McCall 2011

We would like to dedicate this post to Mom and Dad Walker who, every year without fail, manage to get all of the family together and without fail we always have a wonderful time and make so many fun memories that it is hard to want to even attempt to document them all on the blog, in a scrapbook, or wherever! Can you tell how grateful I am by that run-on sentence?!? Despite the overwhelmingness (yes, I am ignoring spell check because overwhelmingness is definitely a word in my book) of it all, we will attempt to document some of the highlights of the annual trip to McCall. Last year I was too far along in my pregnancy to travel, so we were even more excited to be able to go this year! The family is outgrowing Andy's grandpa's little cabin and it is a tight squeeze when everyone is able to come, but we have so many wonderful memories from squeezing into that cabin and appreciate all the hard work and sacrifice (of time, money, and most of all - themselves) Mom and Dad always make for it to be such a great experience for everyone every year!!!

Mom and Dad bought this kids' single ski for the younger kiddos to attempt skiing for the first time and it was a huge hit. First, we practiced pulling them along the beach and they thought that was pretty fun!

Then, to our great surprise and amazement, Jesi wanted to try skiing from the boat. She went first and there was a little miscommunication with the driver of the boat (possibly my fault for being an overly excited, encouraging mother) and she crashed and we had to remind her to let go of the rope. So that didn't start off well. But, then to our even greater amazement, Drew wanted to try it out! (After witnessing his sister crash and burn that was truly amazing!)

And off he went! He stayed up all the way around and we were so proud of him! He was pretty proud of himself too!

Then, miraculously, Jesi went for it again! She kept wanting to back out, but with a little encouragement, she did it! She couldn't quite decide if she liked it or not at first, but about half way through she decided it was fun!

This is a picture of her getting into the boat afterwards. She was pretty excited that she did it! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of Andy skiing this year and fortunately, Andy didn't get any pictures of me wake boarding (wouldn't want to blind anyone), but that is always a highlight of the trip! Andy's brother always brings his boat and Drew has always LOVED helping him drive it. I'm always nervous since it has usually been 2 or 3 years since my last attempt at wake boarding (due to pregnancy or not being at McCall the year before), but it is always a blast and somehow we survive the cold mountain water!

Heather had a birthday and her husband, Jason rented a paddle board and everyone got to try it out. Kassi had fun going with Dad and Jesi went with me. We didn't try standing since the water was incredibly choppy, but sitting was fun!

Drew tried kayaking by himself for the first time this year as well. All kinds of firsts that are making me realize these kids are growing up WAY too fast!

Jesi & Nathan got to take turns riding with Grandma! Andy and I took the kiddos for rides as well. Kayaking is so relaxing and I love the fact that these kayaks are pretty hard to tip over!

Kassi started this water fight with Grandpa, but I think Grandpa won! The funny thing is I think she handed him the bucket full of water?!?

Nathan loved the water - as long as most of his body was warm and dry!

My tough, manly men :)!

It was a toss up whether I should post the picture of Kassi with the sunglasses or the goggles - they're both good for a laugh!

The "private property" sign in the background was a little bit of a nuisance for Nathan. He kept chasing his shadow past the sign and wanted to explore those plants a little more than was allowed.

Nathan has probably been our most anxious child to put everything in his mouth. The other day he got into a plant and had dirt all over in his mouth and all over the white carpet. He must be deficient of some mineral that is found in the soil?!? I definitely have to keep an eye on this boy at all times. The toilet is about as fun as the beach these days in his eyes!

The girlies beginning the sand castle!

Dad is a big golfer, so it is always a highlight of the trip for Drew to get to drive the golf cart with Grandpa! This year the first group of family to finish golfing watched the younger kiddos while Andy and I played a round with Chris and Heather. But, we had to take the carts out on a few test drives while we waited for them to finish! The kiddos loved it!

Another highlight of the trip was hiking up to a beautiful little lake with all of the family before we headed back home. We got to climb up and around some snow and once we reached the lake, Dad talked to us all about how Grandma and he trained for an 88 mile bike ride right after Grandma lost her Dad and how she said, "I can do hard things." It was a sweet, inspirational experience up in the mountain with the family. Mom and Dad are such great examples to us of hard work and endurance and we were all inspired to do a little better and try a little harder and realize that we too can "do hard things!"

Jesi with her cute cousin. They are like best friends whenever we get together. It is SO cute!

We took turns carrying the kiddos. They both zonked out before we reached the cars!

Drew was always wanting to hold his baby brother or his baby boy cousin, who is a tad younger than Nathan and absolutely adorable. He is going to make a good little babysitter and Daddy someday!

Another highlight this year was going to a restaurant after golfing to celebrate Heather's b-day! The outdoor band was so much fun and even sang "Happy Birthday" to Heather! Grandpa had no reservations about dancing a jig for the grand-kids. They loved it!

Nathan loved dancing with Grandma too!

Some of the girlies dancing together!

The whole gang after dinner and birthday festivities. You can see that Nathan had had enough fun for one day. Traveling with little ones can be quite exhausting and I know that all the prep and kiddos and clean-up and everything has got to be exhausting for Andy's parents and we can't thank them enough for all they do for our family. No one in the family ever wants to miss out on the fun that is sure to be had in McCall or wherever else we may gather and we owe more than we could ever repay to Mom and Dad for ALL that they do and are, and for their examples of Christlike service and love to their family and all around them. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for another amazing experience for all, Mom and Dad and G-ma and G-pa Walker!!! We love you!