Vacation; One of Two

Every summer since I was born my family would travel to Idaho for a month in the summer.  To spend time with my mom's family and escape the heat of Arizona in July.  Idaho quickly became a second home to me and my sisters, and it is to this day.  Spencer has grown to love these visits to Idaho as much as I do, unfortunately we can never find the time to go.  This summer my mom and some of her siblings/in-laws put together an amazing family reunion over the fourth of July.  As soon as my mom told me an Idaho party was in the works I asked for a the time off and have been looking forward to this ever since.

When the time came for me to actually head out to Idaho I was very very very (infinity) ready to get out of Oklahoma (pretty sure I was about to spontaneously combust).  It was great to get out of my own problems, thoughts, school, Bar study (I know I am not personally studying for the Bar but keeping Spencer from spontaneously combusting is a full time job), and mostly I needed a break from work (cannot emphasize that one enough)!!

I got up extra early to fly out of Tulsa to Phoenix (irony rules my life) to then catch a flight to Salt Lake City Utah.  At which point my family had driven from Phoenix and picked me up in Salt Lake and we continued our drive to Shelly Idaho.

Picture of downtown Tulsa on Top and most of downtown Phoenix on the bottom

Top Picture is of the gorgeous mountains that Spencer misses with his whole heart in Utah.  Middle Picture is of the family arriving at my grandparents house in Shelly Idaho.  Bottom picture is of a Potato field...in Idaho.

It was a very long day of traveling but well worth the effort!!  I arrived Saturday night and the family festivities didn't start until Thursday (4th of July) giving me plenty of time to get some R&R ...Woot Woot!!

Cleaning some new red potatoes, a must have when we come to Idaho 

Grandma, Grandpa holding Ellie, Mom, and Dad

My first attempt at Ticket to Ride

We had a great week of playing games, BBQ'n, shopping, and getting ready for the big reunion at the Cabin.  Poor Spencer was left in Tulsa during all of this.  He was in the middle of studying for the Bar and couldn't come out until Wednesday night.  He flew to Salt Lake City (3 hours from Shelly ID) a little after midnight.  My dad drove down with me, thank heavens, we swung by the airport, picked Spencer up, and headed back to Shelly ID.  I don't know who the genius was that came up with that plan....;) (Spencer....).  On the way we stopped by 7 eleven for a slurpie because they don't have them in Oklahoma and Spencer missed them oh so much!  We made it back to grandmas around 3:30 in the morning at which point we crashed.  Before we knew it, we needed to get up and start the 2 hour drive to the cabin.

On our way to Island Park....YAY!!!

The moment we arrived in Island Park my parents dropped us off at the 4 wheeler rental place.  We took this photo in case we got lost so it could be our"Last Seen Wearing" photo before we took off to drive to the cabin.  It is always a beautiful drive in Island Park and it was great way to get out of the car and enjoy the beauty.  Everybody was arriving that day, car after car was piling up in front of our humble cabin.  To free up some space most of us headed down to the dock.  It is a great but humble dock as well, but it was soon as overrun as the cabin.  

Now here is a classic story:  the ramp onto the dock is always slippery when wet.  Who decided that it would be a great idea to run across it...me.  The result, both feet went straight into the air and I landed flat on my back.  I was sporting a huge black bruise on my behind for about two weeks after that.

The family reunion included everyone from my grandma and her brothers family.  There was an obvious difference between our families.  Uncle Teds family consisted of 9 people total, 7 were able to come.  Our side consisted of 46 family members (10 people were unable to come).  Our cabin could not even contain most of our family.  Uncle Ted rented a cabin on Bill's Island which is about a 20 minute drive from our cabin but a quick boat ride across the lake from our dock.  Uncle Ted was so accommodating to our group.  Spencer and I were homeless from the lack of space and Uncle Ted took us in.

This was the view out our bedroom window

Uncle Ted's cabin soon became the central hub of festivities.  There was enough space for everyone and the dock was amazing!

Grandpa and Grandma on the right with their kids and spouses.  Uncle Ted and Pat on the right with Rob and Gretchen

Group shot of almost everyone, we starting sinking the front of the dock...

Playing games in the living room

Back side of Uncle Ted's cabin and patio area

Me and Molly rocking the tube!!

We had a great time playing on the jet ski's, boating, going down the slide, swimming, playing awesome games, talking, and of course eating!!

On the fourth of July we found out that Bill's Island has a parade of boats.  Most were decorated with fourth of July paraphernalia.  One boat was done up like the Black Pearl and they did a great job.  Another man was on a board that shot water out the bottom and lifted him in the air, it was awesome.  The kids ran down to the dock and waved at those in the parade.  When it was time for the fireworks we weren't to sure where we were supposed to go (there were many different shows we could go to).  As we were driving there happened to be a great spot on a hill with nobody else there.  We took the van off roading to get to the spot, parked, and enjoyed the Bill Island firework show.

The view from our spot, the parade of boats are out on the lake waiting for the show as well

Of course we didn't spend the whole time at the cabin.  At one point Spencer, Dad, Shae and I took the 4 wheelers for another spin.  It was beautiful.  Spencer had injured his thumb on an earlier ride (hit a bump and slammed his thumb backwards).  So he sat on the back of mine and we took a nice easy ride enjoying the beauty around us.

At some point we hit the river and followed it to Mack's Inn, so of course we had to stop for some ice cream!

We also went to Mack's Inn Playhouse, a dinner theater. 

The show was really cute and the kids really enjoyed the singing.  During the performance they pulled people from the audience, my cousin Brock (on the right-driving) was one of them.  Then the men dressed up as ladies sang a love song to the other man who was on the stage... it was really funny but I think you had to be there.  

We also took time to go feed the fish...except there weren't any fish.  They had been accidentally killed.  So we had a great time feeding the birds. My cousin Austin eventually found the fish...they were hiding under the bridge but they were small in number and hard to see.

 

We even found time to float a river.  It was a quick 30 minute float but the water was freezing cold and very shallow.  Many a bum took a beating.  Strangely enough all of us "larger than life folk" began to fall behind the crowd.  Lucky for us Brock was taking his family down in a canoe.  Dear sweet Amy threw us a rope and before he knew it 10 people were trailing behind him.  Eventually Austin had to get in the canoe to help paddle because of all us "large than life" folk.  As we held onto the rope we watched a beautiful storm begin to roll in.  With thunder, lighting, and by the end it began to rain on us.  It was a great afternoon trip!  

We had a great time at the Cabin(s).  Spencer was in desperate need of a break and was very glad that he came.  We had a great time meeting new family members and catching up with the old.  I wish that we could have spent more time with everybody but now it was time to begin the second part of my vacation, Arizona!