Monday, July 14, 2008

Summer Family Vacation 2008

We're back from a glorious week of family fun spent first in Bear Lake and then Island Park, Idaho. It was absolutely WONDERFUL - our days were filled with amazing mountain scenery and beautiful vistas, long bike rides and walks, and especially memorable days spent with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.


Bear Lake Highlights:
  • Biking with Caroline and my mom along the lake up to the scout camp.
  • Mountain biking with my dad and Chris around Round Valley in Laketown.
  • Ryan's fireworks show each evening while we made s'mores.
  • Relaxing on the beach, watching the kids play in the water, and riding as FAST as legally possible on the waverunner.
  • My favorite - Bear Lake evenings when the temperature drops and the sun begins to set behind the hills.
Island Park Highlights:

  • Cantera clan together in one place - all 30 of us!

  • Kevin's ab routines in the morning, Scattegories and movies every night.

  • Cousins in the hot tub.

  • Fishing with uncle Brian . . . and eating those 5 fish the kids caught that night.

  • YELLOWSTONE - ahhh, the beauty of that park.

  • Fun in the river on canoes and kayaks . . . maybe too much fun ;-).

  • My favorite - an early morning bike ride by myself down to these amazing wildflower filled meadows with the Teton range to the east and the forests of Island Park on the west . . . believe me, it felt like I had died and gone to heaven, either that or I was being featured in an REI ad!
Top Ten Cantera Reunion "had to be there" moments:
10. "See, even the Japanese tourists think it's funny!" - Chris
9. "It wouldn't have been that bad if the same man didn't have to rescue me twice." - Pat
8. "Julie look, it's a desert muskrat!" - Linda
7. "He's a teaser dad too." - Becca
6. "The traveling side show has rolled into Mack's" - Chris
5. "Man, it's just like an anthill in here." - Kelly
4. "We are NOT engaged, people!" - Laura
3. "Backyard B-B-Q!!!" - Kevin
2. "I'm NEVER getting in a canoe with you again!" - Liza
1. "Everything alright?" . . . . "you look a little flushed" - David, then Carrie

4 comments:

Kelly said...

Thanks for the nice summary of memorable moments. You have terrific presentation, and it still doesn't touch how darling your kids and all the cousins are.

Linda said...

That was one fun vacation! I can't believe that you remembered all those different "moments".
Looks like you guys had a great time at Bear Lake too. The picture of Caroline and Sophie on the four wheeler is absolutely gorgeous!!

Marti said...

I love the trampoline pictures! It looks like you guys had a great time!

gina said...

I'm in charge of planning our reunion next summer and had been looking at VRBO site for houses in Island Park - then clicked on the kids/cousins link to the slides and saw you guys did that last year. Wow. Do you know how far in advance they booked the house. Most big houses I find are already booked and I'm getting discouraged. I'm hoping I find something soon because it seems a great place for a reunion with tons of fun activities (yellowstone) available. Cute slide show - and thanksgiving posts. Hope yours was great!