Cecret Lake Hike

 Cecret Lake

 Graigry and Robert

 Warren proved once again that he is the best salamander catcher.

 The kids put the salamanders they caught in a small pool in a hole of this rock.  They made sure to put all the salamanders back in the lake before we left.

The sign says "no swimming" so Graigry just waded 

Ride Day

It was a little rainy but all in all a fun day.

 Michael and Ethan

 Jessica

 Graigry

 Tyler on the new Mountain Flyer (it replaced the zip rider)

 Melanie on the Bungie Tramp

 Jenna, Megan, and Tyler on the Puruvian Lift

  Tyler, Jenna, and Megan at the top of the Puruvian Lift

Graig and Jessica on the Mountain Flyer

 Megan and Tyler on the Mountain Flyer

I really wanted to ride the Puruvian lift but it kept getting shut down for rain.  Warren, Debbie and Robert were all trying to ride it too.  We noticed that they were letting people come down the lift, just not sending anyone up so we rode the tram to the top, hiked down to the lift and were the last riders down for the night.  Mission accomplished :)

Family Pictures

These are the behind the scenes shots that Tyler took with his camera.

Jessica, Kara, and Bethany 

Jessica, Kara, Bethany, Megan, Tyler and Jenna 

  Debbie's darling family

 Jenna, Jessica, Kayla, Bethany, Mitch and Kara

 All of the girl cousins:  Bethany, Kara, Megan, Kayla, Jenna, Melanie, Jessica, Rachel, Emily, and Ashlyn

Ashlyn, Rachel, Emily, and Melanie built this "campfire" to stay busy while they were waiting their turn for a picture. 

Christmas at Snowbird

"Christmas in July" is a tradition started by my Grandma Taylor back when we were kids.  My Grandmother loved Christmas and wanted to celebrate it when her whole family was together at summer reunions because some of her kids and their families just never were able to make the long trip to Utah in December.  One year we even got a visit from Santa.  As sisters we decided to continue the tradition with our annual Snowbird Family Reunion.

As the kids are growing up, it is getting harder to get Snowbird Christmas gifts that aren't too expensive but that the kids (and their mothers) like.  This year we sisters decided to get anyone 11 and older matching clothes with their cousins.  The girl cousins got pink Mini-Mouse pajama pants and the boys got matching t-shirts.  The younger girls actually got matching Disney pajamas too.  The younger boys, to the envy of some, got toys.

 Tyler and Aaron received these matching shirts.  Tyler loves his and quickly worked it into his wardrobe.  Good job Aunt Debbie (who picked them out).

 Jessica can hardly contain her excitement at having received pink Mini-Mouse pajama pants.  She was happier about it when she realized that everyone got the same gift.  Melanie, who actually likes the color pink, was even more disappointed as she had "ordered" a craft kit for her gift.

Taylor holds up the shirt that he and Graigry got matching.

It seemed to me that almost no one was happy with their gift this year which seems like a good reason to discontinue the tradition next year... although I do still like the "idea" of Christmas in July.

Red Pine Hike

We decided to try a new hike this year at Snowbird.  It was a beautiful hike through the forest to Redpine Lake.

There is me on the boardwalk.

 Tyler, Jenna, and Megan were hiking buddies.

 We don't even try to keep up with Taylor and Graig.  Their backs for a few minutes at the beginning of the trail is all we see of them until we get to the top.

 Celebrating making it to the lake with Tyler and Megan.

 Graigry

 Kara and Bethany

Kara, Tyler and Taylor

  What do you do when you make it to the bottom way ahead of the rest of the group?  Well if you are Tyler and Megan you pass they time by taking silly pictures and making photo strips on your camera.

Farewell Party

One of the highlights of the home stay program is the goodbye program the students put on before they leave.   There were games and musical numbers and of course, the traditional "crying song".  Jessica was the only one who came with Warren and I because everyone else had already left for Snowbird.

 Atsuka and her friend sang a song.

 Atsuka also did a dance with a group of friends

 Getting her graduation certificate from Tammy and the Browns.  Poor Atsuka was really crying.

 A "family" picture.

Trafalga