Callao
This year we spent my birthday packing and driving out to a Ranch that some of Danny's family owns. I'd never been even though they have been going each Labor Day weekend for years. I'm SO glad we got to go this time. It was gorgeous and it was something I really needed emotionally at the time. To get away from the everyday grind and escape. It really was the best birthday present I could have gotten. Prepare for picture overload. If this doesn't kill my computer, I don't know what will...
Basically, everyone brings tents/trailers and sleeps in the "yard" or property of the family who farms there. So, picture a ward campout but with family members. Super fun.
We brought a birthday cake down with us to frost and eat when we got there. Little did we know it wouldn't be until midnight! We ended up getting lost and since it is literally in the middle of nowhere, we had to stop a couple times to say a prayer. We were also low on gas and I can tell you this: we were the recipients of a miracle that night. We didn't realize how big of a deal it really was until driving HOME on Sunday afternoon thanks to the daylight and hindsight but if we hadn't followed the promptings we'd received, we would have been stranded in a STORM (of course it had to be raining), with no phone service, internet, maps, NADA and would have run out of gas.It would have been a much colder night than it ended up being. I'm so grateful for prayer and that Heavenly Father heard ours that Friday night.
The first night it rained so hard, we got soaked. I wanted to go home but I'm so glad I didn't :) I have never gotten so wet while camping. I took this at around 3 AM. In other spots, my foot was almost completely submerged. Yep. Turns out when the tent was set up, the tarp was underneath but didn't get tucked out of the way so all the rain got trapped between the tarp and the bottom of our tent. Oh snap.
Another thing I loved about Callao is that they had activities planned throughout the day. It wasn't super strictly scheduled, but there was enough to do that we weren't just sitting around all day. Yet, it was still totally relaxing. Saturday morning there was a 5K and then a big, delicious breakfast. The afternoon played out like this:
After a gigantic dinner we sat around the campfire and enjoyed the stars. Honestly, I think every family needs a big chunk of property to escape to once in a while. When we're millionaires...
Basically, everyone brings tents/trailers and sleeps in the "yard" or property of the family who farms there. So, picture a ward campout but with family members. Super fun.
We brought a birthday cake down with us to frost and eat when we got there. Little did we know it wouldn't be until midnight! We ended up getting lost and since it is literally in the middle of nowhere, we had to stop a couple times to say a prayer. We were also low on gas and I can tell you this: we were the recipients of a miracle that night. We didn't realize how big of a deal it really was until driving HOME on Sunday afternoon thanks to the daylight and hindsight but if we hadn't followed the promptings we'd received, we would have been stranded in a STORM (of course it had to be raining), with no phone service, internet, maps, NADA and would have run out of gas.It would have been a much colder night than it ended up being. I'm so grateful for prayer and that Heavenly Father heard ours that Friday night.
That's the hair of a woman who's been travelling :) Oh, and who has no shame.
The first night it rained so hard, we got soaked. I wanted to go home but I'm so glad I didn't :) I have never gotten so wet while camping. I took this at around 3 AM. In other spots, my foot was almost completely submerged. Yep. Turns out when the tent was set up, the tarp was underneath but didn't get tucked out of the way so all the rain got trapped between the tarp and the bottom of our tent. Oh snap.
The next morning I was finally able to see what Callao is all about. It's beautiful. It's also a cool Historical marker for the Pony Express which is significant to me since my 5th great Grandfather {Major Howard Egan}was responsible for establishing over 300 miles of the Pony Express Route. It was so awesome to be to a place where he had stayed and helped create.
Cole was so excited about being able to help Uncle Don feed the pigs.
Batman meets the country
The school house. It's so tiny! Anne of Green Gables called and wants her school back.
Another thing I loved about Callao is that they had activities planned throughout the day. It wasn't super strictly scheduled, but there was enough to do that we weren't just sitting around all day. Yet, it was still totally relaxing. Saturday morning there was a 5K and then a big, delicious breakfast. The afternoon played out like this:
THE EGG TOSS
La Piñata
CALF CHASING:
If you look closely, you'll see that all the livestock have money taped on them. They started with the young kids and everyone got a turn going out and trying to chase one down. You got to keep whatever was in the envelope. Cole got the grand prize!
PIG WRESTLING:
Sizing up the situation. They split into teams and had to get their pig UPSIDE DOWN in the barrel before the other team did. {I just texted Danny to find out what they called it when everyone was wrestling in the mud with the pigs. I wanted to make sure I got it right on the blog. He texted back: "Pig Wrestling :-)" } Can I get a HEH?
CONFESSION: I was a little bit jealous of these girls. Doesn't that look like fun?
Exploring the ORIGINAL property from the Pony Express. Seriously, it was awesome.
After a gigantic dinner we sat around the campfire and enjoyed the stars. Honestly, I think every family needs a big chunk of property to escape to once in a while. When we're millionaires...
Sunday morning we went to church which was about 20 minutes away and enjoyed the branch there. The members were so sweet and I can genuinely say that there was a unique and special spirit among them. I felt the Spirit really strong in that testimony meeting. It has been a long time since I've been in a sacrament meeting that small. Probably since my mission. After church, we headed back, got changed, had some lunch and then headed for home. I didn't want to leave. I could have stayed another week. Totally unplugged.I can't wait to do it again next year :) Maybe if we follow directions next time, we won't get lost!
Comments