Vacation Part 4: A College Formerly Known as Ricks, and a Brave Grandma

I graduated from Ricks College (now Brigham Young University-Idaho) in 2000. Though it seems like yesterday, that was 9 years ago, (just in case you couldn't do the math. I am a college graduate, therefore I can do the math) and I don't think I've been back since. I tagged along with my brother and sister in law, up to Rexburg to do a little bit of reminiscing about the good old days when I was young and free. The campus has changed a lot, but we still had a few things to let us know it was still the same place.

In front of Thor, the viking: Sorry that picture was so dark. It was because of the windows....and the 4 year old taking the picture.

And, how could we go around campus and not run into a copy of the Honor Code?

It was great to go back. They've added several new building to the campus, and built a temple up on the hill, but it still made me think about all the good times I had there, and how fortunate I was to have spent to wonderful years there.

Whew.

[don't cry, em!]

Ok. [gaining back composure] That night, as any brave, loving Grandma would, my Mom decided to have a fun camp out with all the little grandkids.

A picture of the wild bunch before the festivities:

The evening included dinner, games with my Mom and sister,

treats (of course),
and sleeping out in the tent. (Maryn and Savannah)

The kids seemed to have a blast. My mom was Super-Grandma who didn't let things like high winds (imagine that...in Idaho??) or a hard ground get in her way. She's a much better woman than I am!

Vacation Part 3: Another Soggy Day

The next day, since we weren't quite water logged enough from the water park, we headed out to Blacktail Lake. My bro-in-law got a boat earlier this year, and he needed to show it off to us. The day was a little chilly and breezy, but we all survived. And, I pretty sure kids don't care if they are freezing--as long as they are having fun!

Maryn and Hailey having fun in the sand Going for a ride in the sweet, new boat
Ok, ok, just kidding. That wasn't my bro-in-law's new boat.

Ailee was pretty content hanging out on the shore, while I wiped the unending stream of boogies running from her nose.

That day was my nephew, Hudson's, 5th birthday, so we sang him a rather fine rendition of "Happy Birthday," and had cake/cupcakes. Hudson is the one in the blue shirt with a very cheesy "it's-my-birthday-and-I'm-the-star-for-once" smile on his face.

Those delicious green cupcakes gave the kids some rather suave goatees.

The big kids got to play on the real boat with the real toys. Lucky for us, we all had well fitting life jackets:

We had wakeboards, and surf boards,

(Yeah, Ryan!)

but the only thing I had any skills for was hanging on for dear life on the raft.

I just had to include this picture because of the look on my niece's face. In her defence, they were pretty rough pulling the raft.

It was yet another fun-filled day of vacation. Maryn still talks about the water park and the lake, and how someday we can go back. Perhaps, someday, when we do make it back, I will be brave enough to try out the wakeboard.

I guess not all of us had the time of our lives out on the boat:

My Vacation Part 2: Wet 'n Wild Times in Idaho

So, have you ever tried to get 13 adults (I'm counting my 18 year old nephew as an adult...???) and 19 kids to all take a family picture together? We have!! And, if you bothered to count the kids, you may note that there is a kid missing. I'm not quite sure who it was.
After our attempts at a good family picture, we played a game of baseball in my sister's backyard.

The following are just a few (or a lot) random pictures.

Jenni, April, Me, and my zit. (C'mon, don't pretend you don't notice it. I can tell it's hard not to stare!) He had a name, but I forgot what it was.

I didn't bother to fix the red eyes in this picture of my brother in law, Steve. They were all too fitting.

Ailee had the boogeriest nose ever. Apparently vacation was a great time to cut 4 teeth.

My bro-in-law, Mike.

My little sister, Marybeth, striking a pose.

Corbet, yet another bro-in-law, and my knocked up sister, Erica.

Jill and Ryan.

I'm so proud to call them family.

My Mom and Dad: Founders of this crazy group.

After games, we set up for an outdoor movie, complete with homemade root beer, snacks and a typical, cold Idaho breeze (high wind).

