Esplin Updates: Utah Week 2

Week 2: Aspen Grove
(Ya-week 2 before week 1. I don't have any pictures from week 1 yet)

In July we went to Aspen Grove for our Esplin family reunion. All the kids were separated into age groups. Every day they would do fun activities with their age groups. We arrived at Aspen Grove Saturday afternoon. We got our stuff settled in at the Beckman lodge, and then spent the evening wandering around the camp and meeting our groups. Since the college students working at Aspen Grove stay there they have their own branch. We had sacrament meeting and the kids went off to primary/YM YW. In the afternoon the kids met their groups and played church games like, Gadianton Robbers (the Sunday version of Mafia).

Monday was the first "official" day of activities. The kids met their groups at 9:15am and came back in time for lunch at 12:00 and 12:30 (there were two waves of meals and the food was really good).

Brynn and cousin Lindsey

Brynn's group went swimming after going to arts and crafts. Somewhere along the way Brynn left her swimsuit somewhere. She searched and searched but we did not find it until that night in the arts and crafts STORE.

Kaitlyn with cousins Andrew and Elise

The adults did the ropes course while the kids were in their groups.

After lunch, they had Aspen Follies. We didn't know what it was, so we all got there late. It was sad we were late because it was AWESOME!! There was super fun activities that they timed us for, and we competed with the other families at aspen grove.

Trying to catch the flying water balloons after Aspen Follies

That night there was a family talent show (we didn't do anything but it was fun to watch)

On Tuesday the kids met with their groups again and then came back for lunch again. After lunch the kids went back to the groups and swam/went to crafts/did the climbing tower/went on a hike/etc.

Kaitlyn's group went on a hike to Stewart Falls. The water was freezing!!

They all ran under the waterfall so they got wet

which was nice for the hot hike back!

Brynn's group did the ropes course!

That night it was Frontier Night. At Frontier Night they had a train, tomahawk throwing, archery, cowboy village (a play place), and pioneer games. They also had a pie eating contest.

Big kids on the train

On Wednesday Kaitlyn did the ropes course, while all the other kids and the adults went on a hike. At night there were Minute-To-Win-It games at the amphitheater. Brynn and Jared were both picked to do them.

Brynn stacking the blocks on her head.

Jared bending to pick up the cereal box that's been cut up

Even later there was a movie played for younger kids (12 years olds and under) while the teens and young adults had night games at the field.

Getting ready for night games!

Thursday was our last full day at Aspen Grove. There was swimming, crafts, group activities, family activities, and all the usual things. In the afternoon they had Water Frolics. Water Frolics are games in the pool that you compete with other teams/families.

Synchronized swimming

That night there was the family dance, and then the Teen dance. Before the family dance we had family pictures. During our pictures it started raining (of course) and the kids ran all the way to the Emerald Dining Hall, where they were having the dance. Our family arrived there soaked, and most of us didn't stay because we were all to tired, or sick (we had the stomach bug go around).