Annual Lighten Family Maple Grove Camp-out 2013

For the past couple of years, the Lighten family and friends have converged on Maple Grove Campground.  It is this great place that my brother-in-law Rich found just south of Scipio, Utah.  It is big, beautiful, tucked away in the mountains, great for fishing, hiking, and just plain having a fun time with each other.

The kids look forward to this each year.  So I am going to go ahead and stamp "tradition" on this event. :)

In the years past, I have only attended with my little girls for a portion of it.  This year we braved the whole thing, and man am I glad we did!  The girls did great.  What a fun stage our family is in that we can do these things together.

ALERT: Get ready for picture overload! :)

Favorite moments of the weekend:
1. Bear telling the infamous Adam and Eve went down to the river to bathe...with pinch me" joke. :)
2. Hiking with my girls and having a long discussion with my oldest about the importance of endurance and exact obedience.  Hiking to a waterfall with lots of cliffs tend to lend to topics like this.
3.  Being warm all night long.  I hate waking up cold!
4.  The cumulative 15 lbs. of Peanut M&M's.  Poppy Seed Muffin French Toast.  Dutch oven cobbler, and all the other massive amounts of delicious food!
5.  Watching my kids bonding with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
6.  Being reminded of my brother-in-law Greg who passed away, and realizing why he made such effort to engender a love for the outdoors in his children.  We all sure miss him.  This was his element.  Every time I am in nature now I think of him.

I am so grateful for such a wonderful extended family.  We love each other.  We support and encourage each other.  We are there for each other.  And trips like this just further cement those bonds.  Bonds that started before this life, and extend beyond.

How I love being a Lighten.

Thanks to everyone who set this up and made it possible!