all of this a huge success.

Notice the double victory shot.  Grandpa & Dax in the foreground and Kaelster and Ryno in the background.  When you're good, you're good, people. :)

It was a gorgeous day and somehow we had the lake all to ourselves on Labor Day weekend?

I attribute this to clean livin'.  I mean, what else?

 We loaded up on the wheelers and rode along until we found a spot for our fire.  Tin Foil dinners for the big kids... wieners for the little wieners.

Acey LOVED the smoke.  (Dramatic Much, Little Buddy?)

 We all loved Grandpa's stories.  Side note: Look how happy he is when he's in his element?

Kid in a candy store.

 And here we go - my love sandwich picture.  All of the men in my little family PLUS my Mom and Dad together is the best kind of wonderful.  

 Labor Day weekend is like my family love sandwiches... checking off those summer bucket list items AND layering up to see the first fall leaves atop the mountains.  The last watermelon and the first fall peache.  Some hot chocolate AND our final lemonade stand.  Don't make us choose... just shmoosh it all together in sandwich form.  It's bound to be delicious.