Jellystone: Year 5

This past weekend was our 5th annual family vaca to Jellystone in Warrens, WI. This place is gigantic and has grown larger each year we've been there. We've been going since Anna was 9 months old and she'll be 5 in November. Wow.

We don't camp (and we don't pretend that we're camping either--don't believe my husband). We rent "villas"--fancy cabins with all the amenities. We all (mom, dad, mike and fam, brenda and fam, Ryan and I) all stay in one. Ryan and I always always get the living room fold out futon since we don't have kids (reason #9 to have children soon). We get the joys of flies buzzing around our heads waking us up in the morning.

In reminisicing about the past years at Jellystone, I realize that I don't remember many of the details and, as a scrapbooker, that bums me out. I made a Jellystone mini-album after Year 1, but stopped after that. I'm annoyed with myself now. So, I'll try to point out some highlights from this year so I can remember...

1) Lil' Ryan was fun and by the end of the weekend he thought the rest of us were okay enough that he could safely wander past us without clinging to his mom or dad's hands. What a mama's boy! I did feel for him though, because I noticed that he couldn't venture far from either of them without someone else scooping him up and bugging him.

2) Linse and Colton both got a ride on Ryan's motorcycle (a very slow, safe ride around the block, in the park). I'm still waiting for my turn. My brother took it for a little ride too.

3) Me, Ryan, and my brother, Mike, all sat around the campfire each night. That was fun. Me and Mike did a little reminiscing about odd things like me remembering where he used to hide his mt.dew and chew cans before school and us both remembering sneaking frozen door county cherries out of the freezer at our first house (weird. I had seriously thought I was the only one who had done that and it was strangely nice to hear that he had done it too). I got to hear that it was Mary who first asked Mike out on a date (and he turned her down the first few times). It was nice to just sit and chat with my brother. 10 years is quite an age difference, but as we all get older, the age gap doesn't seem so big.

4) I was super pumped that Ryan spent the whole weekend with us. In the past he has played in a softball tournament during the weekend, but this time he was there Friday through Sunday and I loved that.

5) I realized (and realize now looking through my pictures) how few I took of Colton. He's at that age, going into 5th grade, where he isn't quite as exciting to photograph as the little ones. It makes me feel bad because I remember being close to that age and realizing that there weren't many pictures of me either. That stinks. What a horrible aunt I am. Still, I also realized this weekend that my lil' Colton, my first nephew, has a very special place with me.

6) Linse is extremely clingy. I realize how not-clingy I am. Ugh. I had to say "Please don't touch me" a few times this weekend. I wasn't mean, I just can't stand it! I realize new things about myself all the time.

7) Me and my sister picked up right where we left off. Brenda and Corey's house got delivered while we were there, so that was pretty exciting for them.

8) I let Anna drive our golf cart. She was on my lap, obviously, but I loved taking her out on it with just the two of us.

9) We all tolerated each other quite nicely. Considering.

10) We saw a skunk while we were sitting at the fire. I've never seen one before. ha.

11) I went down the waterslide. Super fun. Got a nice sunburn too.

12) My sister is a video arcade junky and I never knew it. We went to the arcade twice and "Anna" racked up 500+ tickets each time. I wasn't so bad myself. ;)

13) I don't really like teenagers either. I guess it is safe to say it's a good thing I didn't go into teaching? Teenagers kinda suck.

Now, the fun part. Pictures.

Linse-Loo

It's weird, but I love Ryan and his ring. Makes me happy! :)

We let small children play with fire in our family. ;)I know color popping gets old, but I obviously enjoy this look.
Ry-Guy with his car. Those cars are nearly glued to those little fingers. If Lightning McQueen goes missing--LOOK OUT! This isn't McQueen, but I like it.

Colton won this moustache set at the arcade. Amazing what you can get with 60 tickets!!!

You have to admit, he looks pretty good on it. :)
My papa (who is not a fan of Jellystone)

Ryan playing in the sand. I have an almost identical pic of him dropping grass at Father's Day.

Pile on Mikey.

Such a ham.

We talk about not going back there next year and instead renting a cabin up north. I don't like that idea though. I'm a big fan of traditions, and after 5 years it would be sad to end this one. We couldn't go anywhere else with so much to do... good times were had by all.