July in December: Utah Trip Part 1

We have all heard of Christmas in July... so how about July in December?  For some reason, I never blogged about our annual trip to Utah.  I have blogged about it every year since I have been blogging, including the trip where the bounce house blew over, and of course the trip when Ryder was born 8 weeks early!  I am about to get the last year of my blog printed...so here ya go, some July in December


We started off the trip running-- literally while Raelynn (Eric's older sister) entertained the kids with freeze tag, Red Rover and duck duck goose.  I tagged along and took pictures of course.

Kids at this age playing duck duck goose are quite obnoxious funny, saying all sorts of random things and going around and around the circle before finally picking someone.

Ryder is absent from the group shots as he got upset about not winning tired of playing and went back inside.

The kids really did have so much fun together.  I love that the cousins are so close in age.  Lucas is the oldest (was 8 at the time, down to Cooper who was not yet one).  There literally is at least one kid every year.  The older two boys would play together, while the girls would make "Girls Only Clubs" and the Ryder and Quinn were best buds always playing together.  Poor little Cooper was just too young to really get in on the fun yet.

But that's okay as I had fun playing with Cooper

Rachel turned 30 this year, and in this side of the family that means the 30th Birthday video, which have gotten bigger and better every year.  Rachel's was a musical, as she is definitely the singer of the family.  The video is all about the fact that she is "losing her youth" and we are all searching for it, trying to help her stay young.  We had all been working on this video for the past year and this week got to all watch it together. 

Sunday night we also had a talent show:

Lucas was the MC, Ryder told jokes, Quinn recited a poem, my FIL juggled, Ethan played a piano duet with his mom then a solo, Kate played some piano solos, Alex showed off her artwork and Madeline danced.

On Monday we swam at the Rec Center; the oldest ones went down the water slide almost the entire time.  We had Pizza the The Pie and had family home evening and a donut bar (decorate your own donut) for dessert. 

We really do pack the activities in.  Next week I will tell you about Tuesday & Wednesday, and then conclude with Thursday-Saturday of the trip.

Speaking of remembering, don't forget to link up with week 3 of the Review Extravaganza!