Aspen Grove Highlights (Or I'm writing these down before I forget)

Livi found a way to deal with the stress from the long car ride there.

We met up with Jared, James, Jes and Wee Baby Autry (as she will always be known) at the Farmer's Market in Salt Lake.

We got balloon animals for the kids but Ella's popped and only a new balloon from a different animal artist (?) and a bunch of funny cards could cheer her up.  (the guy offered her his card and all it said was "Santa")

Waiting in the hall while visiting Grandma Pearl.  She wouldn't let us take pictures with her in them, but we were there and got to spend a little time with her.

Ethan looked very concerned about his group.

Aunt Tami brought ornaments to paint and was nice enough to let the little girls all paint some.

We took pottery classes.  Again.  And we were "awesome" (in the sarcastic way).  Again.

Got to hang out and laugh.

Eric came for the weekend and we were able to eat In 'N Out on the way to the airport.

We took a pen turning class...

...and Julia murdered a carrot.  And was happy about it.

Livi really took to Grandma Donna.  The first thing every morning she wanted to go out and say good morning to Grandma.  Here Grandma was helping Livi put up her art work.

The TRAIN.  Oh the TRAIN.

Water races at Frontier Night.

The 1 picture I look ok and Ethan has to do that.

James looks very secure on that swing...holding his baby.

Bossest...face paint...ever.

Great minds think alike

Some how James won the archery award.  On his first try.

Ella heard about the family dance and it suddenly became her life's ambition to attend.

Ella "Shot the Moon" over 50 times!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!  We had a great time!

The Most (UN)Enthusiastic Singer

Every year at the Aspen Grove closing ceremonies the age groups each sing a song that goes along with the theme of the summer.  Ethan is in the striped jacket on the front row.  He either is not really into the whole forced synchronized song & dance routine, or his arms have been chopped off at the elbow then sewed back on to his waist.  One of the two. Enjoy.

Aspen Grove In A Flash (as in quickly...not in the bad way)

Livi and Ebby were inseparable (although he preferred Ella)

I thought I was in better shape.  I thought "sure, I'll try and climb the climbing wall."  I made it...barely.

James, Jes, Dad, and I threw pots.  Well, they made pots.  I just wanted to throw my lump in the river.

The littler members of our family.

The train.  Always a favorite...

so much so that Livi climbed on with everyone she could find.  She went 5 times!

Dad was a good sport at the dunking booth.  Ethan, Ella and I tried to hit the bucket.  Ella succeeded!

Ghosts playing Monopoly.  We know they were ghosts, because no one would be rude enough to leave their game set up at one of two tables in a common area.

Julia and I made pens! Yay for girls and power tools!

Oh, and I dyed a chunk of my hair blue before I left to try and cheer myself up.  It helped a little. :)

Aspen Grove 17.0

I've have been going to Aspen Grove for somewhere around 17 or 18 years (depending on which relative you are talking to). Every year, for me, is a different experience. I started as a young teenager, went as a young married person, brought tiny babies, and now have kids that are enjoying the same programs I did when I was younger.

It was a really fun year for a number of reasons:
1. For the first time in 7 years none of my little family got sick and threw up!
2.How do you beat number 1?
3.For the first time the kids really wanted to do their ending program and they did a great job.
4.I got to meet my only niece.
5.I actually got some free time since Livi liked going to group.
6.I got to hang out with some really fun relatives!

Some other highlights:
Frontier Night- Ella took control of the classroom, and the boys seemed happy to let her.
James was willing to run around with Ebby and Livi, because boy did they sure love running,
and running,
and running.

Hiking to Stewart Falls with my fabulous sister Jes. My sister Julia wrote a whole thing about hiking with Jes and I would suggest reading that description. For the record I only thought I was going to die for half the hike (the up hill part). Jes is amazing! She is the energizer bunny of hiking. She is so athletic and fit and I am....not. At one point I thought I was having a stroke when my face went numb, but Jes is really a good sport and was willing to take stops for me. The hike was beautiful and the snow bank at the bottom of the falls, IN JUNE, was something I have never seen before.

The kids showing off their daily exploits. It seemed a lot of days involved face paint. Not normal face paint. Face paint that takes nuclear clean up formulas to remove. I don't even remember how long it took to get Ethan's Darth Vader mask off, but it was a while, and involved two types of makeup remover and some tears.

I thought Livi was trying to make a cute pose like Ella always does, but no.
One of the best parts was seeing Livi just take to my Grandma Donna. Livi and Ebby really loved it when she would blow bubbles for them. Livs still talks about "your mama onna."

Modeling Munchkins

I have lots of really cool cousins, but the one I want to mention is my cousin Andrea. Andrea has always been the artistic cousin, whom you didn't want to draw next to because your picture would look like a regular 5 year old drew it and hers would look like a post modern interpretation that should be hanging on a museum wall. Andrea's favorite cartoon character when we were little was not Strawberry Shortcake or Carebears like so many of us, but Rainbow Bright. With all her colors painting the sky it is not hard to look back and realize the draw for her.
Andrea has gone on and started a very successful alternative baby clothing website punkbabyclothes.net I mentioned this site about a year ago when the kids got their awesome ninja shirts. This summer at Aspen Grove, before the awful gut wrenching throwing up fest began in our little part of the cabin, the girls got to model some of Andrea's cool clothes for pictures for her website. It was so fun to go through all the samples she brought and try on different combinations.
Livi got to spend lots of time "playing" (posing, which Lily was MUCH better at, probably because her Grandma is Aunt Diane and she's had LOTS of practice) with her cousin Lily. She loved Lily! Andrea and my talented Aunt Diane took lots of pictures while I tried to baby wrangle and hold up sun deflector thingys to help. It was interesting to be a part of the shoot and see how seemingly random poses turned into awesome shots. I wish I had their vision.
Andrea was awesome and let the girls keep their clothes that they modeled. I would suggest checking out her site if you want something a little different for your little one. She has lots of cute items, some that are a little edgier than I care for, but lots of cute accessories, shirts, shoes, and amazing hand made tutus (made right there in Utah).
Here are some of my favorite afters: