Beach Day

Corey and I did a pretty good ride this morning. We told Hyrum and Abi they were in charge, and then left for wherever Stump Hollow was. I can't tell distances on trailforks, cause I thought it was a lot closer, but it was a 30 min drive up Logan canyon. We were on the trail at 8:23 am. It was a good little trail. There were lots of butterflies and bugs. We went 14.87 miles, 2298 ft elevation gain, 2 hours 31 minutes. 

It ended up being longer than we originally planned, cause we missed a turn off and ended up continuing along Peter Sinks road, which we didn't know we were on. We thought we were doing the loop, but missed the sign showing that to continue on the loop, you had to go right. We would have missed it the second time too, had I not looked at my phone every 30 seconds to see if we were there yet, and then when it showed me that we were at where we had to turn and so I looked to find it and then we saw it. It was not well marked. After that long ride, I was ready to cool off in the lake, so I went and joined people at the beach. Peter and I and Mikey started a new castle and I worked on that for a little bit 

We rented a trampoline on the lake today from 2-4, so that was fun. Neil paddled me out to it, then I did some swimming around there, and then decided to swim to shore. 

Bear Lake is nice in that the water is so pretty and blue, and that the shore is a nice gradual slope, so you can touch the ground pretty far out. 

Then to trampoline and back again. Swimming felt good. Katharine was busy with making a castle again.

Peter got really into it too, and he was building for like 4 hours. Seriously the whole time we were there, and he didn't stop for food or anything.

Cousin Mikey helped too. 

Mikey was at the trampoline for a bit but when he came back he worked on it again with Peter. Corey came to the beach after spending some time working, and he came to watch P&K continue to build in the sand. Neil and Grant working on their new tying technique that Joseph introduced them to, ha! It was funny to see all the guys working at it with such focus!

Time to pack up and leave. Another family that was near us had lots of great sand castle supplies and built and amazing castle. They left before we did, and left behind a bunch of colored sea shells on their castle, so Peter and I collected those up and took them back to the house!

Back at the house - my dad with cute baby Daisy!

Coreys got babies too.... his two grandbabies!

Then time to enjoy some dinner.

Followed by desserts - Amy made cookies, and Katharine got to eat some of the mini MnM's leftover!

I don't know what Joseph is talking to my parent's about here, but I thought it was a cute photo.

Playing cards - 

And kids watching movies when they're taking a break from pickleball and the video game consoles. 

Overall it was a great day. Kids are staring Secret Hitler now... I'm going to go to bed though. 

...just in case it's anything like last night, when Abi and Hyrum stayed awake until past 1:49 am!

Hibbert Family Pictures

We took some family pictures this evening, after the sun had set. 

The people renting the cabin next to us were all outside eating, so we asked one of them to come take our group pic. We're going to return the favor for their reunion tomorrow. :)

We were counting heads before the pic and realized that Lily wasn't there! She was upstairs doing homework with headphones in, so didn't hear the many calls to come that had been ringing through the house. Ethan ran in to get her, and when she came out we all were sitting there watching her and cheered as she came down the stairs. We were glad she made it. Before the big group photo, my siblings and I took a few with our parents:

This is our "silly" one ~ so silly!

And then some of just the "kids" - everyone line up in order, oldest to youngest...

We don't do tallest to shortest, cause we're all tied second place for short, and Grant gets 1ast place for not short. Yeah, who's that tall kid at the end? Whose genes did he get?!?! And why didn't he share with the rest of us?

Then finally, the traditional jazz hand pic. 

Neil was like "Ugh no! I hate jazz hands! Just cause we did it once when we were kids doesn't mean we are doomed to do it for the rest of our lives!" Then a reluctant "FINE!!!" with a big enthusiastic smile. And this one was actually my favorite. 

The big kids kept the little kids entertained while we did our sibling photo shoot, doing an obstacle course.

It was pretty tricky, but even Peter and Katharine wanted a turn to give it a go, with a little help from older siblings.

After pictures were done, we let the kids watch KPop Demon Hunters, which is all the rage this month. Little ones have gone to bed now. Older kids stayed up and played games. Joseph represented our family for this one. 

Ok, so most of us are in bed now. A little bit more of what we did today - Hyrum got to sleep in the kiddie room. He talked Peter into sleeping on the trundle so H could have a big bed. 

Lazy morning though... Sophi and Mel napping, Lily doing homework, and looks like Abi is on Corey's phone, so probably checking Instagram.

