Annual Priest Lake Family Reunion

It was a quick turn around for us this summer as we headed back to Priest Lake for our annual family reunion after only being home one week!  This was the only week in August that everyone could make it up there, so we headed back to the cabin a few days later without Ron joining us.  This is the first time that I ever drove to Priest Lake alone with the kids without anyone helping me, but I was happy to see that we did just fine.  Everyone is getting old enough that I was able to just focus on driving while we were on the road and take care of other needs (like passing out lunch and setting up movies) when we were stopped at the rest stop.  We then spent a glorious week playing in the sun, sand, and water with the cousins although the smoke from nearby forest fires settled in pretty thick by the end of our stay.  Lia tried water skiing this trip with me at her side, but after a few scary falls, she declared that she was done!  So, hopefully, she will figure it out next summer!  Overall, it was a fun week and we are so glad that we were able to be a part of it!

Lia, Logan, and Trenton playing over at the neighbor's beach one morning with their missile toys.

Frolicking in the water.

Lia climbing back up onto the dock.

Lia trying out the new paddle boards that grandma bought this summer.

Mother and daughter going for a morning cruise together.

This is one of the few pictures I was able to get someone to take of Lia trying to get up on water skis before she threw in the towel for the summer!

Ella really started to become good friends with Brynn who now gives her a lot of special attention.  Here are the two girls playing in the shallow water together.

Ella and Brynn playing around the boat lift.

Ella, Brynn, and Kelsey splashing in the water.

Uncle Chris giving Ella a ride on one of the fun floaties he brought up to the cabin this summer.

The 'three littles' playing on the swing together.

We were able to convince the 'triplets' to bring up their stuffed animals again to the cabin possibly for the last time.  Here they are playing Beanie Boos with Ella and Lia in our bedroom.

As always, Grandpa put on her annual, scavenger hunt for all of the grandchildren one of the days that we were there.  Here are Trenton, Logan, and Ella finding a clue on top of the large rock above the cabin.

Lia and the rest of the girls looking for another clue.

Logan running up the stairs to give another clue to Aunt Natalee to read.

Uncle Chris helping the kids read another clue.

The little ones showing off their treasures after the hunt was complete.

Lia and the girls with their loot.

Logan showing off his new football that he got from the scavenger hunt.

A close-up of Logan and his crazy, swollen eye that he woke up with one morning this week.  He must have got bitten by something in his sleep as he went to bed with a normal eye and woke up with this the next day.  It was rather scary for me and I actually contemplated driving him all the way down to a doctor's office in Priest River, but eventually decided to ride it out due to my mother's advice.  I am happy to say that the inflammation went down and his eye returned to normal within a few days, but I was sure worried for a bit!

The entire group motored over to the awesome beach near the group camp one day.  Here is the fun group picture I managed to get of all of the grandchildren (minus Spencer) posing on a fallen log.

The kids and me.

Sarah, Vivi, Callie, and Lia swimming across the freezing water that empties into the lake from a creek to their right.

Logan catching a ride on Vivi's back as they motor across the creek.

The Hartland kids with the creek behind them.

Ella enjoyed playing frisbee with Garrett before leaving the beach and heading back home.

We convinced Logan, Lia, and Trenton to join the group for a massive tube ride back to the cabin as long as the boat didn't go too crazy and fast.  Here is a picture with Ella before starting up the boat.

Getting ready to go.

Sarah, Vivi, Logan, Lia, Trenton, Riley, and Bryce tubing back to the cabin.  Look at that smokey sky!

Starting to get a little wild.

Lia and Logan's tube going outside the wake!

Grandma asked that we all participate in a talent show one of the evenings that we were all up there together.  The kids and I put on our pajamas, grabbed our toothbrushes, and rapped out the words to one of our favorite Sandra Boynton books called "Pajama Time."

The kids and I singing away.

Lia and I came up with some simply choreography to go along with the words to most of the book.  Logan and Ella did their best to follow along.  I think it turned out rather cute.

A close-up of Ellie and her toothbrush.

Brynn, Logan, and Trenton getting ready to head out in the boat one morning.

Logan and Trenton loved playing on the inner tubes when they were not in use and just tied up to the dock.  Here they are with Chris!

A group shot of our entire family minus Ron and Spencer taken at the end of our week together.

Lia and Callie cruising around on the paddle board.

A group shot of some of the kids playing on the tied up, inner tubes.

And a final picture to wrap up the week!