Mountain Man Rendezvouz

This year for our Smullin Cousin Party, we had a "Mountain Man Rendezvous".

Our "camp" was in the middle of a neighborhood, in the middle of Ogden. It was amazing how much we felt like we were in the middle of nature though.

Jared & Teresa were our lovely hosts this year.


As we arrived Friday evening, we unpacked our car and set up our tent. Jared passed out a "possible bag" to each cousin. Grandma Smullin explained that in the days of mountain men, a possible bag was used to carry anything they could possibly need for the day. Mountain men carried black powder and "hard tack" to eat. Our possible bag included a tin plate and a 'coon skin cap. The kids put on their caps and started to explore, taking advantage of all the fun things to do.

Jak

Ethel, Taylee & Jordyn

Lex, Carson, Treyson, Sarah, Matthew & Jordyn

Abree, Emma & Sarah

Joshua

Bob & Treyson

Nate, Colton & Jessica

There was a game room...well, actually it was more like a shed. It had arcade games, a pool table, foosball, rock climbing and more. If the "game shed" were the only thing to do, the kids would have been perfectly content.

It came in handy, if a meal was running late or there was a lapse in the schedule of events. They were perfectly entertained and NOT whining or complaining about hunger or boredom.

Happy kids= happy parents. :)

There were a lot of interesting things in camp. These solar yard lights became torches or flashlights for adventurous kids when it became dark UNTIL... grandpa noticed and made them put them back. Oops!

Where were the parents of those kids?! :)

"Tent City"

This was our "outhouse"...

that was a full-blown bathroom, running water and everything!
My kind of "roughing it". :)

I think Christian likes it.

One of the happiest babies on earth.

Lynley is cool with it too.

Grandma Smullin

Teresa & Melissa

Jason

Nate & Cathy

Sarah was our official chair arranger and re-arranger. She did a fabulous job of it.

Adam

For dinner we had "bear" stew and "hard tack" rolls... in our mountain man tins, of course.

Yum!

Aunt Jenny and Uncle Fred came to see us. Jenny practiced grandma-ing on Lynley...she's going to be a great grandma.

David said, "This is my Mountain Man look...

and this is my Indian look."

Catie & Rylee

Cameron

As it was getting dark, the campfire was stoked and s'mores were enjoyed.

When we were full and sticky enough, it was time for bed. It took a while for everyone to settle in their tents. There was some giggling, some hushing and a bit of crying, but we all eventually settled for the night... mostly. :)

It was a COLD night, but we all survived.

In the morning, Jared cooked breakfast burritos for us.

Jeremiah, Carson & Cameron

Jeremiah

Bob

After breakfast, the cousins were divided up into 4 groups.

There were 4 Mountain Man stations. As they completed each station, they collected animal skins to exchange at the "trading post".

Station 1: Decorate your possible bag with Grandma Smullin.

Joshua

Catie & Abree

Treyson

"Look Mom!"

Station 2: Learn how to read a compass and go on a hike with Uncle Jason.

Taylee, Jade, Joshua, Jason & Matthew

Station 3: Play ladder ball with instruction from Aunt Cathy.

Jak

Cameron

Sarah is D.O.N.E. done.

Station 4: BB gun shooting range with Uncle Jared and grandpa.

Cameron, Treyson, Abree & Colton

Jared & Joshua

The kids (and adults) loved this station. They all wanted to show off their holey targets and talk about how well they did. So proud.

At the "Trading Post" the kids could exchange their animal skins for candy.

Unfortunately Teresa was called into work.

Her job?...S.W.A.T. team scribe (just one part of her job actually). She had to go on a call where a guy had a warrant out for his arrest and had barracaded himself, and a hostage, in a house. It lasted all night and into the morning. The stand-off (Is that what it's called?) ended, when the S.W.A.T. team went in. The guy shot himself (still living last I heard)and the hostage girlfriend defended him all the way, being uncooperative with the police officers.

We all listened, as she described her rather exciting work day/night.

Still smiling!

See, I told you he was one of the happiest babies on earth.

As the day started to heat up, we packed it in.

On to the next adventure.....

Thank you Jared and Teresa for a great cousin party. We're finding lots of possibilities for our possible bags. :)