The weather was very nice today. Cool temperature and also cloudy, so I liked that and was ok to go to the beach. 

I still put on sunblock but I was less concerned about totally coating everywhere. There were fun games going on - spikeball ~

Katharine and I made a castle. I did the cobblestone bridge, pretty good if I do say so myself. 

Kids were out on kayaks. 

I buried K in the sand.

Cute picture of my parents. 

Mel made skipping stones from clay and we had a contest for distance. 

Katharine with a dirty face. 

But she still feels pretty!

People relaxing. 

I played Kubb against Joseph. Then Joseph and I were a team against Neil and Mikey. Then we did kids vs. adults, so Mikey and Joseph against me and Neil. That one went on forever, it was kinda funny. When Neil and I finally did have a chance to win and it was obvious we would win, Neil did went for the king without looking... and missed! Then it went on forever again. Funny. 

The new mothers Bella and Eliza with their beautiful angel babies. 

At the beach, Joseph was showing the men a faster way to tie a bow, and it was so funny how intersted they all were. 

Spend a couple of hours mastering this and then maybe it will save you 1 second when you tie your pants for the rest of your life, then you can slowly earn back those hours you spent learning. 

A special shout out should be given to Amy, Jerusha, and Jared, who did all the meal planning, prepping, and cooking for everyone during this reunion. We've been having a feast at every meal. 

First Full Day

I woke up and watched the sunrise for a little bit. 

I told the kids last night that I'd go buy cereal and milk for breakfast. I went to the store to buy food for breakfast at 6:22. Went to Bears Market cause it was closer, but when I got there, it was obvious they had a lousy selection. There was no cereal isle, just the bottom of one shelf with few individual servings of Frosted flakes and cinnamon toast crunch. It didn't show the price, but I knew that wasn't gonna fly. I was in there for way too long trying to decide what to do. I ended up getting pancake mix and syrup, 4 pizzas, 4 loaves of bread, and 2 things of cream cheese ($7 each, ugh)! Then when I was done, I remembered Abi wanted candy. So then I decided to go to Mike's Market. I didn't go there at first cause it was further away (like 2 minutes further) but I should have gone there, cause that was a normal store. They had malt o meal bags of cereal, so even though I had gotten stuff for pancakes, I got cereal too. Plus Abi's requested - an assortment of Hershey's mini chocolates (krackle, Mr. Goodbar, special dark and reg Hershey's) and I've been eating most of it, darn it! Oh, I also bought white cheddar popcorners at Bears Market and I inhaled almost the whole bag on my drive back, doh! (...apparently I'm feeling some stress or something that I did that!) Back at cabin at 7:33 am. Abi eating cereal. People starting to wake up.

Camilla Patrice Grant took three cars full of kids to the beach. I stayed back just cause. I did help hold Alvie while Ethan and Bella took tests for school. I got him asleep and let him be snuggled up in three pillows on my parent's bed.

When Bella was gone, I read a little bit until I was tired, then I took two naps on the floor in the Master bedroom. I slept in the master bed last night, but my parents will be here tonight so now Corey and I are room-less. We'll be sleeping on the blow up mattress, cause I gave our room to Beka/Matt and Camilla&kids, so that Ethan&Bella and Joseph&Eliza could have their own bedrooms. The kids spent time at the beach, and back at the cabin there was lots of visiting, board and card games, and the cousins have been playing pickleball...

...and video games at the gaming consoles and eating lots of delicious food. We had bbq hamburgers and hot dogs tonight. Ready for dinner. 

Right now Mel still at home (7:11pm). She should be coming up soon with Christian. Mom and Dad are on their way, Beka Matt arrived 4pm, Corey Lily Joseph Eliza Mary arrived at 4:52 in Mel's car. Our van is still at Burt Bros. It didn't end up getting fixed by yesterday, and wasn't done today either, so I'm a little disappointed that they were so off on their time estimate. Since they are having it for so long, I really hope they are able to fix the shuddering that occurs when the car accelerates. 

Hyrum flew in and Corey arranged for him to come with Neil and crew, who were driving from California but going through Salt Lake at just the right time for when Hyrum's plane landed. They went to Layton to get some things, then they arrived at 6pm. Tonight was Hyrum's first time meeting Mary!

She's so excited. All of Mary's and Alvie's Uncles and Aunts are loving all the time with them! Hyrum with Mary again, Lily with Alvie. 

My grandbabies are so cute!! So that's mostly been today - hanging out and waiting for everyone to finish coming in.