Jensen Family Camp 2013

So, our first stop on our epic family trip was Jensen Family Camp down in Cedar City. 7 of the 8 kids were able to make it (granted, besides us, there's only one other family that lives outside of Utah, and they are the ones that couldn't come), plus Joe's mom were all there. I think the head count was about 35, and for the most part, we were all staying in one house. I took a few pictures, but the majority are all from Janelle, the official un-official family photographer. I decided to document it all in one post for memory's sake, so this will be long.

We started with lunch and a scavenger hunt on the SSU campus. 

Joe, Brek, and Grandma Jensen upon arrival.

Telling Nora and Rose that Brek asked for them the entire drive down from Provo.

The younger crowd
Madison, Jonathon, Mara, Kate, Nora, Brek, Sabrina, Rose, Eliza

Brek, flanked by Mara and Nora, followed by Eliza and Rose

Brek loved running up and down this ramp. And he just loves Nora.

Cute nieces
Eliza, Rose, Lizzie, Mara, Nora, Kate

Sabrina and Eliza

Kate

Joe's sister Michelle divided all the bigger kids into teams and sent them around on a scavenger hunt around the campus. But for Brek and Madison, she had discovered they both loved Dora, so she created a Dora-themed hunt for these 2 little ones. Here's the map:

Brek checking out the map

Madison is looking at the map too.

Brek and Madison heading up the big stairs

Over the big hill, which Madison then informed us that it was a little hill.

And down by the waterfall we found a treasure chest, with bubbles inside

Trying to blow bubbles

Such a cute smile!

Our 2nd activity took us to the church where we did some Minute to Win it games. This was mine and Joe's responsibility. 

Lining up to get divided into teams

The stack of cups

Go Matt

Rachel

Rose

Peter

Sabrina

Eric

James

Kate

Jessica

Lizzie

Aunt Suzette helping Brek as he "played" the game.

Demonstrating the hanger game:

Mara and Aunt Carol; Sabrina looking on

Rachel helping Eliza

Jensen with an onlooking Jacob

Dan helping Madison

Brek giving it a go

Jonathon

Jonathon from the front

Lizzie

Suzette

Balancing blocks:

Adam

Marisa

Peter

Dan

Janelle

Joe

And then right as the timer went off, it fell:

Sara

Balloon-blowing cups:

Nora

Receiving balloon-blowing help from Matt

Jacob, Grandma Jensen, and Nora

Eric

Grandma Jensen

Jacob - he was pretty amazing at this game

Brek trying to blow up his balloon

Dan and baby James stacking cups on the side

Balloons up in the air

Joe, Marisa, Peter, and Carol

Matt

Joe and Marisa

Peter

Carol

Marisa, Peter, and Carol

Bubble Blowing - this one is my favorite

The onlookers during demonstration

Lizzie approaching the line with her bubble

Jonathon

Sara

Grandma Jensen and Lizzie

Kate and Rose

Kate taking a dive

Jonathon. And I love how Brek is trying to "help" blow.

Chopsticks and Marshmallows:

Adam, Suzette, and Joe

Side-liners

Jensen playing with baby James

Jacob and Nora

Grandma Jensen, Carol, and Dan, with Jensen and Brek looking on

Brek taking a turn

Really, he just wanted the marshmallows in the cup

But in reality, he just wanted to eat the marshmallows

Madison just liked to use her hands, who needs chopsticks

The clean-up:

Love Lizzie's enthusiasm and muscles

After dinner, we went to a part of Zions, took family pictures, and hiked. The scenery was beautiful!

The hike was super fun! Brek practically ran the whole way, trying to keep up with cousins. Because, as he said, "I'm a cousin too!" He LOVED his cousin time. On the way down the trail, the group of cousins ahead of us got farther ahead of us than Brek really liked. This is what he said: "Do you hear that? It sounds like Swiper the Fox. Swiper swiped my cousins! Gotta say 'Swiper no swiping, swiper no swiping, swiper no swiping.'" He cracks me up!

