Memory Making Summer Fun!!!!

 

(I just couldn't resist sharing what some of the people here are doing for their families.  All sorts of things!!  Just enjoy the scroll and read!!  It's long but fun!)

Before we had children we were lucky to have discovered Moses Lake Aquatic Center, and for the last fourteen years we have taken our family there at least once, and sometimes twice a summer. It is about a two hour drive from here, but well worth the trip. Some of the things I like best about this water park are the following:

~You can pack a lunch and take it in with you

~ It is relatively inexpensive. My family started out getting in for under twenty dollars, but as we have grown, we still get in for under $50

~They have something for every age. There are slides for every age from toddlers to adults. They recently added a lazy river and surf-n-ride. I could ride a tube on the lazy river all day.

~The water starts out on the edge of the pool very low and gradually gets deeper. This allows moms to sit with their babies on the side of the pool while the baby splashes in the water, while there is a play area for older children play just in front of her

~There is a sand area with a volleyball net, and also a play area with swings and slides for the kids. There are picnic tables, but also a lot of big trees that you can relax under.

We have made it a tradition that once we leave the park in the evening, we take the kids out to eat. My kids love this place and can't wait to go back each year. As soon as it starts to get warm outside they start asking when we are going to go to Moses Lake again.

from Shannon                                                                     *********************

When we had all of our children married, and they began having children, it became a challenge as to how and when to get together as an entire family. Gradually we found that by alternating Thanksgiving or Christmas visits, the in-laws could also have their fair chance at being together. About 10 years ago we heard about a beach house at Waldport Oregon and we rented it for the Thanksgiving weekend. We had a great time but it involved traveling by plane for families and a road trip for us, with all of the attendant expenses.

Two years later we rented a beach house on Coronado Island by San Diego. For some reason, it was more convenient for all of the famliies and the beach was more user-friendly.

Two years later we rented a beach house at Pacific Beach and have been going there every 2 years since.

Every member of our family wants to come and we have a lot of fun. There are bikes, rickshaws, surf boards, etc. available. Our Thanksgiving dinners have been unconventional (strange kitchens, odd stoves, pots and pans, etc,) but they have been memorable.

Sometimes families go to the zoo, or to Sea World, or Lego Land, but mostly the family wants to play on the beach.

Two years ago 8 of the family went to the San Diego Temple for baptisms for the dead, a very memorable experience.

Who knows what will happen this year? We will have college bound coeds, sports commitments, work responsibilities, but we will roll with the punches and have a great time.

We want to be and have a Forever Family and this is one way we are working towards this goal. 
Myra Faye

PS-

I thought about something else.

The first reunion in California one of our daughters-in-law took it upon herself to have a devotional every night, followed by family prayer. It was a wonderful idea but with the span of ages of grandchildren and the long days of hard playing, it wasn't as spiritually uplifting as she had planned.

The next reunion I assigned one couple to plan a brief family home evening for one of the nights. That was better but needed some refining.

The next reunion, we took the opportunity Thanksgiving evening to each express our appreciation for a family member that had really impressed us or helped us that year.

The best (so far) was last time. Bob and I presented a blue ribbon to each family member, pointing out 3 wonderful characteristics that we appreciated. Each person was singled out separately. At the same time we presented a blue ribbon to each family member to give to someone to honor, someone who had made a difference in their lives.

We don't know what we will do this time, but something will come to us and it will be unique and wonderful.

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Nancy: When we first came to WA we used to go to the beach every other year or so with the family and usually it was to the WA beach . After our mission in 2000 we traveled to California to see some family...on the way back we looked for a place where we could hold annual family vacations at the beach. We drove up the coast line and looked at several hotels and homes that people were renting. We found this Shilo Inn in Newport, Oregon that has a suite that is big enough for a couple of parents and up to 10 children and a huge living room with a kitchen where we could congregate and have meals and activities together. So we used it the next summer and have only missed a couple of summers since because of other things that came up. It is expensive, but not as much as having regular motel rooms for each family and then no place to congregate and fix meals.  

Okay...as for the activities...we always take a few board games and have a running contest with that. Usually the men folks set up a little golf range down on the beach back from the waters edge enough that they can play a contest with their golf clubs...mostly putting to the holes. We always have one day when we set up for sand castles...we divide the family in three or four groups and the group that does the best job on their sand castle or whatever they build wins some prize....candy bars, package of jerky or something like that. We do the walk to the beach and the one guessing closest to the number of steps taken by whoever Rock chooses to make that trek gets the prize for that. We make quite a spectacle of the family as everyone is walking around and behind the choosen one and coaching them to take littler or bigger steps. Bob and I put our change in a jar all year long and the last night there the one who guesses closest to the amount of money in the jar wins the jar. Mostly though the kids are playing at the beach during the day or in the swimming pool in the motel which is next door to the suite. 