Ross Park in Pocatello was next on the agenda. Anything that involves water is a big hit with Maryn. That child is part fish...unless she gets water in her eyes during bath time.

Maryn and her cousin, Maddison

We ended up with a beautifully sunny day to play in the water, which was nice, because it was warm. The bad thing about a very sunny day is that any inch of you that isn't slathered with sunscreen gets burned badly. This includes your scalp. Doh!

I was going to insert a picture of my and all my hot sisters in our swim suits, but I didn't want to make all you other girls out there too self concious. You are welcome.

Ross park was pretty fun. The lazy river was a big hit:

(My brother and his family)

And, the kiddy pool was were I spent most of my time with Maryn and Ailee (seen behind me in the picture below).

Zit status: looking better!

My Vacation Part 1: The Cabin

First of all, I need to thank my Mom for putting our whole vacation together. She worked hard at planning food, activities and schedules, which made our trip all the more fun. The first part of our vacation was spent up in Island Park. I love the open, fresh air, how quiet it is outside, and even how noisy it is inside when everyone is there. My sister, Jenni, was so good to have crafts and activities planned for the kids. This included pet rocks, magic wands that according to some kids, "had no magic in them," birds made out of paper plates, bow and arrows made from pvc pipe and wooden dowels with erasers on the tip, and lots of things to keep Maryn out of the dirt.

Oh.

Well, we tried.

Speaking of dirt--our cars got really dusty while we were there. My sister thought it would be funny to write this on my Dad's truck.

(if you can't read it, it says: "I wish my wife were this dirty!")

Real mature, Jill. Real mature.

Wild kids walking through the wild flowers:

One of my favorites was going out on the 4 wheelers. I loved how fast I could go on the empty roads.....Uh, I mean, I never drove faster than I could walk...that was the rule at the cabin, right?

On Sunday, I was assigned to help with dinner. I spent some bonding time with my bro-in-law, Steve, over the dutch ovens. Mmmmmm. Pork roasts and potatoes. It turned out so yummy.

After dinner and a walk, the kids set out on a treasure hunt, looking for shiny gold coins (chocolate coins) in the woods. They even had eye patches, so they could be pirates. Turns out those eye patches made a great coconut bra for Ailee.

What a fun time we had. Spending the days having fun. Staying up most of the night eating junk food and playing games. I think after a few days, the lack of sleep started to catch up.

Thank goodness for naps.

I'm Baaaaa-aaaack!

I'm sure all of you (my avid blog followers) have been dying to know where the heck I've been and why the heck I haven't had a post for what seems like a bagillazillion (yes, it's a real number...I created it and am about to put it on wikapedia) years. My answer: vacation.
I skipped town with the girls and hung out with my fam for a while. What a crazy-fun time we had. I think every second was planned, or delegated to be planned, by my mom, but not uptight like Monica's parties on "Friends." I don't have time (or the 800+ pictures downloaded onto my computer yet) to blog about it all tonight, so you'll just get a brief overview.
The last 2 and 1/2 weeks included: Lots of driving. The BYU creamery. More driving. Having fun at the cabin at Island Park. Lots of kids. Riding four wheelers. Eating awesome dutch oven food, prepared partially by yours truly. Playing games and staying up WAY too late. Lots of other cabin-y things that I can't think of right now because it's really late. More driving. Trying to get a picture of the entire family (12 adults and 20 kids) in my sister's back yard. Watching outdoor movies. Ross Park in Pocatello. Boating at Blacktail. Reminiscing at Rick's College (now BYU-Idaho). My brave mom camping in the backyard with the little kids. Shopping. Family Day at Reed's Dairy. More driving. Shopping. The Hogle Zoo. Hanging out in the mountains. More shopping. And lots of eating not good for you food. I gained 5 lbs. really. Then, a really long drive home during which Maryn tossed her fries all over her carseat. (curvy downhill mountain pass+child in the backseat with a weak stomach=vomit) Fortunately we were only an hour from home.
That was a great vacation. I think there was a point in which Kade wondered if I was going to return home. I may have wondered the same thing.
Thanks to all my family for a REALLY good time. I miss you all already.
More to come!