Favorite Childhood Vacation - Revisited

When I was 8 years old, my family went on the BEST. VACATION. EVER.  It was my favorite vacation of all time!
Including Marriott's Great America (although that's right up there, too.)
Including countless trips to Lake Powell.
Including Yellowstone.
Including rafting the Snake River and Jackson Hole.
Including DISNEYLAND.
Including Lake Mead.
Including camping trips to various places.
Including California.

We went to Aspen Grove Family Camp!

The name of my "kid's club" back then was called the "CUBS" and we had our very own "Cub Den!"  (I felt very special about this because my bros & sisters DID NOT have a "clubhouse" for their age groups!
This is the place where we met before we'd go PLAY, and hike, and create art, and sing, and cheer, and explore, and enjoy the great outdoors, and hang out with other cool 8 yr. olds and fantastic college-student counselors!  I scoured the property and had a talk with the current Camp Director-Elect and found out where my old "cub den" was - it's currently being used as staff housing, but I snuck up and took a picture anyway!  Creepy?  I like to call it "sentimental."

{I look a little different from when I stood by it at 8 yrs. old.  There's a photo of that somewhere in my mom's albums, I believe.  I should find it and compare!  ;)}

WELL, a couple of years ago when I discovered that we only had 3 summers left (ONLY 3 SUMMERS LEFT?!?) before Ryan goes on his LDS mission, I made a "bucket list" of our last three yearly family vacations I wanted to go on with our family before they started to "leave the nest."  (LEAVE THE NEST?!?)

And Aspen Grove was on that list!

We crossed the first one off the list in 2012 when we went on our Disney Cruise.  I can't believe I didn't even do a big blog post about it (I must not have been able to cope with reality at home after being surrounded by people whose only job was to clean up after me and make me happy!) that I can even LINK to right now, but I did include some photos here.

AND THEN, this year, just a couple of weeks ago, we made it Aspen Grove!

It's a Bona Fide Family Camp.
Think Cheaper By the Dozen 2
Think The Great Outdoors

There's not many Family Camps around here, in fact, I don't even know where any REAL (non-movie) ones are in the U.S. so Aspen Grove is a real gem of a place!  And we got to be there on a big milestone.

It looks a little different - many of the facilities have been updated, rebuilt, or refurbished - and much more has been added since I was here last, as a child.....BUT the feeling is the same!

WONDERFUL.

We literally took HUNDREDS of photos while we were there, but to make this post somewhat readable, I'll just run a "highlight reel." 

Brookelle's FAVORITE:

Her "Kittens" Club.

{When they went places, they had them all hang on to a rope, 

so no one would get "lost."  It was so cute!}

I happened to see her (I wasn't spying, I just "happened to be in the area!") out with her group one day, swinging high on the swings, and she blurted out, without even being aware I was there, "THIS IS MY BEST. DAY. EVER."

And for as shy and hesitant as Miss B was on the first day she met her counselors, (she didn't want me to leave her side - she didn't want to go) she FELL IN LOVE with them - and cuddled right up to them - in no time at all!  Just look at the pics:

A close 2nd:

These Bear statues.
She HAD to climb on them EVERY. TIME. WE. PASSED. BY.

Katelyn's FAVORITE:

Aspen Follies
{a camp wide family "friendly competition" with various games on the big ball field}

Haylee's FAVORITE:

Performing her Karate "kata" in the Talent Show.

I was so proud of her for being so brave!  (No one else in our family dared!) She didn't even have to be talked into it or "bribed."  It was a decision all on her own.....while she was packing, I just mentioned to her she could bring her Karate "Gi" if she wanted to be in the talent show - that was it!

I think it was her favorite because it feels so good to accomplish something!  Yea!  She's adapted her mom's

mantra, "I Can Do Hard Things!"  

She ALSO liked it because the whole rest of the week, she was somewhat of a "celebrity" amongst the other guests - she got all kinds of compliments & comments from them.....

"Great Job"

"Hey Karate Girl"

"Aaaah  YA" (trying to imitate the Karate sounds)

"Those were some high kicks!"

"Wow, I've never seen a girl do that."

"You were awesome!"

"I could never do that!"

"There's the Karate Girl!"

"Alright Haylee!"

Kyle's FAVORITE:

 Alyse, Emileigh, Kate, Olivia, Lauren, and Rio.

He discovered GIRLS! ;)

Ryan's FAVORITE:

The Sports Tournaments

He entered us into as many tournaments as possible:  ping pong, badminton, walleyball, raquetball (below), basketball, and sand volleyball.  Matt couldn't do much with his lingering knee injury, so Kyle & I got roped into most events!  But, one family we played (& lost to) was so impressed with Ryan, that they asked him to join their team as they moved on in the tournament since they were down one player anyway!  (He enjoyed the fact that THEY had skills AND a chance at winning!  ;))

{"Mixed Doubles" raquetball photo taken through the scratched up window in the door:  Ryan & I vs. some young 20's boyfriend/girlfriend duo.  We lost, of course.}

My FAVORITE:

 Water Frolics

{team races and relays for the whole family that even nonswimmers can win}
NEWS FLASH:  Our team won the overall competition!  Of course, it included more guests than just the Brenchley Brood.

The reason that THIS was my fave MIGHT have had something to do with the fact 

that it was the week we had 100+ degree temps down in the valley - 

we were a little cooler up in the mountains, but still HOT, hot!

We had a few minutes to make up a "synchronized swimming" routine to perform to music.

Then "Paula," "Randy" and "Simon" stood at the top of the water slide and judged us.

Matt's FAVORITE:

 The Family Dance

So, Matt & I got excited when a great 80's tune by [Matt's favorite] JOURNEY came on, "Don't Stop Believin'" - and MUCH to our surprise ALL the teens were singing and jammin' out to it just as much as WE were!  Huh?  I thought teenagers were suppose to despise and make fun of their parents' music!??  I guess we can thank Bedtime Stories for that.

At 9:30 p.m., they "excused" the adults and children - and the teens and young adults got to enjoy their OWN dance the rest of the evening....with the lights dimmed down! :)

It was sad to leave (NO cooking or cleaning up for me!) - all the kids thought it went too fast - they all want to come back AGAIN & again!  Does someone want to give us an "Aspen Grove scholarship?"  ;)

Aspen Grove kept true on their promise:  "Creating Family Memories"

Two down, one to go.....we've only got ONE SUMMER left before Ryan leaves on his mission!  {GASP!}