The Crane Family

GIBSON-DOXEY FAMILY REUNION

Millsite State Park

July 3-6, 2013

The Arrival:  Everyone came in different stages, so by the time we were all there and set up camp- it was dark!  The kids couldn't wait to jump in the water- and cool off after setting up camp.  So of course, the adults talked and talked and caught up on all the good stuff while they were playing.

The next morning we woke up so excited to get going on the days events.  We started with a little biking-- in which Bry showed Jackson how it's done.  Jackson loved learning from the master!

Thanks Bry!!

Then of course-- it didn't take long to hit the lake.  So much fun-- tubing, wake boarding, skiing, boogie boarding, kayaking, jet skiing, knee boarding and jumping on and off the boat, dock and trampoline!

Woohoo!!!

Mom is getting more and more comfortable on the boat-- she's livin' it up!!

I love it!

 Day one-- Coming off the lake.  Look at all those awesome teenagers!!!  It's so fun for Mark to be out there with all of them-- ALL day!!

While the teens are out doing the big stuff (wake boarding, skiing etc.) the littles are learning how to ski behind the jet skis.  So perfect!  Thanks Clay for taking Allie out for her first time trying to ski.  She was just getting ready to stand up!  Awesome Ski that Dorth and Greg brought. I love that we all pull our stuff together and share-- it makes for a super duper time!!

We all got a little tired here and there-- and the kids took full advantage! :)

Our Pad:

This camp site is the best.  It doesn't even feel like camping.  We have the nice big pavilion--- huge barbecues--and the best part is the bathrooms (in the way back of the picture,) they have hot showers, big mirrors-- and nice toilets and sinks.   This along with all the campsite surrounding the lake-- makes this place the bomb!!  So perfect for a group our size!!

Save your Cup!!

Bry-- and his friend ET! Ha Ha-- I love all the funny things the Youngs always contribute- to give us a good chuckle :)

 Our Program Director (aka Dan) planned special events for each night.  Here he is- describing the latest script (I should post all of his many scripts someday--- seriously hilarious--  Always including a little Gibson Doxey history!)   Anyway-- he was explaining the script to each grand kid -- so they could "be" their parent-- and describe events growing up.  SO HILARIOUS!!!!!

The beginning of our 4th of July program.   We were ready-- GO RED, WHITE, AND BLUE!!!!

Mom started it all with a Grand Slam Patriotic Medley-- We all sang with vigor!

And then-- we were honored to have Trent play The Start Spangled Banner on his Trumpet-- as we all put our hands over our hearts to honor our Flag and Country.

We didn't just stop there...... now was the time to really dig in.  It was time the "Little Brothers" and Everyone else brought out the musical instruments-- and played right along with all of our singing.  

Such a treat to have such talent! 

As the night grew old-- and the sun went down, it was time to start the skits.  Like I said-- Dan created another wonder--- including all of our mishaps, dating secrets, and memoirs of yesteryear.  Dan-- included every detail for all the nieces and nephews to bug their parents about.    It was awesome-- Because I of course had nothing to be ashamed of.  :)

The kids all loved listening in-- and getting all the dirt!

So-- after a peaceful 4th of July celebration, and an evening of laughter-- we all settled into our tents.  Until about 2am.  Suddenly-- out of no where, a huge microburst came through.  Zack was certain our tent was going to be picked up and plopped right in the lake (he happened to be in ours because he was having asthma issues before bed.)  It really was pretty bad--- but we didn't realize how bad it was until we went out of our tent.  Actually-- Mark went out first- while I stayed with the little ones.  He ran to see all the other dads coming out of their tents, to find a bunch of  tents-- collapsed.  Some of them- the kids were in, and were having a hard time getting out-- so it was perfect timing for the dads to come pull them out.  After all was said and done-- nothing bad happened-- and we were extremely grateful.  We were just sure trees were going to break or something else bad.  But -- those whose tents broke, ended up sleeping in their cars- or getting into the other tents.  The Mantra 7 stood strong again.  Thankfully-- it's now survived several storms-- even the flattening of Martins Cove (when all the tents broke and blew across Wyoming) and now this microburst.  Bummer below-- Dans-- didn't quite make it, but thankfully the Doxey's are super tough.  Dan didn't seem to mind, he just pulled his bed outside, and went back to sleep (while the others were comfy in the car.)   I love this picture!!  

The storm deterred the Race just a bit-- but certainly didn't stop it.  Here we are- ready to run Dorothy's annual Millsite run!!  I love how she does the numbers-- all with which number of kid you are.  Me-- I'm the 9th- so I get 9.  Mark-- 9.0, Josh 9.1, Maddie 9.2   etc. etc.  So Much Fun!!!!  

