Backpacking to Shirts Lake

I've been begging Devin for years to go backpacking but the summers just haven't aligned with freedom from babies or pregnancy so even though everyone was sick for our sixth anniversary, we decided to celebrate this weekend with a trip to Shirts Lake, near Cascade, ID. Our awesome babysitter was available to watch our kids overnight and we were back within 24 hours, short and sweet! 

After kissing our kiddos good-bye and a bumpy ride up to the trail head, we started our descent from the trailhead at about 6:15 pm. Devin thought he'd be able to hike without his shoes tied ;)

I thought this rock was so cool, Devin thought this rock was the perfect opportunity to pull some good faces! Since we started hiking so late it was almost golden hour while we were hiking, which made the scenery that much prettier. It started to darken a bit more the lower we got so picture taking while hiking was tricky but we got some good ones.





Devin saw a deer run across the little meadow down behind us and into those grove of trees on the left. The natural spring that ran down the mountain made everything so green and tons of wildflowers grew everywhere, it was no wonder that's where the deer made their home!





It was only about an hour of hiking until we reached the lake and another 15 minutes to find a campsite. We got the tent up in a jiffy and Devin made busy unpacking while I explored :) We figured we'd get some fishing in too before we ran out of daylight.



Devin saw these mountain lion tracks near where we were fishing. Thankfully that was the only trace of them we saw! We also found out later that there is only one giant fish left in the lake that has eaten all of the trout and other fish so obviously we didn't catch anything. Still an incredibly relaxing night fishing while the sun went down. When it got dark we went and sang some songs by the lake and started seeing little frogs coming up to the shallow part of the water, the kids would have loved that!



Then Devin worked his magic with his camp stove that he was nice enough to pack in because there was a fire ban. We got some water from the natural spring and boiled it for our Mountain House lasagna meal that we shared. It was SO good, the tomatoes in it seriously tasted like they were from the garden. Freeze drying has got to be the BEST method of preserving.

I was also excited to be there for a full moon because the reflection of the moon on the mountains and lake were awesome. However, the moon coming up behind the trees was better than any pics I was able to take of it all the way up in the sky :/ I'll have to learn how to do that.


The picture above is what we saw looking up from our campsite, and the picture below is the next morning looking out to the lake from our campsite, it felt really cozy and I didn't even freeze!

(unlike the last many times we've gone camping)

Morning faces! :)

After much needed sleeping in, we realized we'd have to hustle a bit that morning if we wanted to get back when we said we would. Luckily this little 3 man tent is a lot easier to put away than our 10 man

Our friends told us about this hike, lake, and awesome cliff jumping spot - which I had seen countless videos of kids as young as 10 years old jumping off of so I couldn't leave without doing it! This was the face Devin gave me when I asked if he wanted to jump off a cliff into mountain lake water at 9:30 am, hehe. He totally regrets not doing it though...next time!


Thankfully he decided to be a pretty good looking photographer instead.


He's like, can we go now? :) We really would have loved to stay the whole day and swim and enjoy the beautiful lake so we're excited to come again but we're glad we were able to start hiking out before it got too hot.



By the end I was feeling really happy I packed next to nothing. Here we are SO happy to be done with those steep climbs and ready to eat some lunch!



Stopped in Horseshoe Bend at Sonora for Mexican food and their chips and salsa were some of the best I've had in my life! Maybe because everything tastes better after camping ;) We were just feeling VERY refreshed at this place. And note to self: get all of the water out of your ears before jumping into the lake a second time and then again after that. The change in altitude hiking out and then driving back to Boise was doing a number on me but taking this break and getting fed was so helpful. Pin It

Fifth Wedding Anniversary!

Ok, we didn't go to France or anything but our fifth anniversary dinner was magnifique! We realized we make good food a top priority on our anniversary! The last 3 years (Melting Pot, Asiago's, Chandler's) have probably been our most expensive meals but definitely worth it! 

So here's the story!

I was a doofus - I had mistaken the steakhouse that I had heard of for the one that we received a gift card to and made a reservation at the wrong one! I was pretty bummed when we pulled up to Chandler's because I knew (Ruth's Chris) had something special waiting for our anniversary and I had heard good things about it, and because calling to cancel the reservation about a minute before we were supposed to be there also felt weird. Guess who's not in charge of reservations anymore? ha! 

It also meant we didn't have a reservation at Chandler's, so we had to eat at a table near the bar, opposed to a more quiet, secluded booth with a tablecloth. But the perk was that we were right next to this awesome pianist! To be honest, it felt too chaotic at first. People at tables all around us were seemingly loud and that mixed with the piano on the other side felt just as chaotic as the 1 and 2 year old I had just left at home after a busy week. 

But then whoever was so loud behind me left and the chatter died down and Devin could actually hear what I was saying and I kept catching measures of some favorite songs that this man was playing. And in perfect timing they brought out each amazing course and everything was perfect! 

(Unfortunately this post is iPhone pictures only)

Some of my favorite songs he played were "On My Own" from Les Miserables, I Say A Little Prayer For You (From My Best Friend's Wedding), Hotel California by The Eagles, and more that I can't remember but definitely enjoyed. It was a really good mix!

Devin could have cared less about the reservation mix-up, or lack there-of. So here he is being content as can be, wondering if he could someday do this piano gig at fancy restaurants when he retires :) ...he totally could!

Food, glorious food! I can't wait to go back. I loved my "Rocket Salad" with shaved asiago and pear and apple-cider vinaigrette with crispy onion straws on top. Devin's halibut dish was TO DIE FOR. He let me have a bite so I reached over and thought I was cutting into halibut but it was actually mashed potatoes that the fish was resting on (same color) and I let out a little surprised sound because it was so soft...haha we laughed about that for a minute. But then the halibut really was almost that melt-in-your mouth with that lemon cream sauce. seriously. I got lamb chops, like the true carnivore that I am, and they did not disappoint. Also so tender and they came with this small stack of potatoes au gratin that were out. of. this. world. I could have just eaten those and been so happy. And needless to say, dessert was a really good idea.

We were talking about our anniversary the year prior and how crazy it was that we had no idea I'd be having a baby the next day. This is making to be a busy weekend in our lives!

The best thing ever was coming home to both kids being asleep. That hasn't happened...almost ever. We were kid-free from 5:30 pm til the next morning! I had set up the tent in the backyard earlier that day because we hardly went camping this summer and that was something we REALLY had wanted to do. But Idaho's horrible fires brought a strong smoke smell in late that afternoon so even though the tent was set up we didn't really want to breathe that outside all night. So we "camped" in our living room.

I convinced Devin to play cards with me, something he doesn't usually enjoy. I had this deck of cards made on Shutterfly.com (free, just paid shipping!). We played Rummy 500, an old favorite of mine, to my Joshua Radin Pandora station, which was the best thing ever. It just kept playing the best songs and we were having fun and it was a perfect, "chill" night. I was happy we were relaxed at home and not on vacation, and not watching a movie for a change either!

5 years has brought us 2 kids, 4 places of residence, 5 cars, a boat, 2 peach trees, and learning how to grow together as a family, financially, spiritually, sharing responsibilities, and recognizing/appreciating all of our blessings.


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