It really has been an ideal place to go and the kids won't let us quit planning it. One of the grandkids was so sad the day we were getting in the cars to come home and someone asked him why he was so sad...he said,"It's going to be a whole year before we get to come back to the beach." We all feel a little like that and look forward to that and Christmas when we usually have those family times. The last picture we took of family at the beach had 28 of us in it. We don't always have that many and probably won't this summer because of Rick's family going East on us...but we look forward to being there next month and so far it looks like we will have 20 at least attending. We usually divide the meals up so every family takes care of some of the meals. We usually have way too much food and end up bringing some home. It has really been a fun thing for the kids to look forward to and we enjoy so much spending time in a lazy atmosphere with our children and grandchildren and the little greats.

Hope this is what you wanted...can't think of anything else to tell you...

Love, Maurine

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(There are so many things going on this summer.  I'd never heard of this until Abby explained it to me.  I asked her to share.  She said it's great for car trips.  Maybe some of our travelers coming to McCall can do this!)

http://www.geocaching.com/

I first heard the term Geocaching from my cousin's blog. She lives in Virginia with her family and they had recently started Geocaching. I Googled it and thought that it sounded like so much fun. A perfect thing for summer adventure with the kids. It took me a couple of days to get familiar with the website and learn how to start out. Luckily we already had a hand held GPS which is used to find the "caches" using global coordinates. Start by creating your own free account/profile, then just type in your zip code and all the nearby listings will come up. The caches are placed by anyone who wants to maintain it. Then they create the Geocache page on the website. Each cache has its own page with all the info you need to find it, plus some have extra hints. There are a massive variety of caches. Different in location, size, shape, difficulty in hiding place/terrain, contents and so on.

Now that we have started "caching" we can't get enough. They kids love going and are always saying "Mom, please just one more???" Every time we plan a trip, even to the grocery store, I check to see if there is a "cache" nearby that we can snag.

Most caches contain a log sheet that you can sign and date. I keep a ziploc baggie in the car of little trinkets to swap out if we find a cache that has little prizes for the kids. It's just like a treasure hunt! Once we have found signed and replaced the cache I sign back into my profile on the Geocaching website and "log my visit." I mark whether or not I found it and leave a comment for the owner of the cache. The main webpage updates and it will show your info plus the last time the cache was found, i.e. today, yesterday, 4 days ago, 6 months ago... You can also view others logs to that cache and find more info on it that way. Like I said you need to learn to navigate the site before it starts to make any sense. Now that we have the hang of it, it is quick and easy and tons of fun. I think we are almost ready to place our own caches for other to find. Anywhere you are in the world there is probably a cache nearby to find.

Good luck!!

Love you Nancy,

Abby

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I just had to share these in case you might be able to go to any or all of these Pageants!!!!  I want to go to the Hill Cumorah sometime while I'm still in mortality!!!!!  

 (Nan's son, Brian, and his entire family are in the Manti Pageant.  Ask her what their roles are.  She just got back and said it's a great production.) 

We have seen the Nauvoo production.  I love the pageant form of theater!! 

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 Mormon Miracle Pageant

June 16–25, 2011

Manti, Utah, USA

The stories of the Restoration, the witness of the Book of Mormon, and the pioneer journey to Sanpete Valley are intertwined in the Manti Pageant to tell of Jesus Christ’s love for all people. The pageant is performed outdoors with the beautiful Manti Utah Temple in view. Visit mormonmiracle.org.

Nauvoo Pageant: A Tribute to Joseph Smith

July 5–30, 2011

Nauvoo, Illinois, USA

The spirit of Old Nauvoo is alive as the story of Joseph Smith and the early Latter-day Saints is unfolded on an outdoor stage near the reconstructed Nauvoo Temple. The Nauvoo Pageant began in 2005 to commemorate the 200th birthday of the Prophet Joseph and has been performed by Latter-day Saint volunteers every summer since. Visit nauvoopageant.org.

Hill Cumorah Pageant

July 8–16, 2011

Palmyra, New York, USA

The Hill Cumorah Pageant, America’s Witness for Christ, takes viewers on a journey through ten accounts from the Bible and Book of Mormon. This magnificent production occurs each July on a 10-level stage equipped with sound and lighting to reenact earthquakes and lightning from the ancient stories. Visit hillcumorah.org/pageant.

Martin Harris: The Man Who Knew

July 29–August 12, 2011

Clarkston, Utah, USA

The Clarkston Pageant shares the incredible story and testimony of Martin Harris, one of the three special witnesses of the Book of Mormon. Viewers learn of his trials and testimony as he helped bring forth the Book of Mormon for our day. Visit martinharrispageant.org.

The Nauvoo Pageant tells the story of Old Nauvoo and the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The Hill Cumorah Pageant reenacts accounts from the Bible and the Book of Mormon.