Versaw family reunion

This past weekend, we made our way to Divide, CO (west of CO Springs) for the Versaw family reunion.  Once every 2 years, about 100 of the Versaw clan (yes, there are WAY more than that) gather for mountain fun and togetherness.  This is the same place I remember going with my family when I was growing up and it's so fun to get to experience with my own family now.  Chris and I went the year we were married (2000) and then we went two years ago and then this year.  Chris and I really enjoy going and I know the boys have fun too. 

Ashten actually let my mom hold her for a little bit.  I know my mom was happy about that as usually Ashten cries after about 2 minutes if anyone but I hold her.

The reunion is held at an camp.  There is so much to do!  The boys went kayaking on Saturday afternoon - they had a lot of fun with that!  They also had fun climbing on the hill afterwards and getting totally dirty (boys will be boys!).

After kayaking, we headed over the zip line.  We were sure if Brayden or Logan would have enough nerve to climb up the tall tree and actually do it, but they both did (and wanted to do it again!).  I was especially proud of Logan because he got very scared at one point climbing up the tree and it took him a while to actually go after he got up there, but he did it!!

This is Lizzie, Brayden's favorite friend at the reunion.  She is the same age as Brayden and they really hit it off two years ago when we were there and this year had fun together again!  Here they are just waiting around for their turn on the zip line.

Preston couldn't ride the zip line because he was too young, but he was such a good sport about it and had fun just playing in the dirt and with sticks and stuff.  You know, basic boy stuff!

Ashten got a little tired out from not having a good nap, but she wasn't very fussy and didn't really well considering!

There is also a little putt-putt golf course there.  The boys enjoyed that and did it several times (including one time at like 7 am because they are early risers, and not very quiet ones at that, and we didn't want them waking up the whole lodge).

Lastly, but definitely not the least, was the swimming pool.  Chris took the boys twice and they enjoyed that as well.  We are trying to teach Brayden to swim, but he enjoyed just lounging around on the noodle better I think!

A Versaw family reunion tradition is the after-church-service picture-taking session.  This year wasn't as bad as I remember past years being, especially as bad as I remember it being as a kid, so that was good, especially since the boys were eager to go swimming at that point.

Cousins

My dad's side of the family (but only about 1/2 of us)

Us and my parents

Us

I can't wait to go again in 2 years!!

Fun with cousins

The boys got to spend a lot of time with their cousins, Isaac and Cadence this summer.  Between our trip to NY and last week when Chris' sister was in town for about 10 days - they got to spend some quality time together.  Preston and Isaac especially became good buddies, it was cute to watch!

Splashing in the lake in NY (I know this is old, but it was too cute to leave out!)

Playing on the seesaw

Driving grandpa's jeep

Playing on the slip-n-slide

And these two....just give them a year or two and I bet they'll be having loads of fun together doing girly-stuff!

Chris' mom bought them all matching outfits so that she could get a picture - I think it turned out cute (although it is VERY hard to get a picture with 6 kids under 7 all looking at the camera and smiling).

What a fun summer with cousins!

These feet

These feet.....

belong to my four, precious gifts from God

run and jump and play all day

are growing too fast
need rubbed in the middle of the night sometimes

are almost always dirty
usually have flip-flops on them

will one day be bigger than mine

love squishing in the sand, grass and mud

remind me of when I was a child

Photo shoot

I was trying to get a picture for my blog header the other day - but no luck.  I got some good ones, but for some reason they were all too big and close-up for the header.  Oh well, I'll share the best one anyway.

Clear Creek camping

We went camping down in Golden last weekend with Chris' family.  We all had a fun time and got totally wiped out!!

Playing in the creek.....

Resting and playing games.....

Logan took this picture of Ashten the other day.  It was supposed to be a picture of me and Ashten, but then Ashten leaned forward and tried to grab the camera right when he snapped the picture.  The boys thought it was a hilarious picture! 

4 generations

While my grandma was in town for a month in June, we got a 4 generation picture with all the girls!

We also took the opportunity to get a new family picture since the last one we had was in the hospital room when I had Ashten.

Ashten - 4 months

This girl is growing up so fast, too fast!  She is getting so big - seriously, sometimes I think she's grows overnight. 

New this month: 

• rolls over (both ways)
• sleeps on her tummy
• sleeps 10-12 hours straight per night
• giggles
• goes to the nursery at church now (although I still get paged once or twice to feed her)
• smiles a ton
• can sit and play in her exersaucer and walker now
• plays with toys a little -- especially ones she can fit in her mouth
• I think she may be cutting a tooth -- lots of drool and chewing on things