School Days

School is back in....


Kale has really loved being at school all day long -- every day I'm regaled with tales of what he chose for lunch, what he did in class, and whether or not he heard the recess bell.
Sky has also really loved having the kids be in school all day long.  This way she gets more time with Jax and Mom.

Last week was Green Ribbon week at school, and they had some pretty fun things going on.
Of course, Sky is happy to be the oldest kid at home, but that doesn't mean she doesn't wish she were going to school as well.  As a result, she participated in every special thing that the kids were a part of for the week.

 Crazy Hair Day
(Sky was only brave enough to try different colors -- that seemed pretty crazy to her.)

Crazy feet Day

Camp Castletonia

Mom and Dad rented a big cabin down in Panguitch so we could resurrect the tradition of Camp Catletonia.  We knew a few months in advance and the kids were ecstatic about spending a whole week with their cousins.  Mom had sent us the link for the cabin, and my kids spent hours looking at the pictures and reading about what would be there -- they had sleeping arrangements planned out, what they were going to do when we first arrived...the anticipation and planning kept them busy and excited right up until the the actual trip.

 

We had a little devotional/activity planned for every night.  Mom and Dad were in charge of the first night and they had the kids carry in the Castletonia banner (compliments of Becky - doesn't it look amazing?) and we ceremoniously hung it along one of the walls.  It stayed there for the whole week, and then we ceremoniously (again) took it down when people started heading for home.

Each family had to prepare a verse for the Castletonia song (sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle) that told about what they had been up to for the last few years.  Everyone's verse was clever and made us smile.  We loved the opening ceremonies for Camp Castletonia!

 

The Hansen and Snarr kids had written a play and they had their debut performance at the reunion.  My kids had been making programs every time I turned around for the month before.  The whole thing was incredibly well thought out.

 

One of the nights we had a talent show.  Each family contributed a selection for the evening.  MJ and Tammy sang a duet, our family put together an acrobatic routine, the Snarr's sang and danced to the song from The Lego Movie -- "Everything is Awesome"-- and Sarah taught the kids some dance/exercise routines.  Sarah was later joined by Rob in doing some dances from the 60's.  Dad even joined in the fun by singing "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof.  Also featured was a spectacular dance routine by the Castleton sisters.  I say spectacular in the sense that you never would have thought to see some of those girls (namely myself) doing anything like that.

 

We spent a few days at Bryce Canyon and Brian Head National Parks.  The kids were so great about going on long hikes.  One of the days we dragged them around for 6 miles, and they made it all the way (Sky had a free ride along the way from Rob - lucky!).

 

 

One of the days we played Minute to Win It games.  I was in charge of organizing them, and I thought it turned out really well.

 Who can keep their feather in the air the longest?  Looks like Brian was the champ on this one, but Nathan was a close second.

These guys had to try and shake the tic-tacs (which were taped to the end of rulers) out of the containers.  Tammy was the winner of this one

  We had the kids pull all the tissues out of tissue boxes as fast as they could, which was followed by a huge tissue fight.  The kids were in heaven!

  The teams had to wrap their mummy up the fastest.  The kids loved being the wrappees (and so did Grandpa).

 

 

  Grandpa took the time to try and teach the kids to fish.  My kids were in heaven.  They all think they are expert fishers now.

 

 

We were sure to get in some family pictures while we had everyone gathered together.  I think it went pretty smoothly.  Things can get pretty crazy when you get this many kids (and siblings) together, but Tammy kept us in line and we finished pretty quickly.  Way to go!

 

 

 

And now, for your viewing pleasure, just a few more hiking pictures.

 

This was such a fun vacation, and we loved every second of it.  We can't wait to get together with everyone again.  Next year anyone?!  Hooray for Camp Castletonia.