Izatt Fam Reunion 2012

Last weekend we packed up the car (aka Chuck sweetly packed up the car while only grumbling slightly about the number of bags I had packed) and headed out for a weekend of camping with Chuck's whole extended family!

Luckily, Chuck somehow made it all fit.  The boys may say that they were squished but I maintain that they were merely well secured within the vehicle.

After a very pleasant drive (everyone else fell asleep so I got to listen to my music, wooo!) we rolled in to the campgrounds - Nat Soo Pah (near Twin Falls).

First order of business was to put up the tent (thanks to Chuck and Pops!) and start bonding with the cousins.

Jack got all set up with an afternoon snack.

And I got all set up with personalized water!!  My father-in-law prefaced the reveal by saying that he had found something at the store with my name on it - and he meant that literally :).  He picked up a few packs for me; it makes me SO happy every time I reach for a drink!

All too soon it was time to head to bed that night - here's a glimpse of Will roughing it in the wilderness with an air mattress (thanks Holly!) and Toy Story 2 on the iPad.

The next morning we all devoured Grandma's delicious pancakes and quickly suited up to spend the day at the pool.

Of course this child opted to crash before we even headed over - probably because my crib-dependent child did not sleep well in the tent.  So I bucked him in the stroller and he snoozed on the side of the pool and kept Grandpa company while he read the paper!

But the big boys had fun in the water right from the get-go!  They especially loved the water slide - Grandma, Daddy, and Uncle Lee all took turns catching the little kids at the bottom, over and over... and over... and over again.

These girls had lots of fun playing in the water, jumping off the diving board, and attracting the admiration of cute boys :).  Lucky for me they took a quick minute for a photo op with Aunt Jana!

Grandma and Grandpa wanted a picture of the eight oldest grandkids (Jack was still asleep and Anna hadn't arrived yet) so they lined them up on the side of the pool.  L to R, (numerically labeled in order oldest to youngest): Mallory, Courtney, Lily, Bri, Will, Clyde, George, and Eli.

We headed back to camp for lunch (so convenient to have it a thirty-second walk away!) and then returned to the pool.  Jack was awake now, so we figured we'd try him in the water... which he was decidedly not a fan of so it was back to the sidelines (and sleep!) for him.

Some of the diving board adventurers: Melissa, George, and Chuck.

 

After a fun afternoon at the swimming pool, we all headed back to the campground together to hang out, read, nap, and eat some dinner.  And baby Jack was introduced to graham crackers! 

In an effort to entertain hungry kids and keep Clyde from falling asleep (and thus being awake alll night) Amanda and I headed up an expedition of young people to a little park area across the campgrounds.

By the time we returned, a delicious dutch oven dinner was awaiting us!  Pops and Lee had an awesome idea to begin an Izatt Family Dutch Oven Cook-off (with a first place prize of a new dutch oven!), and this was the maiden competition.  Melissa and Chuck were the only participants, and after a closed ballot vote, Chuck's biscuits were declared the winner over Melissa's enchiladas.

Chuck is therefore the first guardian of this awesome traveling trophy (made by Aleesha if I'm correct...).

After dinner, it was time for - what else? - a return to the swimming pool.  The three four-year-olds were eagerly waiting for everyone else to be ready, so we took the chance to snap a few pictures of our cute 'babies of '08.'

The evening at the swimming pool was probably my favorite - I sat on the side with Jack and read Pride & Prejudice while Chuck (once again) had his hands full with the two older boys in the pool :).

After spending seven hours in the swimming pool, my boys all slept fabulously that night and woke up excited to spend a little bit more time with their cousins before it was time to take off for home.

This cracks me up - baby Anna was totally content sitting on her mama's lap, when older helpful cousins started gathering around one by one to 'entertain' her.  Needless to say it ended with her a bit overwhelmed and the cousins being encouraged to back away and give her some space :).

We didn't end up having the whole family there (we missed you Kevin and Steve!) so we couldn't do a big group shot, but we wanted to get some of Grandma and Grandpa with all the kids.

The boys were the most obedient when it came time to gather, so we got a shot of Pops with his five [adorable!] grandsons.

And here is the whole lot!

I love this shot of Dave and Terri looking at each other while the restless kiddos all begin to escape :).  Thanks for a fun family reunion Mom and Pops; we had a great time!

OH, and happy first birthday today to sweet Anna - thanks for sharing your mom with Jack for a little bit that morning!  These cousins are just five months apart, so we're excited to watch them grow up together :).  

Happy birthday Anna!!