Every summer, my six siblings and I, our spouses, and a grand total of thirty grandchildren, two grandsons-in-law, and one great grandson, pack up and make the seven hour journey from Salt Lake to Atlanta, Idaho to spend several days at the Pinnacle Peaks Sawtooth Lodge. It is a highlight of everyones year; a great time to catch up with family members, relax, and just have fun. I cherish these days so much, and I am so grateful that there is a place that we can all be together. I think I appreciate it even more since we live away from the bulk of the family. This concentrated time allows my kids to really get to know their aunts, uncles, and cousins, and they have made memories that will last a lifetime. As my brother Tom said while playing with Caroline, "This is why we come to the ranch; because now Caroline knows who I am." I couldn't agree more. These family ties and associations are priceless.In the Kitchen
Since there is no place to purchase food in Atlanta, we have to bring everything with us that we will need for the week. We generally bring whatever our family will eat for breakfast and lunch, and then we each have one dinner assignment. In this picture, Jordan, Christie and I are helping Diana and her girls with their meal. Although this kitchen is incredibly hot and stuffy, it is a fun time to hang out together. Is this how polygamists feel at dinner time?Jumping Rock
Emily and Brett Wimmer taking a tandem jump.
Sydney had no interest in jumping, but she loves to go along to watch the jumpers and look for cool rocks.
Emily is ready to take flight!
Craft time! Eliza, Alexa & Sydney
Allison loves to play cards. Luckily for her, there is never a shortage of cousins to play with at the ranch!
A little late night back-walking therapy. Eliza, Emily, Sydney, Madeleine, Jordan, Allison
Emily and Brett Wimmer taking a tandem jump.
Sydney had no interest in jumping, but she loves to go along to watch the jumpers and look for cool rocks.
Emily is ready to take flight!
Down Time
Craft time! Eliza, Alexa & Sydney
Allison loves to play cards. Luckily for her, there is never a shortage of cousins to play with at the ranch!
A little late night back-walking therapy. Eliza, Emily, Sydney, Madeleine, Jordan, AllisonLee Family Olympics
Although we have been coming to the ranch since 2003, this is only the second time that the Lee Family Olympics made it in to the list of festivities. Tom and Michael put the Olympics together the first year we came, and there were some not-so-friendly competition and some unhappy people at the end of the games. But, we decided that people had matured, and maybe we should give the Olympics another shot. Tom organized the events, and had James, John and Ben (team captains) choose their teams. Their were six events: 1) a "skant" (skit/chant to introduce each team to the judges) 2) relay races 3) "fear factor" 4)human pyramids 5) race across the stream and 6) The Great Race. The winning team for each event was awarded five points, second place got four points, and third place got three. Whichever team accumulated the most points at the end of the games would be the winner.
John's team/aka the Uncircumcised Serpents. Sam (not actually a member of this team, but here for the photo op), Danny, Carter, Sydney, Caroline, John, Luke, and Wyatt
Ben's team/aka The Bickering Beavers. Annie, Mitchel, Tara, Madeleine, Emily, Jacob, Ben, Sam
James' team/aka The Mountain Meadow Boys. Allison, Collin, Josh, Isaac, James, Alexa, Eliza
I am pretty sure James had been writing the script for his skant for the past several years. He knew exactly what each person should do and say, and had the whole thing choreographed. James, Eliza, and Alexa took the prize for over the top theatrics.
It appears that Eliza has killed her brother.
Fear Factor: Tom made a lovely plate of delicacies for each team to consume. It didn't matter who ate what, but the first team to eat everything won. Each team had four items on their plate: a shake made of green olives, leftover pork in bbq sauce, prune juice, and mustard (Ben managed to down the shake, then promptly threw up); a cookie topped with pickle, mustard, and red pepper flakes; a dorito topped with marshmallow cream, mustard and hot sauce; and a quarter of a lemon.
Sydney ate the cookie/pickle/mustard/pepper flake creation. You may not be able to fully appreciate the expression on her face, but she is teetering on the brink of vomiting. Sydney is one of the pickiest eaters I have ever met, and I was shocked she agreed to be a part of this, since only four team members had to participate. This was truly a demonstration of team spirit!
Annie and Sydney in the lime and spoon race (not quite as messy as the egg and spoon)
Emily and Jacob doing the wheelbarrow race. A side note: when we were planning the events and someone suggested a wheelbarrow race, Kim said, "Do we have enough wheelbarrows for that?" Kim, you are the best!
The Pyramid: Simple enough rules, but this one got ugly. Each team had to design a human pyramid with six of their team members. The team who held the pyramid the longest was the winning team. The ugly part came as the kids and the pyramids deteriorated and the minutes ticked by. We happen to have some very competitive kids, who refuse to give up in spite of pain. Turns out there are also a few competitive parents among us. . .
As you can see, Emily was an integral part of her team's pyramid.
. . .as was Sam to his team.
Near the end, we had the base kids use only one arm, in hopes of ending this thing. Unfortunately, they hung on.
The Bickering Beavers ended up winning this one, although I still maintain they had unfair advantage due to their spot in the shade. Or, maybe they should get extra points for being the only team smart enough to choose a shady location.
In this event, the team members had to hold hands with each other, run across the stream, turn around, and run back to the starting line. Surprisingly, there was only one twisted ankle while crossing the stream.
Taking a little rest from the events with Nana: Sydney, Caroline, Eliza, Annie, Tara
Sydney hitches a ride with Steve to the pond for the final event of the Olympics.
