Goodrich family vacation: McCall, Idaho

Justin's family does a bigger trip every other year. It's a little harder for all of us to get together since we are spread across the US more (Seattle, Utah, Atlanta) but everyone was able to make it work this summer. April's brother lent us his cabin in McCall, Idaho for a week. It was so beautiful up there and reminded Justin and I of Lake Tahoe which was one of our all-time favorite trips ever. So nice for the kids (and adults) to catch up and spend time together.

We drove all day on Monday and arrived in time for dinner. The kids wasted no time getting down to playing-Andrew and Lizzie helped them put on some Shakespeare plays (I think MacBeth and one other-so cultured) and they finally agreed to perform for the grown-ups but they were quite silly and kept forgetting their lines and the story and Lizzie and Andrew had to keep helping them.

Grayson and Stockton

Brynn and Andrew

Lizzy and Ivy

Tuesday was our first day there and we split up in the morning. Some families had brought mountain bikes-we had 2, Eric and Heidi had brought 6, and Aaron brought 3. Several kids and parents went mountain biking and the rest of us went to the fish hatchery. We walked around the hatchery for a while and then ended up playing by the river for a long time. We skipped rocks, put flowers in our hair, and eventually started wading and walking across the river. Molly biked with Tiana and Aaron while Stockton went with Heidi and the more beginner kids. Heidi was so patient with teaching him how to work the gears and I was so appreciative of her.

Tiana and Molly

Brynn, Lizzy, Ivy, Grayson, Rachelle, Matt, Kai

Ivy, Lizzy, Brynn

April and Ivy

Camille and Ivy

Gene, Brett, Justin, Matt, Riley

Brynn, Justin, Ivy, Cam

We went back to the cabin for lunch and then the afternoon was spent at the lake. The family has access to a private dock and beach area that was within walking distance so that was really nice. We had several paddleboards, some kayaks from the shed at the cabin, and a huge blow-up raft that we hooked to the buoy. The kids had fun pretending it was their fort and would shoot anyone who came near with water guns.

Molly and Lizzy

Riley and Stockton

Riley and Ivy

On Wednesday, we all went over to Ponderosa State Park where there was beach, lake, and trails. Heidi took turns taking crews on the mountain biking trails while the majority of the group played at the lake.

Molly, Ivy, Andrew, Sam, Cam

Grayson, Rachelle, Ivy

Lizzy, Molly, Tiana

Brynn, Andrew, Cam, Sam

I got to take my turn on Tiana's bike with Heidi, Gene, and Stockton. I had never been mountain biking before but it was really fun! I liked the skinny trails through the forest rather than the gravel or dirt trails connecting the smaller trails. It was only Stockton's second time on his bike (his first being the day before with Aaron and Heidi) and he was still figuring out the gears but he did a great job. And it was beautiful!!

Gene, Heidi, Stockton, Megan

probably my favorite picture of all summer! That boy and that view.

Justin got a baseball game going with everyone that afternoon. Brynn was able to take a few spins around a little trail on Evie's bike-she loved it and I'm sure she'll be wanting a mountain bike when she's a little older like Molly and Stockton. We played games at the cabin that night and spotted a deer in the neighbors yard.

For the kids, time at the cabin was spent playing games or watching movies. So nice to see them be best of friends!

Camille, Cam, Grayson, Riley, Jake, Andrew, Evie, Lizzy, Luke, Brynn, Micah, Tiana, Matt, Ivy

Luke, Cam, Grayson, Brynn, Evie, Jake, Riley, Sam, Andrew, Micah

I really wanted to do a hike so we talked the others into joining us. Eric said he knew a good spot so we trusted him. It was an excellent hike-so pretty-even if it did end up being a little long for little legs. Overall the kids did amazing! There was some debate about how long the hike ended up being, but it was something like 4 miles. There were several spots along the trail where we were able to stop and pick huckleberries and Ivy loved that so much!

Luke, Cam, Sam, Stockton, Brynn, Lizzy, Riley, Kai, Jake, Micah, Andrew, Ivy, Molly, Tiana, Eli

Andrew, Grandma, Stockton-Stockton hiked with Grandma the entire time and talked and talked. So good for him to be able to have someone's undivided attention for a couple of hours.

Tiana, Andrew, Grandpa, Molly, Camille, Riley, Cam, Brynn, Sam, Lizzy, Micah, Ivy, Justin, Heidi, Eli, Evie, Stockton, Matt, Kai

We spent the afternoon at the private dock again. We took dinner down so we could stay longer. Justin made a paddleboard island. After dinner, we went to Ice Cream Alley for ice cream cones. Justin and I took the three younger kids on a walk that night. There was some construction in the neighborhood and they were impressed by the big tractor. In the morning we said our good-byes and everyone headed their separate ways-Seattle, Heber, Sandy, Cedar Hills, and Atlanta. Some of the good-byes were tearful ones but grateful for a week spent together.