This was our first official Creswell Family Reunion! We had a great time. The only sad part was that my sister Emilie missed it and R could only attend the very last day. AND it went by too quickly!! The kids and I arrived on Wednesday along with my brother Brandon and his family and Maren and her babies. It was fun to see the cousins reunite. Later, they went for a quick dip in the lake and enjoyed some paddle boat time. Later that night grandpa and grandma arrived! The next day, the kids enjoyed some crafts that grandma had prepared. One craft they made was a cucumber boat. The cucumbers were cut in half and the kids scrapped out all the "gutts" and attached sails at the end. Then we all walked to the "head of the ditch" and they dropped their boats into the water that raced down the mountain and headed for the lake. Next up was a trip to Idaho City where the kids enjoyed some icecream and spending their allowance at the local souvenire shop. Later on, more swimming, eating, and relaxing. Oh, the good life!! Oh, and let's not forget my run/bike ride with brother Brandon. He rode, I ran. Up and down the mountainside. It was beautiful! Definitely a challenging workout for both. That night Joe and his wifey and little Shadrach arrived. The next morning, I stole him out of his crib (awake of course) and snuggled, chewed, and kissed him to bits. Then we all headed to the water park in Meridian. We all took shifts watching babies and then going on the waterslides. Good fun. Later on, I picked up R from the airport while everyone headed back up the mountain. The next day, half the gang went to the temple while the rest stayed back and chilled. In the afternoon, my dad lead a game called Over the Line which is similar to baseball. My kids loved it! Sadly, they've never been exposed to baseball before. But, this was the ticket! Before coming home grandpa gave them gloves and balls to practice with, and T used some of her b-day money to buy a bat. After the b-ball game, we ate dinner and then canoe racing time! We used a canoe for the "singles" racing and then Brandon's kayak for the "couples." Brandon and Staci went first. They had to paddle out into the middle of the lake around a raft and then back to the dock. It was a timed race. R and I were next. I am extremely competitive, but necessarily skilled when it comes to boat racing. Anyway, R and I did not have very good coordination paddling on the kayak. We were halfway to the raft when my fierce paddling flipped the kayak over and spilled R and I into the water! I was in my pajamas! And I don't like swimming in lakes! Needless to say, it was quite a shock and I felt like I was swimming in slow motion back to the dock. My pajama pants were pulling me down and slipping off my legs. Of course, everyone else on land was laughing hysterically. Even though R was wet, I guess he wasn't done. He recruited my sister Leah to try the race one more time with him. Unbeknownst to her, he had another plan in mind.:) After they swiftly rounded the raft and started heading back to the dock R started swaying the kayak back and forth and flipped it over AGAIN sending Leah into the water as well! (FYI no one was in bathing suits). She was a good sport. Again lots of laughter from everyone on the dock. Next up, Joe. He was still in the cabin, so we called him down, paired him with R and they both went through the motions of the race. Once again R tipped the kayak to the side and in went Joe! He didn't seem too surprised so I'm thinking he expected it. Anyway, single canoe races were next. Brandon came in first and I in second:( Leah fought so vigorously to get back to the dock that she tipped her canoe into the water and ended up soaked a second time. It was a great way to end the reunion. I'm sure nobody will forget the canoe races. The next day we packed up and headed back home. Our time at the cabin went by way too fast. But I think the goal was achieved. We had a wonderful time as an extended family. Lots of laughter, bonding, fun, memories, relaxation, excitement,....mission accomplished!!
