August 19, 2010
Cran Hill Ranch

Wow, what an adventure. We had 8 campsites full of extended family on my mom's side. At one point in the weekend we had 16 kids (I think) and I am pretty sure the oldest one was Nicholas who is 8 years old. It was 3 full days of jam packed fun. I will admit that this isn't one of our cheapest vacations of the year, but we plan ahead in anticipation of all the extra activities they have available. I am fully committed to let the kids experience as many new activities as they feel they want to try. I love to see their sense of accomplishment when completing it - or even just their determination to try. It is such a great opportunity to help them gain self confidence, or at least teach them that trying is half the battle - a lesson we all need to learn throughout our lives.

The first day was not so heavily packed with organized activities so we took the opportunity to take all of the kids on our traditional hike up to the fresh water spring to fill our water bottles with cool refreshing water right from the ground.

McKenna and Matea are wagon mates.

Matthew commandeered our bike trailer for the trip.
Even though he wasn't walking like the big kids - he still needed a walking stick like them.

Off on our hike.

Cute in her hiking hat.

That water takes so good after hiking up the big hill.

Mother and Daughter
My cousin Stacy and her daughter McKenna heading back to our campsites.

On the way back to camp we stopped to check out some of the animals.

The afternoon was spent at the beach. The kids found that someone before them had begun to dig a big ditch in the sand - so there mission was to try to block it off to make a great big puddle.

Then cousin Steve started burying a few kids in the sand.

Our campsites were right across the street from a fort playground, which is where the kids spent most of their time. However, on this particular evening we walked over to the playground at the other campground loop. Many of the kids loved climbing on the old tractor they have there.

Aiden enjoying some freedom from his stroller - it's great to crawl around a while when you've been cooped up.