Ellis Family Reunion Fun

Here's the Willow Flats campground we stayed at above Logan near Franklin and Preston, Idaho. I'm not sure if the hazy picture is due to the sun or water and mud that was sprayed all over my camera...but that's a WHOLE other story!

Let's see---we got up to the campground at about 8:30 on Thurs. and only Kim and Tammy and some of their kids were there. Cory, Joanna, Gabe, Hunter, Ashley, Logan, Lexie and Lincoln, Linzy had been there most of the afternoon. We quickly set up and then visited. As the night progressed...we waited and waited....but nobody else came. At 10:30 we decided to call it a night and get some sleep......and then who should pull up but Grandma and Grandpa with Lacey, Travis, and Carson. They left town at NOON but had 2 blowouts on their camp trailer (at 2 different times) and it took almost 11 hours to make the 3 or so hour trip. Glad they made it there safely!

Friday morning brought Ranley, Bonnie and Blake---who apparently made it to the camping spot about midnight but couldn't find us, so slept in their truck (if you call that sleeping). Ashurity, Wes, and Piper trickled in along with Jeff, his friend Diane, Mindy, Dustin, Darcie, Ella, Cody, Natalie, Tyree, Lanett, Barry, Ethan, Hayden, Dawson. And let's not forget Kevin and Sylvia with Matthew, Mark, Akey, Leilani, Janet and Whitney. Friday night brought Merilee and Harold, Constant, Spring and Rockhard. We also saw Spencer and Shelly, Sydney and Samantha on Friday night. Saturday morning brought the last 2---Cori and Chase.

Friday was a lot of visiting, and getting camp set up. We made close to 100 newborn hats for a Humanitarian project while the kids played games like giant bowling and launched water balloons. They also played in the creek across the way and did a few 4 wheel rides.

Here is Jaycee playing in the creek. Shawnee is washing up after a muddy 4 wheel ride. Bonnie driving with her son Blake on front and Mindy on back. Grandma and Grandpa Ellis have rigged their 4 wheeler with a seat for Mindy to be strapped into and she loves going on rides! She didn't smile for my picture--the turkey--but she sure was grinning after the ride when I asked her how she liked it. Kaylee was playing in the lake.

Saturday we had to be out at noon so we packed up and did LOTS more visiting. After we had to be out, some of us went up the canyon on a long 4 wheel ride for lunch and had a great time. There were amazing fields of flowers, snow, and lots of mud and water!

During the ride, we came around one corner to be hit with snowballs from Aunt Tammy and some of the kids.

There was a huge snowdrift that Garrin thought looked pretty fun. He started through it and found that it was really solid and rolled the 4 wheeler over on himself. He was able to throw himself free and wasn't hurt. Fortunately when I looked back---he was getting up so I missed seeing it. He got pretty muddy on one side of his body. He had been riding the Polaris and didn't have anyone on the back--which is pretty unusual. He usually rides one of the 300's--but his back had been hurting from his car accident and the 300's beat you up pretty bad going over rocks.

As we went on---we found MORE snow...and isn't it JUST like an Ellis to want to play in it! First Cory got his Ranger stuck and Kim and Tammy had to pull him out, then Shawnee and Kaylee both got stuck and quite a few others.

Since Garrin was all dirty---this is the area he decided to play around in more. He flung MUD all over the place and I think most of it landed on ME. I'll get him back SOME how.... Even Gabe (who's 2) had a speck of mud on his face from Garrin. I decided that since I was muddy already---why not have some fun?! I went through lots of water/mud puddles on the way back---and was pretty soaked by the time the puddles were gone. Garrin was looking pretty dirty himself as he pretty much did the same thing. It was fun though! I don't have pictures of myself--thank goodness! Here's Garrin 1/2 way through his muddiness at lunch time. Joanna is in the picture with him.

Jaycee skipping rocks in the lake with Aunt Tammy, Gabe, and Hunter and lunch time break at the lake.



Here are a few of the water puddle pictures. First is Cory--going through so calmly with Gma and Gpa and Joanna and their kids. Then there's Kim with Jaycee going through a big water puddle. She whined a bit about getting wet---and we missed the picture...so Kim did a do-over. He backed up through the water and ran through again. Too funny!

Kaylee got to be pretty good at riding the Kawasaki since she hadnt' really ridden it before. Devin didnt' go with us as he had to work, so she had to take it up (and down) the very rocky roads.

Here is the ride down.....such pretty trails---really rocky going down...but we practised Hyper-miling ATV style! LOL! It's called turn off the engine and coast all the way down---GREAT for the gas mileage!

Part of the Final Day ATV Group. Apparently I cut out some of the group---but my viewfinder was ummm.....wet and hazy and dusty and dirty and I didn't see through it very good. I think it's time for a new camera---mine bit the dust so to speak! What a fun weekend!