Little Jack Jack- was ready to roll!

The kids race was off to a burning start!! Look how fast they are!

And here we are all lined up for the 5k.  

Ready. Set. Go!!!!!

We have a bunch of fightin' tigers in the group--Dan- not being one of them.  He just did his usual (like he did all growing up)-- get to the front of every picture so he could be in the paper!  I still remember him on the front page of the Daily Herald on the front line for the Freedom Run- with all of the serious runners.  Nice Dan!  I especially love the barefeet!

THE RACE WAS ON!!!

All 12 kids after the race!!  In line from oldest (Andy) to youngest!  I am SO grateful for my SIBLINGS(and their spouses)!!!  They inspire me every day!  

We are best of friends-- which is an incredible blessing!!  

And-- All 12 with Mom!!!  How grateful we are for Her!!

Allie, Sierra, Leah, and Paige---just chillin' with their posse!

Trash duty-- Look at those strong boys!

Jackson and Ella

It doesn't get any better than chillin' with your big brother!!!  Jackson was in Heaven!

 The Water Tramp:

Many a game of 

King of the Hill-- Good Job Zack!

and......Grenade 

(pretending a grenade just hit-- funny!)

The Kayaking was simply Amazing!

Bummer for Cher.  Since their boat doesn't idle, she stopped the boat with her foot accidentally--and hurt it pretty bad--oops!  So- she became the official flag holder.  

One things for sure-- she's got skills at flag holding!!

I loved our boat issues.  Cher and Bry's didn't idle, and Rich's boat had this fancy skill of going full speed for 30 seconds and then about 10 mph for another 30 seconds-- then it reved up again to the full speed. It made for some sweet tubing!  Made for all kinds of fun jumping and doing tricks off the tubes.  Who knew a boat like this would make things so fun!  We almost wished our boat could do that!

Let the tricks begin!!

Go Mark!

Mark and I doing back flips-- So Fun!

Whoa Doug and Amber!!!!  :)

Rich and Heidi and their backflips!

There was so much craziness- it was hilarious!

When we first started this-- we drove over to our boat, and got Mark off the boat to come play with us! We were kind of mean making the older kids sit there in the water and wait while he was playing.  But- it was about time he got off and did fun stuff.  Actually-- I think they actually liked seeing all the adults and their fancy tricks!  We were quite the show!

Another thing that made this reunion the best-- was that the Married's came.  WE LOVE IT WHEN THEY COME!!  This time-- Matt actually wasn't quite married yet-- just two weeks til the big day.  So Casey hung with the older girls tent, and Matt and Josh got to share a tent one last time.  We joked when we first got there that Matt was brave to bring her to this.  We all laughed that  we had to see if she could handle it!  And-- mostly if she could handle camping.  We decided -that--that is the true test to see if the girl is worth it :)  Then everyone said-- "There will be no Hotel --Dwellers allowed!"  

Ha HA!!  

Jackson was a real sport- and hung tough for a while-- but it was finally time, he took a good nap (since napping in the tent wasn't really an option-since it was so hot.)

The tricks kept getting crazier and crazier!

It was fun to see "Richy" and Doug out playing together again-- like our growing up days!  Actually-- it was super awesome to see all the busy Dads (away from work and callings) having such a great time!

Finally the younger Posse got their chance to play!

They came in -- just in time for Family Pictures!!!

Our Crazy Family

And yet--- Another Awesome night.  

The Bi-Annual FAMILY DANCE!!!!  Our favorite event of the year!

It started outside-- but then it started to rain.

 We didn't seem to care

  

And-- held strong for a while-- but then the adults went in under the pavilion- and the kids stuck it out.

They crack me up-- Here they are saying "Aunt Cosi!!!  Who's this?!?!!!"  

Ha Ha-- they  all coordinated to do  my famous moves :)  Hilarious-- I love it when they mock my dance moves :)

Eventually, we all moved in under the Pavilion.

Mom served up some tasty root beer- to keep us all refreshed!

And the Dance got more and more wild!  We were up down and all around the whole place.  Standing on the tables-- it was wild!

The little kids even made a dance place for them.  In the back of the car!!

 Meanwhile-- while the dance was rockin' hard-- Cher, Bry, Heidi and Mom- made their famous scones for a little late night snack.  Mmmmm Mmmm-- We always eat the most amazing food up there!  Every family takes a turn doing the meals-- and it is always tip top!!

