Aspen Grove

Every other summer we go to Aspen Grove for a big family reunion with all of Don's family, thanks to Don's Grandma Wilma. It is up Provo Canyon by Sundance and it is beautiful! There were 110 in his family there this year. It was fun to see everyone because a lot of them we never see. It is a great vacation because there is so much to do--hiking, rock climbing, swimming, crafts, mini golf, fishing--but the best part is just being with family for a whole week! Our kids love being with cousins and second cousins that they probably wouldn't know that well if it weren't for this reunion every other year. They are put in groups by age and have SO much doing different activities during the day. Elle was in the Cub group this year and Easton was in the Kitten group. They loved it! Our brother-in-law says that when you are at Aspen Grove seeing your kids is like a deer sighting--you see them in passing and know they are ok. :) One of the nicest things for me is not having to cook or do dishes for a week! Each night we had a big family devotional and got to learn something about Grandma Wilma's life. She has had an amazing life and has done so much for so many people. She really has left such a legacy. I had no idea what a "heart breaker" she was either. :) We played all day and then stayed up really late after the kids were in bed playing Rook, which is HUGE in Don's family, and ate lots of treats! So fun!

Grandma Wilma and her husband, Don Kirk

FRONTIER NIGHT

One night is called Frontier Night and they have a whole western theme with train rides, shooting targets, lassoing, a whole cowboy village to play in, an Indian teepee with stories, etc. Elle and Easton loved it!

Jayne and Sum on the train

Cousins Mitchell, Blake, Trevor, Travis and Spencer

Elle and Easton with their feathers they got after hearing the Indian story in the teepee

Panning for gold

Snowcones...mmm

Elle loved trying out the lasso

Shooting targets

Little Jayne gives the best hugs!

Easton with his second cousin, Jonah, that he became best buddies with

It was hilarious watching these two fight! They would say, "I got you good!"

Nate is so cute with Easton. Easton says that he wants to be just like Nate because he is really good at sports!

Grandpa Don loves his little Jayne

Baby Jayne and Daddy

RANDOM FUN

Jayne loved the teeter totter! It was so cute!

Elle, Easton and Mitch making funny faces

Mini-golf was a big hit with our kids! They wanted to golf all the time!

Easton's group got to try rock climbing one day and I went and watched. I was so proud of him for trying it. He got pretty far up the wall and did great!

It was so fun for all the kids to swim with Don and show him how well they were doing with their swimming. Jayne loves the water too!

How funny are they?

HIKING

Hiking to Stewart Falls

Stewart Falls- Ken, Don, Sum, Devin, Lei, Diane and Don

The waterfall was huge!

Hiking to First Falls

Don and Sum at First Falls, on the way up to Mt. Timp

GOLF TOURNAMENT

There is always a big family golf tournament and it is so much fun! I am definitely not a golfer but it is "Best Ball" so sometimes I get lucky and have a good putt once in a while to contribute with.

My swing looks a lot different than Don's and definitely doesn't go as far. It's fun though!

Our foursome-Don, Sum, Norm, Diane

SUNDANCE

Don and I had to go to Sundance being so close to it. I love it there! This is the exact spot where we got engaged almost 10 years ago! Crazy!!!

We took a chairlift ride

ART SHACK

Trevor, Mitch, Elle, Blake painting

We got to do a class on the pottery wheel and it was so fun!

Our finished pots--Jeremy, Devin, Lei, Sum, Amy, Auralee

ROOK

We played Rook every night late into the night. Don's family has their own way of playing that their Grandpa came up with so it has taken me a while to learn all the little tricks but I love game so it is fun! This particular game, I have never laughed so hard! Natalie was my partner and Don and his sister, Auralee, were partners. I bid 100, and Don bid 105 just to make me mad. So then I bid 110, just to make him mad. So I took the bid for 110,which is really hard to make. He just laughed and said they would set us. I got the best widow every though and made it. It was so funny! We all couldn't stop laughing the whole night! Don was cracking us up!

More Rook--Tami, Diane, Glenn, Ken

Thank you Grandma Wilma for all the fun memories!