Grammy turns 60 this year and for her birthday we decided to ALL 26 (that is 17 kids mostly under the age of 10) of us come out for a reunion of sorts and for a long-time needed family photo.
The Monsons were the first to arrive on Wednesday night for some alone time before the masses showed up. The Wrights (minus Matt) came up Thursday afternoon and the par-tee began.
The boys (and girls) all had great fun shooting air soft guns at cans lined up on the stumps. It was amazing how many "sharp-shooters" we ended up with!
 |
| Laurne, Jake, Bubba, Josh, Mallory and Jaxon in the back & Zac in the rocking chair |
 |
| Sarah and Maddie |
Thursday was Sarah's actual BIRTHDAY! I made her a chocolate cake and we had a BBQ ribs dinner with Julie's rolls, corn on the cob and California fruit. YUMMM!
Grams didn't have two cake rounds that were the same size so my cake was more a blob than anything. Luckily frosting can hide many imperfetions and it tastes great no matter how it looks.
For her present, we went into Weaverville to the Hotel and she picked out an amethyst poison ring. I picked out some matching earrings and snuck them in the box. She also got some cold-hard cash from Grams and Pops and a iTunes gift card from the Wrights.
For her present, we went into Weaverville to the Hotel and she picked out an amethyst poison ring. I picked out some matching earrings and snuck them in the box. She also got some cold-hard cash from Grams and Pops and a iTunes gift card from the Wrights.
 |
| Josh - having a turn |
A new addition to the cabin this year is the ZIP LINE. Wow - what fun. The brake was a little jolting, but otherwise the kids had a blast. Even Bubba and Ray went down. And of course ME!
 |
| Jakers |
 |
| Bubba, Rach, Mallory and Lauren |
On Friday we headed to the LAKE for a day of tubing, canoeing and lounging. Grams had the perfect beach to park ourselves on. Pops and Dave headed down to reserve our spot at 7 AM. Coo coo!!! The family all headed down closer to 9:30. Still a little early for Monson's standard but we are working on being "flexible and fun-loving."
Dave is the MASTER canoe-er. In fact most of the kids got quite good at manuvering around our cove. The canoe didn't turn over, in fact, until Pops disembarked and sent David flying into the lake.
My crazy sister thought it was a good idea to egg Pops on when the "old ladies" were on the tube. Jules and I had a successful first ride (that means that Julie didn't get her hair wet) but on the second go - she told Pops "BRING-IT OLD MAN." Pops didn't disappoint. He got us going so fast that as I leaned over to brag to Jules that "It can NEVER happen," we flipped. I came up for air with my swim skirt down at my ankles, my boob hanging out of my top, and my shoe floating away. Poor Jules is still sore a week later. That'll teach her! Pops didn't stopped smiling all day!
 |
| Ray, Dan, Jules, Pops and Jaxson |
Dave started a project of putting in stairs for the rope swing and zip line access. They turned out FABULOUS!!!
MONDAY: This is our second day at the lake. Pops and Grams headed to Redding so David and I manned the ski boat.
 |
| Bubs, Mallory, Jaxson and Jakers in the water. |
Trey's family made it here Monday night. We gave them the tour and had the fire pit all ready to roast marshmallows.
 |
| Mallory, Madisen, Ray, Pops, Lauren, Issac, Jodie, Jules, Sarah |
Jules and I - I had just gotten back from a run.
TUESDAY: We decided to have a DOWN-DAY to give Trey's family a break from the 3-day car ride from Minnesota. The kids hung out, shot guns, 4-wheel and of course we ate.
The Cottrells arrived around noon. Caesy was so anxious to get here that they left at midnight and drove through the night. Uncle Matt also arrived in time to have Crabby Patties, corn on the cob and chips and salsa.
 |
| Sarah and Casey |
The night ended with the boys doing their traditional "movie night." They headed into town to catch the latest "flick" Planet of the Apes.
No comments:
Post a Comment