Family Reunion at Bear Lake

Well, I'm finally starting to recover from our vacation. I don't know what is so exhausting about sitting around a lake all day while other people cook for me and clean and play with my kids...yeah, it was tough. If we weren't at the lake we were mostly hanging around the cabin.

We (by we, I mean everyone else, as everyone quickly learned after inviting me to play, that I don't play sports) played lots of volleyball. There was even a tournament that ended in a 3 way tie.


The little girls loved making bracelets with the big girls.


We played foosball and pool


A different family made lunch and dinner every day and Uncle Dan and Aunt Kim made breakfast every morning. It was so relaxing. By the way Dan and Kim, thanks for the wonderful breakfast every morning! It was so nice to see your happy faces at or before 6 when Colton would wake me up.


And I did spend a lot of time stuffing my face. The food was so good. We all fit in this big room to eat dinner together.


Bryce, just eating and looking cute.


This is probably why I was so tired...games. We stayed up playing games every night. Which I love! I miss having so many people to play with. It's just not the same with Jonathan and I. Michael and Jen brought some new ones that were so fun!

by the way, as you will notice. I took pictures from some of your blogs. I hope you don't mind. Michael and Jen took so many pictures and so I had to steal some! Thanks, love you guys!

Bryce and Colton found this box, which probably would have been enough to keep them entertained for the entire week.


Kurt decided he wanted to get in on the action, unfortunately he's not as easy to push as Colton.


Speaking of Kurt...he was so sweet with the little kids. He and his wife, Alesse (I'm sorry if I'm spelling that wrong) were only there a couple of days but it was so fun to see them!


Uncle Karl pulling the boys around in the box


Bryce, Colton, and Sawyer chillin' in the lounge chairs.


Grandma and Grandpa just being cute.





Kirsten spent most of her time on the swings with my cousin Ashley. Ashley is 6 and Kirsten just loved her. In this pictures Kirsten was closing her eyes and she thought it was so funny that she felt like she was flying up into space.


My cousin, Kristin, designed matching shirts for all of us to wear.

The "original" Townsend crew.
My dad (Lonny), Uncle Dan, Uncle Scott, Aunt Jana, Aunt Karen, Grandpa and Grandma.


All of us cousins from youngest to olest.


The next generation
Colton, Ethan, Kate, Sawyer, Bryce, and Kirsten. Impossible to get them all sitting and happy at the same time...


We tried to make a pyramid, didn't work so well.


My little escape artist cannot sit still for more than 5 seconds. In fact we thought we lost him for a minute. He had gone into the game room so I went to find him. I asked the boys who were playing pool if they had seen Colton and they said no and mentioned he might have gone outside. I didn't really see how that was possible considering the door was closed. But I thought maybe it was opened and he shut it. Anyway, I started looking for him and could not find him anywhere. I told Jonathan that I couldn't find him. He came out and started looking too. There is a stream that was across the driveway from the house and knowing how fast Colton is, we knew he could've gotten over there. Jonathan told me to go look in the stream, and as soon as he said that I started freaking out. Pretty soon everyone was looking for him. There is a room right off the game room, and the door was shut, so we didn't think to look in there. But finally Justin went and looked and there he was happy as a clam. Probably sounds pretty pathetic, but it was one of the scariest moments of my life.


Bryce running across the bridge over the stream.


That night we had a talent show.
Emily and Alison were coerced into singing and teaching everyone the "root beer song".


Jason taught us some sweet Karate moves


The Arizona Townsend's did some hula dancing. Kirsten thought it was hilarious that that boy (Jared) was wearing a bra.




Kirsten sang "Deep in the Heart of Texas" Unfortunately the camera focused on Grandma's pretty hair instead of Kirsten. She did great, I was surprised she actually did it.


So, we were talking about the talent show one night and Aunt Nancy, who put the whole thing together, was talking about doing "talent in a bag". I had never heard of that so I asked her what that is. She told me that you just put goofy "talents" in a bag and have people draw them out and do them on the spot. I told her that sounded like a lot of fun as long as it didn't include, speaking in a french accent or something. So of course that night when there was a lull in the action, talent in a bag was pulled out. And guess who was first?? that's right me. And guess what I drew?? Speaking in a French accent, which by the way was what all of the little papers said. Luckily, I do an amazing French accent, so it was fine...thanks Aunt Nancy, love you!


Eric, Kelly, and Devin, did "The Evolution of Dance". We could definitely tell who had the most practice...Kelly...but they all did awesome. It was pretty hilarious.


Then Kasey finished off the evening with some beautiful singing and guitar playing.


These 3 boys are about 3 weeks apart. I have about 5 pictures like this. And every single one Ethan and Colton are trying as hard as they can to escape while Sawyer sits there sweetly looking at the camera.


Michael had brought everything to make cork boats for cork boat races. When I first heard about this I have to admit I didn't think it would be that fun. Boy was I wrong.
It was hilarious to watch grown men run along a stream giggling like school girls. Kirsten made one and thought it was hilarious too. Her's actually came in 4th in her heat.


The ultimate champions. Uncle Dan, Uncle James, and Geoff.


One night we decided it would be fun to all get dressed up in our matching shirts and bombard a restaurant to get ourselves some raspberry shakes.


We really did spend most of our time at the lake. I just didn't take very many pictures.
The little kids played in the sand for hours everyday.


We went to the same spot on the beach everyday.


Eating lunch in the pavilion.


Michael taking Ashley, Kirsten, and Colton on a little boat ride.


Right by the marina lived thousands of carp that you could feed. Kirsten and Colton both loved it. I thought it was pretty disgusting.


And Jonathan FINALLY got up on the wake board, this has seriously haunted him since the last time he tried.


And then he got to dig through the trash for our lost IPod, which we never did find. But all in all it was a good week for him. We had such a great time wake boarding and tubing. Thanks to Uncle Karl for taking us Wake boarding, even at 6am one day. And for Nancy and Scott taking us tubing, even during lunch! You guys are the best!


And on our last night we roasted marshmallows by the fire.




We did not want to leave at the end of this week. We loved being able to spend time with our family and cannot wait to do it again! We miss everyone like crazy!