Kate, Lizzie, Sabrina, Brek, and Eliza

Being a cool dude with those shades

Just Brek and the background scenery

 This was the end of the trail. Most everyone climbed up to the top.

 

Love how Jonathon is helping and protecting Brek up on the mountain

The group

And a bit zoomed in

Joe took Brek over to the edge and I caught these cute pictures. I love how Brek's arm is wrapped around his daddy. 

Pointing

And finally, the individual family pictures we took BEFORE we went on the hike. I'll end the whole post with the whole group photo.

Dave & Carol
Jacob, Nick, Ryan, Andrew

Matt & Suzette
Josh, Nora, Rose, Megan

Peter & Marisa
Rachel, Jessica, James, Jonathon, Sara

Adam & Michelle
Mara, Eliza, Jensen, Eric

Us!

Mike & Janelle
Kate, Lizzie, Sabrina

Dan & Michelle
James and Madison

So the rest of the picures are from hanging out at the house and playing at the park before everyone left. I love all the "portraits" Janelle captured.

Brek and baby James playing the next morning

Eric became Brek's #1 Favorite cousin because he gave him the hose.

Brek eating dinner at the little picnic table with Jensen, Sabrina, Ryan, Lizzie, and Megan.

Hanging out with the big boys.

Joe reading a story

Sara, Peter, Jessica, Jonathon, Rachel, and Marisa

The girls eating breakfast before church

Michelle working on breakfast

Megan, Ryan, and Jacob enjoying Sunday breakfast

Eliza and Brek heading down the slide on the beanbag, with help from Rose

Now think up to just a few pictures back with Brek holding the hose. Ever since he first got to play with it, he was always wanting to play with it. So on Sunday morning, several of us saw him pick up the hose and didn't really think anything of it. But immediately after getting a grip on the handle, he marched straight into the little tent in the yard. The biggest boy cousins had been sleeping in there, and suddenly went screaming and running outside to try and stop him before he soaked all their stuff. It was a great moment. Luckily nothing got wet because the water wasn't actually on. 

Andrew trying to secure his things, with Brek tumbling out of the tent

The aftermath, and LOTS of giggles

Our family fireside

Sunday night, most everyone headed up the canyon for a campfire and roasting s'mores. A few of us stayed behind at the house and I thought I'd be helpful and do dishes. Not exactly sure what happened, but just after I started the dishwasher, it started spewing bubbles. 
Joe was wonderful and cleaned it all up for me.

Andrew climbing the ladder

Another view of the rocket fun, with Jensen, Matt, Lizzie, Adam, and Jacob

Adam & Peter helping kids (some not from our crew) do rockets

Mike & Lizzie shooting rockets

A nice game of volleyball was going on.
Clockwise from front: Peter, Marisa, Josh, Rachel, Sara, and Jessica

Dan & baby James

Eliza blowing bubbles

Joe & his mom chatting at the park

Lunch Time! I have always loved watching Andrew interact with his younger cousins. Here he is eating and chatting with Sabrina, Eliza, Jessica, Lizzie, and Mara

I, on the other hand, got to break away from the adults and hang out with the other teens: Jensen, Jacob, Eric, Rachel, Ryan, and Sara. Being an Aunt sure is fun!

Mara

Carol

Dave

Nora

Kate

Lizzie

Jacob

Rose

Brek

Andrew, James, and Peter

James

Andrew

Peter

Josh

Mike

Janelle

Rachel

Megan

Joe

Matt

Nick

Marisa & Michelle

Suzette

Jensen

Brek & me flying a Chinese kite

A view of mine and Brek's kite

Eric flying a kite

We had such a wonderful weekend with Joe's family. Brek loved playing with his cousins, even tho almost all of them are so much older than he is. It was fun to be with family; they have been well-missed since our move to Nebraska. And a side note - Brek LOVES his yellow shirt, and wants to wear it often. He also thinks the 3 of us should always wear them on the same day now, and doesn't understand when we don't.
We feel very blessed that we were able to make it for Family Camp this year.

Our Big Jensen Family