Leslie was the Dance Leader-- just kidding :)  She always has some of the best moves though- 

So she should be!  

The sista's gathered for our own little dance!  I LOVE my SISTERS!!!!

Josh was actually the DJ for this Gig.  He did a stellar job- making sure the music was killer!

I love it!  I love that we ALL LOVE to DANCE!!  It seriously is the funnest thing ever to get together and Dance all night-- dumb moves-- cool moves-- and even the latest craze-- like Doug's Butt Dancing- to spell your name.  Its all the shiggidy bomb dizzle!!!  I don't even know when it ended- because at some point we had to go put our kids to bed.  Such a Party!

Next day-- Back on the lake having a blast.  Go Josh and Austin!!!

And Allie and Spence tore it up on the kayaks. 

Zack did a little wake boarding.

And my favorite picture of the whole trip was this beauty!  I had to talk them all into taking it.  But, once we all lined up on the dock- the kids had a blast!  Almost all 50 Grandkids.  Minus a couple on missions-- Tanner, Garrett.  And Megan and Jake- who were about to have their first baby!!

After the reunion was over, Mark and I drove home with only 3 kids.  Josh stayed to go to AFY up in Idaho with Lindsey and Cosi, and then the next week went to Track camp at BYU.  And-- Maddie went to EFY in SLC with Katie.  After Maddie was done, she wanted to stay in UT with the Doxey's for a few weeks to spend more time with the cousins.  THANK YOU Leslie and Dave--and girls!  You guys are the best!  Maddie had such a great time.  During the middle of it, I drove back out with the kids and spent a week before Matt's wedding.  It was SO great to see Josh and Maddie.  We missed them so much!!  Josh flew back home to work-- and I stayed there- to have fun with everyone- and help get ready for the wedding.  While we were there- we did some super fun things!  One of them was heading up to the Church History Museum.  We sure lived it up --and had a great time!

We tried and explored everything.  The kids loved playing with all of the pioneer toys.

And the girls practiced for trek :)  So fun!

Jackson is so super spoiled with everyone doting on him.  What a lucky kid!  He just LOVES being with the cousins, and has quickly learned all their names.  I love it!

One of the funnest things in this museum was the Mexican Dancing!  Love this!!  

They had these sweet screens--(right of the picture) with Mexican dance instructors.  And- they had costumes-- so the kids jumped right in, and learned the marimba!!

 Meanwhile-- the little kids drove their little hearts out on the play cars.  So much fun to see them interact and talk with each other!

We had fun listening to spanish stories, church history stories etc. etc.

The boys weren't as thrilled with the activities of the museum-- so they took it upon themselves to crash the foam house that was set up.  Thankfully it was to simulate an earthquake so they were ok-- and the staff didn't come running.

Afterwards- we walked over to City Creek for some lunch at Kneaders-- and then on to the temple grounds.  Always love being on the temple grounds-- Beautiful!!

24th of July in Utah

Wow-- What a celebration!!  We didn't even realize it was the 24th.  Funny- I went to breakfast with Kim Gurney (friend from UCLA) who was in town from New Jersey.  Kneaders was PACKED.  Like no where to sit-- no where to stand.  We were so confused why on a wed morning at 10 it would be so busy.  As we left we finally realized its the 24th of July.  Didn't even hit us that --that is even a holiday!  Oh it's big!  I never remember it being so big as a kid.  But-- let me tell you--- the sky was lit up that night!  We were lucky to go over to Dan and Jules (the house I grew up in)  to celebrate.  It's always great to go over there-- so fun!  And- they are always changing things-- it looks so awesome!  Anyway-I don't think I've ever seen so many fireworks- now that there isn't any restrictions.  Looks like the whole neighborhood took a drive up to Wyoming-- cuz it was wild for all night.  Here we are lighting our few little ones.   My kids-- were LOVING it- since we have restrictions in 

CO and can't ever do fireworks. 

This kind of thing was going on- all night.  It really was just as big- if not bigger than Stadium of Fire.  It was awesome!!

Loved our Indian Dances around the fireworks :)

The next morning we got up to make some cupcakes for the wedding.  So fun!! 

And FINALLY Matt and Casey's big day came!!!  Here we are anxiously waiting for them to come out of the temple. 

Wooohoooo --  Congratulations!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Matt and Casey Doxey!!!!

It was such a beautiful day-- everything was so nice and went so perfectly!  My computer wouldn't let me load more pictures - because this is so long- so I'll have to expand on the next post.  Which will hopefully be soon- not in 5 months :)