Enjoying life as a family: Holidays by the Lake

Every couple of years the Holiday family gets together for an organized family reunion. I use the word “organized” liberally. One family is in charge of planning it, picking the location, making the arrangements, and loosely outlining the activities. Don’t mistake this with thinking that the event itself is anything but organized chaos.
This year Brian and Colleen organized it, and we went to Bear Lake, Utah, and so many of my brothers and sisters were able to make it! 9 of my parents’ 10 kids and their spouses were there, plus 26 of their grandchildren and 1 granddaughter in-law! When you get our size, there in inevitably someone on a mission, studying for finals or living too far away to be able to make it, but it was a lot of fun to spend the week with those who could be there.
Jillian, Addi, and I arrived on Sunday afternoon after driving from Idaho Falls, down around the picturesque lake, to the resort. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. Dad and Janice, and my sister Jill and her family were already there. We had a Dutch oven dinner, played on the playground, and visited while we waited for more family to arrive. Addi was in heaven! We went and waded into the lake, played on the playground, and ran (Addi basically ran all week!). She quickly became Grandpa Holiday’s and Grandma Janice’s shadow. And when the family started arriving, it just got more and more exciting.
Addi loved having so many cousins (she called them her “friends” all week), and it was fun to see her run hand-in-hand with them, sit on the grass and eat with them, play in the dirt and in the pool with them, and learn from them how to ride a scooter.
As adults, it was so fun to catch up, visit, and watch the kids interact.
On Monday, we celebrated Independence Day at a parade and pageant in Paris, Idaho. Addi and her cousins had so much fun watching the parade and collecting candy, beaded necklaces, and flags. We enjoyed raspberry shakes in town, and grilled hot dogs and brats for dinner. We finished the evening on the beach as dusk turned to night, watching fireworks shoot over the lake and the kids dance around with sparklers (a BIG thanks to Andy and Jill whose fireworks put the community’s show to shame!).
Tuesday was a full day of swimming, playing, and running a mini triathlon! The children went first—they were so cute with all of their team bandannas (Addi thought it looked better as a “cape”), so excited to swim, bike, and run around the campground. Addi did the running leg, and she ran the entire way. She was by far the smallest runner, but when she rounded the final turn and headed for the finish line, everyone was cheering her on. She loved it, and was so excited when she finished—all she wanted was a medal like mommy gets when she runs races!
The adults were next, and somehow they roped me into a 5 mile bike ride, and Jillian into a 2 mile run in hot weather. It was a lot of fun, but we were really excited to eat more shakes at the end of it! That night we had a turkey roast for dinner and a s’mores roast around a fire.
Wednesday was our last day at the reunion, and it was fun to lounge around, let Addi chase her “friends”, visit with everyone and take family pictures. We spent a little time in town on our own before heading home too. Jillian fell in love with one of my favorite place in this world, and we vowed to return often this year and in years to come!
The biggest surprise of the entire week is that this was Addi’s first experience sleeping in a tent, and she did so well. Each night we would take her to bed and read stories, sing songs, say our prayers, and talk about all of the fun things we did. She played so hard during the days that it never took her long to fall asleep.

Addi with her cousin Kenna

Addi LOVED this slide!

Found these slippers that campers had left behind. She wore them all week, and when we brought them home, she was so distraught because they weren't hers! Apparently she thought she was only borrowing them for the week!

Some of Addi's "friends" (cousins) including Lynsey, Kenna, Brylee, Isaac, Ethan, and Kimberly

Getting ready for bed at the end of Day 1

Worn out on night 1

The historic Paris, ID tabernacle, on Independence Day

Addi and Daddy watching the pageant in the tabernacle

Waiting for the parade, snow cones in hand, with Garrett, Spencer, and Grant

At first Addi was a little reluctant to chase down the candy, and watched the parade by Daddy's side. It didn't take long for her to join in the fun though. She also stored her collected candy in that pocket!