Getting unpacked in the cabin. We had a room with two bunk beds. The cabin had eight bedrooms and a large loft. There were about 39 people sleeping in the cabin!
Bryson and Brady demonstrating the crossing of the bridge each day from one side of the facility to the other...good buddies!
Brady enjoyed riding the bears.
Opening night festivities--they were more fun than this picture depicts.
Typical afternoon and evening gathering time among the adults and older kids. Card games and mingling.
Tyler, Lisa and Brady playing frisbee after a group activity.
Brady, Jana, Tyler, Bryson and others eating one of the many meals in the cafeteria. There's no beating prepared food and no dishes! Each meal was a mega carb load just like a cafeteria should be. The food was pretty good and there was a separate bar for children that had everything an infant would need to chicken nuggets and apple sauce for others. Felt like we were eating all the time--I think we were.
On Sunday we had our Sacrament Meeting outside. Tyler blessed the Sacrament. We then moved inside for other meetings. There was a fireside and activities for the children that night.
Because the children were organized into age-specific groups with counselors to do activities for half to 3/4 of the day there was plenty of time to hang out as adults and couples. We did a huge variety of things including watching some of the children's activities, hiking, playing in sporting tournaments like volleyball, racquetball, wallyball, badminton, etc. It was a complete blast for everyone!
Bryson climbed right up the 30-foot kid's climbing tower. He's such a lightweight that it was trickier getting him down than his climbing up. He was all smiles.
While Jana and I were walking to another activity we caught Lisa warming Brady up after Brady had been swimming. It was great to see the children helping eachother and their cousins. (you can click on the pictures to get the full size version--helps on this one to see Lisa and Brady near the upper left of the kiddy pool)
Jana was brave and did the ropes course. Everyone in our family except Brady did a version of it. This is a section of the course that is about 35 feet above the ground. Jana flew right through it, although the repelling slowed her down just a little. It's not natural to lean backwards while 40 feet above the ground.
Jana and Steve after completing our ropes course--notice my finger, I jammed it badly or broke it on the second day. It didn't slow me down though.
During Frontier night there was a train for the kids and fun games and activities.
Brady enjoyed shooting.
McKay and Brady led the stage coach.
Brady, Lisa and Ryan in a moment together.
Brady's checking for Indians since his burro was a little slower than expected.
Bryson had a blast shooting his bb gun.
Lisa using the whip to pop balloons. All I can say is I am glad I was not near the balloons, but that was nothing compared to McKay throwing the axes into stumps (with his cast on)...I won't even go into the excitement I felt watching him use the throwing knives to pop balloons on a wood wall. There won't be any throwing knives in our future.
Ryan and Tyler (and McKay) caught a game of pool in the evening's free time. Bryson and McKay really enjoyed the trampolines in the back of the game center where they could play 1x1 basketball against eachother.
Jana was a force to be reckoned with on the badminton court. She showed everyone who was boss.
Tyler mastered the ropes course like it was a drive in the park. His harem loved it! (this picture and the next are good ones to click on and see the full size version)
This is the highest point of the course...about 50' from the ground.
Jana and I took a hike up to two of the seven waterfalls visible from Aspen Grove (in mid-August mind you). It was absolutely breathtaking and not just because we were 8,000 feet above sea level.
It was a fun hike and nice to be together!
Brady found his new ride while there...no comment on the banana except that it didn't make it back to the cabin.
McKay exercising his command over the audience like usual--this is in the closing ceremonies.
Brady is doing the wheels on the bus...
The last planned activity of the closing ceremonies was a family dance followed by a youth dance. It was way more fun than any of us expected--Dad, you may have even busted a move...maybe...
All in all it was an amazing set of experiences that made it easy to deepen relationships while having an absolute blast--everyone according to their age and together. We hope to do it on the Lindsay side someday!
