Montana Cousins Camp

Wow, what a wonderful couple of weeks this has been.  Anny, Kass, and kids came up for two weeks.   The first week, Jackson, Max, and Jett (Max's friend) went to scout camp, so it wasn't officially Cousins Camp.  This week was dedicated to catching up on blogging and school shopping (thanks to the no sales tax state).  Each day the mom's went shopping and each of the kids took turns going shopping with their moms.  It worked out so beautiful.  It was nice to go with the individual child and even have a special lunch with the mom's.  The mom's especially loved that.  We thought however, that there should be something fun for the kids to look forward to and have planned as well.  

Kass found on Pintrest this fun game with noodles, since it was an Olympics year.  The noodles were at the $1.00 store and worked out great.

Bree, Maren, and Brynn after their fun day of shopping.

Bubbles were also involved.  We found these great matching hats for the girls to use at cousins camp next week...... :)

We went to Lake Elmo for the first time.  I just found out about it and how fun and free it was and only 35 min away.

Abby, Aliza, Maren, Brynn

Movie and popcorn.  That was something they looked forward to.

And of course, boating.  Just had to do it even though the boys weren't here.

Abby, Aliza, Maren, Brynn

IT'S COUSINS CAMP!!!

Zack caught a ride up with Clint and Amy after their California vacation and the boys were done with Scout Camp.  Monday and Tuesday were get ready for a fun three days two night camping/boating trip at Cooney Dam.  While waiting, we had a little mustache/balloon party.

Sammy isn't in any pictures because he didn't participate much.  He worked in the afternoons and just couldn't take the time off to go on our trip.  Stinker.

Jackson went to his weekly Lacrosse practice and took Zack, Max, and Jett with them.  They had a blast.

So, Wednesday morn, we get up at 6:00 and got the camper packed and ready to go, then drove over to our storage to get the boat then headed off.  Kass drove the boat, I drove the camper, and Anny drove her van.   My dream this year was to go boating for more than one day and stay there so we weren't wasting time going back and forth to the lake.  So, since we had a camper and a boat and two trucks.......  Anny's dream was to take the kids horseback riding, during Utah's cousins camp, she looked online for some options.  She came across this place in Absorkee, which is about 40 min. away, that had a Saddle and Paddle deal.  We would ride horses for two hours then go down the river for two hours.  It sounded perfect.  So, we set it up for Wednesday at 10:00.

I was so worried about getting there on time that we got to Absorkee about 45 min before we needed to be there,  so we stopped in the middle of town, hit a grocery store for some donuts and goodies then headed out.  Not before getting a photo first.

Here are the crazy mom's.  That's what these people thought I'm sure.  3 mom's alone with 13 kids.

It took them a while to getting everyone fitted with their horse.  It was fun to watch the personalities of the horses and find out their names.  When we got our horse, we would get sent out into the field until everyone was ready to ride.

Donny Boy and Maren, Molly and Aliza, Lightning and Jackson

Kass stayed behind to be with Cal, Bree, and Brooklyn.  They were too young to ride.  They did however, got to ride the whole time we were gone with one of the leaders walking them around.  

We were able to go through many different sceneries. 

Trees

By the river.

Through an open field.

and up and down a steep mountain side.

As always, we try to do our best with getting a photo with everyone in it.  The horses weren't cooperating very well.  They were done after a long hot ride and wanted to go back to their paster.

We were hot as well and were so ready for some cool river water.  The river trip was right next door to the horse trail, so we drove the boat and camper to their area, changed quick into our swimming suits and signed in for a great river ride.  I'm so sad that Zack didn't make it in this picture.  It is such a great one.  The kids are ready!

The girls got one raft with Kass and myself....

The boys got their raft with Anny.  We each had a guide and all had a paddle except the young kids.   We had a pretty smooth ride with a few great waves.  The boys had a big water gun and got a wet a few times.  That's OK, we had our paddles and that was just as wet. 

Towards the end, we stopped at a spot that had some great cliff jumping.  We were able to get our camera out and take some fun pictures.

The kids were able to jump two or three times each.  They had a great time.

I just wish Sammy was able to be here with us.

We got to ride back to the beginning on this fun bus.  We were all pretty tired by this time, but it was a good tired.  Ready to go to Cooney Dam for some camping and boating.

After getting set up, and actually backing up the camper (my first time), plugging in with some AC, and getting some dinner, we settled down for some popcorn and a movie.  Everyone had a spot in the camper with Jackson, Zack, Max and Jett out in a tent.

