USRT15 #9--Island Park Reunion

We joined our Player family in Island Park for a perfect week of time with Dan's family. We spent a lot of time in the cabin but when we were outside we were overwhelmed by all of the Idaho beauty. 

We went for a short hike at Harriman State Park with a few of the younger cousins one day. Large birds swooped in and out of view as they fished on these wide waterways.

Dan and I hiked the Coffee Pot trail on another day. A storm was rolling in that afternoon--I was so grateful we weren't camping--and the sky took on at least five different shades of blue and gray during the course of our four-mile walk along the river's edge.

I love this guy. He was so sick all week but didn't really let on to anyone because he loves time with his family and had looked forward to this for so long.

On another day we went to John Sack's cabin.

Made entirely with hand tools, this  little home is a wonder, set just above a pair of bubbling springs. The day we were there a moose was apparently enjoying the vegetation.

With all of the unique Idaho beauty we experiences, time with our family was our favorite. In spite of Dan feeling sick the entire time, we enjoyed the best food, played games, chatted, crafted, enjoyed Grandma Player's surprises, and got to know each other better. Other highlights included my daily trip to dump, watching my kids idolize their cousins, and the extended family talent show with Dan's dad's brothers and sisters. We went into Yellowstone together on Wednesday to see Old Faithful erupt together--I really need to get a copy of the group photo we took there. 

In the end it was so hard to go. We are so grateful that Dan's parents are so dedicated to making these reunions happen, and we're so glad Dan's sisters take the time to meet us there, coordinate food, bring activities for the kids to do, and generally seem happy to see us. Only the promise of seeing the Bjarnason family was enough to get us on the road.