mccall-ing all the family

{NOTE: This post was started while we were on vacation and was finished after we got back.}


You don't have to tell me -- I know.

These titles are going down the drain one at a time.

We are in McCall, Idaho.
And even if we are on vacation, I don't think the blog should be.


I've taken many trips in the past and the one thing I have learned for each one is this: you must document it all.
And this trip is no exception.


I have also been very lucky in my life to have gone on trips where I am absolutely overwhelmed with happiness.
It's a happiness that's almost mixed with skepticism and disbelief. I think to myself, "Wow, am I really here? And it's this wonderful?"


A few years ago, I took a trip to Cabo San Lucas with some friends when we rented this amazing house and I was so scared because I thought it was so amazingly unreal that someone would take it away from me.

Thus far, this trip has turned out to be no exception. 
We arrived in Boise on Thursday afternoon and spent that day with family and friends {just as planned}. 


{Side note: I am totally in love with Boise State University. What an amazing campus. Wish I could go back to college and just go there.}

Friday morning, we caravanned to McCall {about 2 1/2 hours away}. The drive was gorgeous. We drove next to the Payette River (?) and the Snake River in parts and saw the whitewater, kayakers, and even some eagles overhead.

{amazeballs, right?}

We arrived at our cabin and were so amazed by it. 

Not like it was crazy MTV Cribs style or anything like that, but it is beautiful no less. There is something about being this close to nature and breathing fresh air that we city folk can't get enough of.


The City of McCall is nothing short of gorgeous. 

But then again, maybe it's the warmth and family that make it that much more appealing to me. 

some of the fam at the McCall Brewery upon arrival into town and receiving our house keys from the rental place... {clockwise from top: Uncle Jerry, Aunt Karen, Aunt Lesa, Grandma Warren, Uncle Bryan}

Grandma Warren relaxing right when we arrived at the cabin.

The whole family spent most of our nights gathered around playing board games, talking, eating, and just spending quality time together.

 We even got to squeeze in some time for shopping and of course, one of my favorite activities ever: fishing!

Although only one fish was caught all day {evidently the water was too high and still too cold for the fish to bite}, we had such a great time doing so.

Another wonderful event during our trip was a great announcement from Andrew: He's getting married! He and {now} fiancee Kimber just got back from Jamaica where he proposed and she said yes! What a wonderful time to announce it to the family and have us all celebrate their engagement together!

Congratulations, Andrew & Kimber!

The funny thing is that this trip, in its early planning stages, began as only a couples trip that stemmed from our loss of the girls. J's aunt thought it would be a good idea for us to get away and invited us to Idaho to visit them. It evolved into a full blown family trip and J and I could not be more thankful that it did.

Now that we are back home, we are even more thankful for the magic of our long weekend away. Aside from actually being away, we were able to rekindle relationships that are, during the rest of the year, so far away in proximity. Trips like this serve as inspiration and motivation for us to nurture those relationships and be grateful that we have them. 

At the end of the day, no matter where life takes us, we always go back to one group: family. We are reminded that despite the many trials that life makes us go through, our families are enough reasons for us to continue to celebrate. 

Until next year's trip!