The Great Race: Each team chose two swimmers and two runners for this event. The first swimmer was to swim out to the dock, the second one would swim back, then the first runner was to run from the lake to the house, and the final runner was to run back to the lake.
John's team/aka the Uncircumcised Serpents. Sam (not actually a member of this team, but here for the photo op), Danny, Carter, Sydney, Caroline, John, Luke, and Wyatt
Ben's team/aka The Bickering Beavers. Annie, Mitchel, Tara, Madeleine, Emily, Jacob, Ben, Sam
James' team/aka The Mountain Meadow Boys. Allison, Collin, Josh, Isaac, James, Alexa, Eliza
I am pretty sure James had been writing the script for his skant for the past several years. He knew exactly what each person should do and say, and had the whole thing choreographed. James, Eliza, and Alexa took the prize for over the top theatrics.
It appears that Eliza has killed her brother.
Fear Factor: Tom made a lovely plate of delicacies for each team to consume. It didn't matter who ate what, but the first team to eat everything won. Each team had four items on their plate: a shake made of green olives, leftover pork in bbq sauce, prune juice, and mustard (Ben managed to down the shake, then promptly threw up); a cookie topped with pickle, mustard, and red pepper flakes; a dorito topped with marshmallow cream, mustard and hot sauce; and a quarter of a lemon.
Sydney ate the cookie/pickle/mustard/pepper flake creation. You may not be able to fully appreciate the expression on her face, but she is teetering on the brink of vomiting. Sydney is one of the pickiest eaters I have ever met, and I was shocked she agreed to be a part of this, since only four team members had to participate. This was truly a demonstration of team spirit!
Annie and Sydney in the lime and spoon race (not quite as messy as the egg and spoon)
Emily and Jacob doing the wheelbarrow race. A side note: when we were planning the events and someone suggested a wheelbarrow race, Kim said, "Do we have enough wheelbarrows for that?" Kim, you are the best!
The Pyramid: Simple enough rules, but this one got ugly. Each team had to design a human pyramid with six of their team members. The team who held the pyramid the longest was the winning team. The ugly part came as the kids and the pyramids deteriorated and the minutes ticked by. We happen to have some very competitive kids, who refuse to give up in spite of pain. Turns out there are also a few competitive parents among us. . .
As you can see, Emily was an integral part of her team's pyramid.
. . .as was Sam to his team.
Near the end, we had the base kids use only one arm, in hopes of ending this thing. Unfortunately, they hung on.
The Bickering Beavers ended up winning this one, although I still maintain they had unfair advantage due to their spot in the shade. Or, maybe they should get extra points for being the only team smart enough to choose a shady location. In this event, the team members had to hold hands with each other, run across the stream, turn around, and run back to the starting line. Surprisingly, there was only one twisted ankle while crossing the stream.
Taking a little rest from the events with Nana: Sydney, Caroline, Eliza, Annie, Tara
Sydney hitches a ride with Steve to the pond for the final event of the Olympics.
The Great Race: Each team chose two swimmers and two runners for this event. The first swimmer was to swim out to the dock, the second one would swim back, then the first runner was to run from the lake to the house, and the final runner was to run back to the lake. Allison took a commanding lead in the first leg of the relay (she is to the left of the other two), giving her team the edge they need to seal the victory for Great Race, and the Olympics as a whole!
Sydney and Ashley hanging out on the dock
James and Allison, victorious after their final event
I can't get enough of the beautiful scenery. Wherever you go, breathtaking views are there to greet you!
Caroline and Bret on the walking back from the pond. Pull up your pants, Caroline!
Sydney and Ashley hanging out on the dock
James and Allison, victorious after their final event
I can't get enough of the beautiful scenery. Wherever you go, breathtaking views are there to greet you!
Caroline and Bret on the walking back from the pond. Pull up your pants, Caroline!Fun at the pool
Tara, Annie, Sydney, Alexa and Caroline were entertained for quite a while by jumping in to a tube that Tom was holding.
Britten and Chelsea entertained Tara, Annie and Sydney by spinning them around in the tube as fast as they could until someone fell off.
Caroline, Sam and Alexa were in a pretend world for about an hour at the pool. They had "babies" that were deflated beach balls, and they took turns taking care of them. In this picture, Caroline is washing Alexa's hair, and will soon send her in to the hot tub to rinse (She already washed Sam's hair).
Tara, Annie, Sydney, Alexa and Caroline were entertained for quite a while by jumping in to a tube that Tom was holding.
Britten and Chelsea entertained Tara, Annie and Sydney by spinning them around in the tube as fast as they could until someone fell off.
Caroline, Sam and Alexa were in a pretend world for about an hour at the pool. They had "babies" that were deflated beach balls, and they took turns taking care of them. In this picture, Caroline is washing Alexa's hair, and will soon send her in to the hot tub to rinse (She already washed Sam's hair). Fishing
Sydney, Bret, and a German Brown trout. Sydney loved fishing with Bret this year. This pond is a great place for kids to fish, because there is a pretty good chance of catching a fish on every cast.
Sydney, Bret, and a German Brown trout. Sydney loved fishing with Bret this year. This pond is a great place for kids to fish, because there is a pretty good chance of catching a fish on every cast.
1 comment:
Looks like you all had such a fun time! Love the pictures of the jumping rock, especially Emily taking flight! Such a beautiful place. I am so glad you all had fun, like I've said before, doesn't get better than kids spending time with cousins!
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