Back to Wildwood.

A few more summer pictures from way back in July. But this was one of our favorite summer memories and we took a billion pictures, so we had to share them. Last summer we were introduced to Wildwood at our cousin Norah's blessing. But we were all wearing church clothes and couldn't really partake of all the wonders to enjoy there. So we always dreamed of going back.
Well, while my sister Sarah, her husband Nathan and Norah were here this summer enroute from Manhattan to their new home in California, they invited us to spend the afternoon at Wildwood with them! Wildwood is a fabulous old cabin up Provo Canyon on a fork of the Provo River. (Just down the river a bit from Sundance Resort.) While this place is not as glamorous as Sundance, it has more personality and rustic charm. The cabin was built by Nathan's grandparents, the Paxmans, in the 1960s, right next to the 1920's cabin that Shirley Paxman lived at every summer growing up. The Paxmans have a cool old home in downtown Provo, but spend their entire summer up here every year.

The boys looking down from the tree house.

The cabin itself has a back deck that is literally on the river. The water was high and moving fast because of all the rain earlier in the summer, but the Paxmans have dammed-off a portion to create a shallow pool for the kids to play in. There is also a rope bridge to cross to the other side.

There are also lots of wood scraps, hammers and nails for building all kinds of creations.

And good places for taking naps.

It is the perfect getaway from the heat of July - and only 20 minutes from our house. The canyon is so much cooler and the breeze off the river is heavenly.

After Norah woke from her own nap, she joined us.
I love this picture with her great-grandparents in the background.
They are pretty amazing for a couple in their nineties!

We had a splendid afternoon.

And then it was time to say good-bye.

And not just to Wildwood, but to the Bowens as they headed off for their new adventures in California. We miss having the great excuse to visit Manhattan (and place to stay!) but it's nice to have them that much closer and look forward to seeing them more often. Like this past week. :)