When the Browns Retreat

This holiday weekend, Josh got an itching for a retreat.  So that's what we did.  We retreated right back on over to a spot we really enjoyed two Fall Breaks ago ... Fall Creek Falls State Park.  On our agenda:  not a blessed thing besides just hanging out! 

It was cold enough to just stay put at our cabin.  The water level had gone down, which we didn't expect, so it really limited the fishing that Josh and the kids looked forward to doing from our porch.  But really, it was cold, so that in itself would have limited their fishing minutes anyway.  So instead, we played board games, video games, read books, drew pictures, and watched movies. 

I sat by the fire and enjoyed this view from our couch.

Great shot of our little escape by the lake.  

One of several awesome fires I made happen.  I found I couldn't get enough of the gentle thrum and snappy popping sounds that come from a good, hot fire.  I didn't expect to enjoy keeping it alive so much.

Morning view.  Ahhhhh....  Josh said it was even better before this, but you know I am not crazy enough to get up as early as those kids of mine.  This view will do just fine!

After a buffet lunch at the hotel area, we let the kids shiver and run off some energy at the little playground and explore the shoreline for a few minutes.

We skipped the hiking, but drove to several pretty lookout spots within the park.  Fall Creek Falls.

It was so much more expansive looking in real time.  

I swear the camera shrinks every landscape shot!

Along the gorge.

Piney Falls.

And just because it was so sweetly sunny, we let the kids race on big wheel and scooter in a couple parking circles along the way.

I stopped flipping through my magazines long enough to capture this sweet view, too.

Tossing rocks into the lake while we got ready to leave.  The day we left it was GORGEOUS out!  We ended up exploring the campgrounds and letting the kids play near there and ride bikes on a bike trail before leaving.

Goodbye, little cabin!
Thanks for a truly restful, peaceful long weekend away from home.

The kids are already talking about when we'll be back. :)