I'm sad I didn't get more camping photos, but I did get to sneak one out the door in the morning while kids were getting up and having some breakfast.

We had to take turns on the boat, so while some were out, others were getting a spa treatment on the shore.  Looks great!

Abby, Brynn, Aliza, Maren

Each year the kids try something a little different, this time they were standing up on the knee board.  Cal went out for his first time and had a pretty good time.

Maren was determined to stand up on the knee board as well.  SHE DID IT!!!  Good job Maren!

A last posed photo before it was time to head home.   I love this picture.  Cousins Camp was a huge success this year.  

Sam and Jim met us Friday morning before we headed out.  They were surprised at how well we were doing by ourselves.  Aren't they cute :)

Cousins Camp Montana Day 7 & 8 Temple and relax

This was the final day of Cousins Camp (we thought), Kass wanted to take the kids to the Billings Temple since they haven't seen it up close yet.

After church, we quickly fed kids, then headed over before anyone could change.

The gates were closed, so we had to see it from a little distance, but it was beautiful as well as the grounds.

Cade and his Angels :)

Sammy  had gotten back the night before from Southern Utah, so Cousins Camp felt complete even though he was going to Scout Camp the next day for a week.

I pray that each of these children will be able to enter the Temple either for missions, marriages, or just to go through.  I will be there for each one.  I love them all!

Monday we thought Kass was leaving, but we decided to go to the movie "Eclipse the Twilight Saga" instead, then boating.....  one last time.

Till next year for Cousins Camp, I hope we can do this for many years to come.

Cousins Camp Montana Day 6 - Fun Town & Mo Cones

Fun Town was such a huge hit last year, the kids decided to do it again this year.  Not as many kids showed up this year, but they still had blast.

We finally made it to Mo Cones!  Sooooo yummy.

  

Cousins Camp Montana Day 5 - Horseshoe Bend, WY

Cliff jumping was the highlight for this day.  There were different levels of heights.  Jackson, Zack, Max, Cade, and Aliza jumped from the highest.  Blake, and Abby from the middle, and Brynn, and Maren from the smaller cliff.  Breezers and Brooklyn even had their own little cliff to jump off.  The picture below is of most of the kids jumping off at the same time.  To clear any questions up, NO, the kids are NOT diving in.  It may look like it, but they are NOT.

I did manage to get of clip of some of them jumping.  They were all supposed to jump at the same time, well you know how it goes.  First two to jump are Zack and Jackson.  Then Max, Maren and last Aliza.  

After cliff jumping, we did a little tubing (I won't bore you with more pictures), knee boarding, and skiing.  (the kids that tried skiing this time all got up!)

Knee boarding is old hat for Jackson, but he still loves doing it.

Doesn't he look so relaxed?

This was Aliza's first attempt at the knee board.  She did a fabulous job and got right up.  I'm so proud of her and the things she tries.

Maren was bound and determined to do this knee board thing (she had troubles earlier).  This was a big feat to be on her stomach.  She said she would try to go to her knees next time.

Once again, a great day at Cousins Camp.  Everyone accomplished what the mom's wanted them to do :)

Cousins Camp Montana Day 4 - Cooney Again

This was a little better day at Cooney.  We got a new tube, which was bigger and better.  It fits 4 people.  The kids loved it!

Jackson, Cade, Zack, Max

The nice thing about the tube holding 4 people, the kids got lots of turns on it.  

It was a huge hit.  If you look at picture 3, you can see Maren has her thumb down (slower) and the rest of the girls have their thumbs up (faster).  Maren had to get used to the tube a little bit.

(Pic 1) Zack,Brooklyn,Breezers,Jackson                    (pic 2) Jackson,Cade,Max,Zack

(Pic 3) Brynn,Maren,Abby,Aliza                       (Pic 4) Blake,Maren,Brooklynn

We saw our neighbors up there and their boys hopped on the tube with our boys.  We got them pretty good with the "Toilet"

Some of the kids tried the knee board.  Blake wanted to try it, and he popped right up.  We were all amazed at this little 5 year old boy.

Aliza, Abby and Brynn were the last to ride that evening.  Every time we slowed down they screamed nooooooo don't stop, and chanted "keep going, keep going".  I'm glad the kids had a better boating day.  They were pretty tired because we left at around 9:00 that evening, and we were going to get up and go again the next day.