On our way to California, we stopped at Tahoe Lake.  I don't know why we've never done this before.  It was so calm and beautiful there.  We spent a few hours at the lake and then topped it off with lunch and ice-cream.  It's sure beats taking a break at the drive-through of McDonalds!  The kids loved it and I've decided that some day we are going to camp at the lake.  So much fun.

Alaina building a sandcastle...

Jason stomping of the sandcastle...

Alaina's face after it happened.

Jason washing up...nothing cuter than a little boy washing in freezing water.  

  

Our sad farewell.  Next time we'll stay.

Here are a bunch of extra pictures from our visit to Utah.  After the Scribner Reunion, I stayed in Utah for a couple of weeks with the kids.  Robert had gone back to work.   We went to a colonial festival with Mom and Dad and Jim's family.  

Here is a lego set that Austin put together.  He rented it the lego set out and after he made it, we could send it back for a different set.

Bath time with Penny, Peter, Ellie and Jason.

We celebrated Mathew's, Yve's and Robin's birthdays.

Here are some of these girl cousins.  Lucy, Laina, Ellie and Yve

We went to lunch with Uncle Tom, Aunt Robert, Uncle Alf and and Joyce.

Visited Russ' family.

And visited the Dead Animal Museum.  Not sure the proper name...  The kids love it, but I have to admit that I find it rather creepy.

Scribner Reunion at Zion's National Park

Nearly all the Scribner kids and their families were able to come together this year for a reunion (We missed Gina's family which was only tolerable since we knew we'd get to see them once we got to California!)  This year we rented out a cabin right on the edge of the park, at Clear Creek Ranch.  Usually we go camping, but I had to admit that having the house this time was so much more convenient.  And comfy!  Somehow we all managed to fit and we spent our time playing games out in the front lawn and spending the afternoons in the park.  It was so wonderful being able to spend so much time with my parents, my brothers and Lora for the reunion and also to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary!  Lora somehow put together an amazing book (in all her spare time!) full of games, songs, and silly sayings that have shaped all of our memories of our youth.  She also got every kid to write down a life lesson that both Mom and Dad have taught them at some point in their life.  (That was an amazing feat in itself.)  It was really such a joyful book - on that I still have to order a copy of - and it was so much fun reading through it as we gathered together.   

Here are some of the highlights.  We packed a lot into those three days, so, as usual, get ready for a barrage of photos.

Dad with Penny and Joseph

Penny, Naomi, Peter hug

Jack being silly

Jim and Yve playing baseball

Big J

Lora and Mark

You can't see her face, but this is Mom with Emmett, having a little moment.

 Not sure where his pant went...

My little screen addict with Russ on the ipad

Craig had a basketball injury the very morning they were coming to the reunion.  The poor guy was on crutches the entire time.  It was so sad to see him miss out on the sports and hikes, but he was, as usually, a good sport about it all.

Scott and his crew.

Scrabble night.

Penny and Emmett

Lane

Craig, Maggie and Emmett

And here come the volleyball pics...

Laina and Ellie

The Jones crew

And of course, the family picture.

Silly family shot

 

To end with...here is the 'Jimmy patting his belly' shot.  This may have been funnier in person than it looks like on camera, but since we all got a good chuckle out of it, I thought I'd post it.