Surviving The Chaos: A Week in Aspen Grove

The Phillips family reunion was held in July this year in Aspen Grove, Utah. It is in the mountains just above Sundance. It was a beautiful area that we had never been to before. The setting was actually a family summer camp style environment. Each family had their own room in the lodge and shared a common living room/kitchen area where we hung out nightly to visit and hold family meetings and devotionals. During the day the kids would go with their age group classes to do different activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, hiking, rock climbing or to play in the little cowboy western town on the property. The adults enjoyed the freedoms of having their children in class with their cousins and either rested, visited, hiked, or played a variety of sports like tennis, volleyball or basketball. Each meal was eaten together as a family in the large self serve mess hall.

While we were there for the week we got to celebrate Grandpa Tutu's 70th birthday. Additionally, Tutu's opened their mission call, which was to serve a humanitarian aid mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Amman, Jordan for 23 months. I don't think the boys really understand the full context of what that call means but I am sure they will begin to learn. We are excited that they will be released from the MTC for a day to attend Lincoln's baptism and will also get to celebrate Thanksgiving at our home this year before leaving the next day for Jordan.

Overall I think everyone had a great time and enjoyed being with all the Phillips clan (minus Jennifer who was 7 months pregnant and couldn't make the trip). It sure provide a wonderful opportunities to create lasting memories and bonding experiences for the cousins.

Provo Canyon

The little broke bears were a hit with the kids.

Logan LOVED the train crossing sign in Cowboy Town. He decided one day to give me a bunch of photo ops so I had to take advantage.

Lincoln did rope swing during a class activity.

Logan was very interested in Uncle Ryan's guitar. He was able to hold it and strum it nicely. Who knows, maybe one day that will be his instrument of choice.

Normally Lincoln is pretty shy when it comes to dancing in front of people. That is not the case if we are in an actual dance setting. Lincoln busted some awesome robot moves at the family dance party.

It's always fun for a city family to see wildlife in the country. Not something we are used to so it was fun for all of us. This moose was right outside our lodge.

Logan performing with his camp class during the campfire show evening activity.

Lincoln was too cool for school but did a great job being in character for his class performance.

Cousins hanging out in the common area playing Minecraft.

Employees and camp participants singing special birthday song to Reed after dinner.

Baby Blake is currently the youngest Phillips' grandkid and was spoiled but all the cousins, aunts and uncles loving on him.

Phillips boys (minus a couple) playing in the volleyball tournament.

Natalee, Annie, Nancee, Erica, Sierra and Heather watching the volleyball games.

Rick did a photo shoot for Erica's upcoming 8th birthday and baptism announcements.

Love birds.

Barratt, Marci, Ashley, Brayden, Sierra

Reed Barratt in the back, Spencer holding Logan Spencer and Barratt holding Lincoln Barratt

Our little family

Leah really wanted to take the picture of her parents.

All eight Phillips kids

Leah, Kristen, Spencer, Mary, Knox, Sam and J in the back.

Brother who love music

We sat outside one chilly evening to watch Madagascar 3. Thank goodness we had coats and hot chocolate to keep us warm.

Reed's birthday cake

Tutu blowing out the candles at his party.

I think cousin Ashley and Logan look a lot alike. Even their sass and mannerism are very similar.

More cousin hang out time.

Logan doesn't need help making extra noise but someone thought it was a good idea for the kids to have a kazoo. They certainly loved playing with them and the rest of us had headaches within minutes.

Logan hasn't wanted too much to do with Blake or any baby prior to this trip; however, that all changed in Apsen when he realized that he could make funny faces and sounds and entertain Blake and keep him from crying. We also learned Blake is mesmerized by Lincoln's beat boxing.

Nolan and I became buddies on my trip to Charlotte the month before so I was a bit more recent in his mind. He and Logan played well together so we got to spend more time with him on this trip than in previous years.

JJ is the king of calm and Nolan is a tough kid. Nolan had a significant toe nail injury but luckily Uncle Barratt was able to take care of it.

Logan and his new buddy Blake.

Game time

Singing happy birthday to Uncle Spencer

Logan was thrilled with the fact that he could help himself to the kid section in the dining hall which had bread, peanut butter and jelly out for lunch and dinner. He would sometimes eat the adult food but was so still so excited to make his own sandwich.

Ricky and Sierra played in the mixed double tennis tournament together. They won the first set but lost the next two. It was a close and well matched competition for them so they enjoyed themselves and had a lot of fun.

Lincoln climbing the rock wall.

Lincoln, Erica and Mary were all in the same class at camp.

The girls performed a little dance routine that Ashely choreographed for the family talent show.

While JJ attended a fireside, Nolan hung out with Logan and I and we went on an adventure hike(walk) around camp before getting some ice cream at the creamery and watching a show.

Nolan and Logan played tennis and badmitton during our adventure night.

Ice cream and SpongeBob. What more could a kid ask for!?

Nancee and I played in the women's doubles tennis tournament together. We played a pair of sisters and won in a good match....6-3, 6-4.

Lincoln mastering the rock wall.

Phillips clan playing and singing for the family talent show.

Logan, Tutu and Blake

Lincoln got to shoot a gun and was so excited to show me that he hit a bullseye on the target.

Logan and mommy played in the park while the big boys went shooting.

We made a paper rocket that they launched and I have to admit that ours was one of the ones that went the furthest. It kept Logan busy for hours chasing it down and relaunching it.