Wakefield Family Reunion 2008

Last weekend, our family went up to the Heber Valley Camp for a family reunion. We had a blast! The camp is absolutely beautiful. The church was really inspired while planning this camp. Couple missionaries can be spotted everywhere, as the site hosts, running the waterfront activities, training on the ropes courses, riding around on their wheelers, etc. There is such a peaceful feeling up there. The young women that get to go there for girls camp are very lucky and I'm glad that families like ours get an opportunity to be a part of it. We had so much fun, we've already scheduled our reunion for 2009 at the same campsite!

We stayed in the Eliza R. Snow camp in Campsite #3. We had four cabins (each sleep 16 people), a pavilion with two sinks, two storage rooms including refrigerators, 4 camp stoves, 3 bathrooms and two showers. We also had two campfire rings. I wish we could have stayed longer. One night is not enough, (but plenty with little ones). June was the perfect time to go, because there were no bugs, and it wasn't really cold. (They had had snow up there three days earlier.) Families can reserve time out on the lake in paddle boats and canoes. It was so fun to pass immediate and extended family members in our travels in our various water vessels. They encourage you to try both the paddle boats and canoes, so a trip into shore to exchange is always an experience. Oakley wanted to steer the paddle boat, so we pretty much went in a circle. We didn't get a chance to really "explore" the far ends of the lake. But it was equally peaceful and fun.

The next day, our family had reserved time on the ropes course and ground courses. The one we were assigned to included a high walk and zip line. It was exhilarating, to say the least. My knees started shaking before I even made it up the pole. Once on top, we had to turn ourselves around and walk the pole, holding only onto the rope that was attached to our climbing belt. Then a cute sister missionary was on the other end to unleash us and re-attach us to the zip line. She said, "Now you know our Heavenly Father will always be there to guide you, and protect you. And he'll never leave you alone on your journey." We were told to sit down and "take-off" on the zip-line when we were ready. WAY FUN! However, I was not sure how Makenna would do. She was the only other one in my immediate family that wanted to try it. (Darin is scared of heights. Brooklyn is a whimp, and the other two girls were too small.) When it was Makenna's turn, I wasn't sure she would actually go through with it, but she did. She climbed up, up, up...and then freaked out a little (I don't blame her. It was scary up there.) We were all yelling up at her. But shortly after, the sister missionary up on top said, "Stop shouting! You're scaring her. Let me talk to her." Quietly, she encouraged her and it didn't take long before Makenna managed to turn around, walk that line, and get to the other side. The sister missionary was full of praise on the other side, for the little six-year-old climber. After the fun zip line ride, she was all smiles and said that it was "so awesome". I'm so proud of you, girl! Some of my other siblings and extended family members went on it, too, and can't believe that Makenna was so brave!

Our high ropes experience was followed by a series of low confidence, team-building courses, led my a senior Elder missionary. It was so fun to be there planning together, communicating with each other, working together, etc. to reach a solution.

The wheat dig (formerly the sawdust dig) is always the highlight of the reunion. Candy and loose change (including gold dollar coins) is up for grabs amongst the pile of wheat. The kids immediately get into their "loot" after their turn is over. Oakley had two suckers in each hand and more candy in the mouth before I caught her. The girls had a great time exploring the nearby trails, singing around the campfire, roasting marshmallows, camping with Grandma (who is not a camper), and eating on picnic tables for every meal. I appreciated the running water, flushing toilets, and electrical outlets.

Clean-up is never the fun part of vacationing/camping, but working all together made the load lighter. I took a gazillion pics. Below are several of them.