Winter Trip to Priest Lake

We just got home this evening from our annual, winter trip to Priest Lake.  For the first time ever, Ron decided to boycott the entire thing which meant that I had to drive his Suburban (that I had never driven before) in the snow with four kids including a baby.  Needless to say, I was not thrilled when I heard the news from him, but there was nothing I could really do about it besides cancel our trip and stay home which I didn't want to do as this is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  So, I put on my 'big girl boots,' got a driving lesson from Ron the night before we left, and headed out on the morning of December 27th with all four kids in tow.  We managed to tag team with Chris and his family the entire drive which was helpful.  We passed one another every one or two hours the entire drive there.  Luckily, we both stopped in Priest River to get gas within a few minutes of each other.  I was able to then caravan with them the remaining 1.5 hours of the drive which I was grateful for since the roads were covered with snow the rest of the way there.  We then spent three days up at the cabin with everyone in my family with the exception of Ron.  Unfortunately, there was only about 6 inches of snow on the ground (as opposed to 1 to 2 feet that we have always had in years past) which meant that we could only sled in our yard and not on the street unless we drove up farther north along the lake where there was more snow.  My brothers also cancelled their annual ski day to Schweitzer since several key chair lifts were still closed on the mountain due to the lack of snow.  But we made the most of it and enjoyed getting out and playing in the snow every day and also had fun renting two snowmobiles for one of the days that we were there.  Overall, the kids had a great time and I managed to survive even though Emmett slept horribly in his pack 'n play all four nights AND I came down with a wicked cold AND my niece reinjured my left knee that I have been rehabbing for 7.5 months.  My kids would have definitely said that the trip was worth it and I probably would have said that it was not, but it's all water under the bridge now.  Here's to hoping that our winter trip in 2020 will be a better one...

We all piled into cars on our first day there to drive up the lake to the epic sledding spot that we always enjoy on the longest driveway in the world.  Most of the kids piled into the back of Spencer's truck.  Here is Ella sitting in the lap of her big cousin, Sarah Mae.

The girls waiting to drive off in the truck bed.

We celebrated Callie's 16th birthday on the evening of the 28th.  Here is baby Emmett waiting for the candles to be lit on her cake while being held by his doting, older cousin, Brynn.

Callie about to blow out her birthday candles.

Spencer and Emmett hanging out at the table before the birthday cake was served.

After birthday cake, we participated in our annual, cousin gift exchange.  Logan received an awesome, Pirate Lego game from Trenton.

Lia received two Harry Potter shirts and necklaces from Sarah Mae.

Ella smiling in front of the Christmas tree after gift opening.  She actually opened up her gift from Vivi on Christmas Eve and was a little confused why she didn't get to open up anything at the cabin.

The stars aligned on the morning of December 29th for Emmett to join us out in the snow.  Since he took a shorter than normal morning nap and we went outside later than normal due to holding 'cabin church,' we were able to dress him up and bring him outside with us for our morning romp in the snow.  He looked so cute all bundled up in his snow gear that he was barely able to move around in.

We were able to pull Emmett around in the sled and even took him down a few runs.  For the most part, he really liked it.

Lia pulling Emmett up our driveway.

Our traditional, Hartland fam picture minus Ron that we take every year in the same spot. 

A cute Emmett smiling in my arms.

Uncle Chris took Ella and Emmett down our road even though the snow cover was pretty minimal.  Here they are ready to go!

Uncle Chris pulling them down the hill.

And they're off!

My two, grown-up nieces striking a pose before disappearing down the hill in search of a large icicle.  They have done this every year for as long as I can remember, but sadly, they were unable to find one this year to bring back to the cabin.

Uncle Chris returning back up the hill with Ella and Emmett in tow.  Emmett did great and didn't make a peep during this entire first sled ride of his life.

Lia sledding down our driveway.

Logan following down the driveway.

Ella taking a turn.

Ella posing for me after coming down the hill on her sled.

Lia flying down the hill!

I laid baby Emmett in one of the sleds while I ran around snapping pictures.  Here he is smiling while Logan gives him some attention.

A close-up of our snow bunny.

I sledded down our neighbor's driveway with Emmett in my lap.  We then had fun playing in their untouched snow in and around their tennis court.  Here are Ella and Emmett playing in the snow outside the tennis court.

Lia posing for me from inside the tennis court.

The kids walking up the neighbor's driveway to head back into the cabin for lunch.

The kids enjoyed playing games with their cousins every evening in the cabin.  Emmett just got passed around from family member to family member most of the time that we were there which was a big help to me.  Here is big cousin, Riley, taking a turn.

Logan, Trenton, and Ella playing Logan's new, pirate Lego game.

On December 30th, we got to go on a few different snowmobile rides throughout the day.  Here is Uncle Eric taking Lia and Logan for a ride in the woods.

Ella and I leaving the cabin with Uncle Brent at the helm.

Lia and Logan in front of the cabin with Uncle Eric.

Ella pretending to drive the snowmobile herself.  She looks so tiny on this big machine!

Eric taking the kids for a spin near the lake.

Ella and I getting ready to go on a snowmobile trail up into the hills.

Since there was more snow near the foot of the snowmobile trails, we decided to stay and play in the snow for an hour or so while the other cousins were out on the snowmobiles.  Here is Ella doing what my kids love most--eating snow!

Logan, Lia, and Ella posing in the snow.

Another family photo minus baby Emmett who was back at the cabin taking his nap.