Cavin Fever!

Anyone who knows Hank knows it's not a cabin it's a "cavin", so if you were wondering if I made a typo, I didn't. The Wankier clan classed it up this year and spent the 24th of July weekend in Sundance at Mike Weir's cabin. For those of you who don't follow professional golf, Mike Weir won the Masters in 2003 and golfed for my grandpa at BYU. He graciously let us stay in his beautiful mountain get away. We were really roughing it in our 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom cabin with a hot tub on the deck! We had several firsts over the weekend:

1. Hank ate and enjoyed bacon


2. Sarah and I had a slip n' slide duel to the death! She beat me, only because she sabotaged my boogie board. We had a couples competition and lets just say the Griffin's ROASTED the Jones'.


3. Hank was thrown down the slip n' slide by Randy and Brett. Yes, Sarah and I let the kids play, but only for a few minutes.

4. The grand kids enjoyed a soak in the hot tub with Grandpa Curt.

5. Max enjoyed a skinny dip in the hot tub. He loves to be naked!

6. Hank and I enjoyed a little walk through the water at Cascade Springs.

7. Hank figured out how to make a peace sign.

8. Randy showed off his strength by carrying both children at Cascade Springs.

9. The kids and I rode the lift at Sundance. It got me excited to take Hank skiing this year. I sort of had a panic attack with Max on the lift. He doesn't exactly know how to sit still.

10. Jack rode the ski lift for the first time, and my dad...I know it's not his first time on the lift but I think I've only seen him on a ski lift maybe twice my entire life so it kind of counts.

11. Max hiked to Stewart Falls and back to Sundance. He had some assistance from Randy and Grandpa.

12. Max fell asleep on Grandpa's shoulders during the hike.

13. Randy carried 28 pounds of dead weight for close to 45 minutes.

14. Hank discovered his love of hiking and blazing the trail for the rest of us.

15. Randy got a real workout carrying Hank, our trail boss, for most of the way down the mountain.

16. My adorable mom took off her shoes (which are fab by the way), and walked across this river! You don't see that every day.

17. Hank froze his little toes in this water below Stewart Falls. I was loving my chacos...best outdoor shoe ever!


18. The Jones family took their first hike ever with Jack. He was such a trooper and didn't make a peep the entire journey, totally a scoutmaster's son!

19. Max threw a fit...oh wait, that's definitely not a first but it's the first time he threw a fit at Stewart Falls!

20. I captured a genuine smile from my dad! I love this picture.

21. I witnessed my dad scale this fence with such grace and ease, it's like he does it all the time. We took a wrong turn on our hike if you're wondering why he's climbing a fence.

22. Max ENJOYED a smore, or seven.

23. Max enjoyed semi-nude bubble blowing.

24. Max enjoyed some full nude bubble blowing.

25. Everyone sporting their new walking sticks, custom carved by Brett. My mom's however was carved with love by my dad. Hank takes his walking stick everywhere.

26. I got stung by the same bee three times and now I have this strange rash at the sight. It's been almost 3 days since the incident and the swelling and redness is still there.

No firsts here, just me and my sisters enjoying a little campfire action. The tunes were supplied by non other than DJ Wanksta (my new stage name, given to me by Randy). I kept the party going until at least 10:45!

The man who made it all happen, my Grandpa Karl. He's the master mind behind us staying at the most beautiful cabin ever. He and my Grandma Joanne joined us for dinner one night and I'm so glad they did. I really cherish the time I can spend with them.

Hank loves the Cavin and wants to move there asap! I told him it was for sale but it costs 1.2 million dollars. He quickly responded that we need to sell lots of policies and play a lot of golf and then we can buy it. Overall, it was a very successful trip with the family. I'm still holding out for a trip to the real Cavin in Ferron if there are any takers! I love spending time with my family.

This is my newest picture for my yoga room, taken on the way back from our hike.

Random Summer Activities and Max's Crib Phobia

Remember how I said I wasn't blogging for a week? That didn't last long! We've had some great summertime activities this past week. We had to take Hank and Max to the Steel Days Carnival, thanks to my dad, who so kindly reminded them about it. At least he showed up to partake in the carny mayhem. Randy has declared himself the Mayor of the Carnival. It's a title he wears with pride which is pretty sad. I'm not exaggerating when I say he knew 75% of the carnival goers. They are his "peeps", so I suppose that makes me the First Lady of the carnival. You would think the carnival was Disneyland or something with the outrageous prices! I'm pretty sure we dropped about 75 bucks that night. The Ross family joined us and the kids had a blast so I suppose it was worth it. This picture is 100% RAT!!

The next morning we took part in the Steel Days Parade. It was our last parade of the season, which really breaks my heart! JRI Insurance goes to great lengths to please their fans. Our 30 boxes of otter pops were carefully frozen, packaged and transported like they were gold bars. The Steel Days Parade Committee didn't mess around this year. We got in trouble for throwing the otter pops from the truck but we figured we would get passed the parade Nazi and throw them anyway. That plan failed miserably as there were parade officials stationed every 100 feet equipped with head sets, ready to yell at us for throwing otter pops. So, Randy got to hand deliver the otter pops to the crowd which is right up his alley. He was pumping the crowd up and high fiving the thousands of people he knew. It was more work to hand deliver, but it gave a personal touch which turned out better anyway. Isabel and Lucy joined us and did a fantastic job.

My cousin Gabe slept over with the Ross family last night and they came over to play this afternoon. It's interesting to watch the first born children stick together...

Lucy, Hank, and Gabe

and then the second born, Max and Isabel, having there own little dance party. They seemed totally unaware that they were being left out.

We have been swimming so much this summer but today, we made our first trek to the American Fork Pool. Max is getting much more comfortable with the water. He loves the slide.

Hank is a little fish this summer. As long as he has his goggles on he's golden.

A day at the pool is not complete without a treat afterwards.

My mom is the best grandma ever! The kids absolutely love her, especially when she buys them a snow cone! Peace mom!

Now for the mystery of the week. Max is doing something extremely strange the past few days. He is terrified of his crib. He can be dead asleep in my arms...I put him in the crib and he is screaming bloody murder instantly. If I actually do get him to sleep in his crib he wakes up screaming. This is really making it difficult for our entire family to get any sleep. Max normally takes 3 hour naps in the afternoon and gets 10-12 hours of sleep at night. When he doesn't get that...watch out. He ends up falling asleep on the couch or my bed for a few minutes here and there.

Randy was so frustrated while trying to put Max down last night he resorted to making him a bed on the floor next to his crib. He slept there all night. What do I do about this? Is his crib possessed? Blog readers, if you have any advise, please, please help me!

Finally.... The Wedding!

Warning: This post contains hundreds of pictures! The author of this post almost passed out upon completion so there better be abundant commenting.

The morning of the wedding, the girls got their hair and make-up done in Collette's suite and the boys got ready in Rusty's room. It was a very fun and relaxed environment at the girls camp, poor Randy didn't have the same experience trying to get the boys ready! My boys looked amazing in their "fancy" clothes (as Hank likes to call them).

I'm glad the sippy cup made the picture. It's very fitting!

Max actually pried his fingers away from his mouth for this picture!!

This picture of the Royster family is courtesy of Hank the photographer.

Me and the most handsome boys on the planet. I wanted to cry when I saw them all dressed up.
It won't be long until it's their weddings...I can't think about it.

Surprise, surprise...Hank and Dyson loving each other.

Rick and Randy loving each other

The blushing bride and groom, looking very relaxed and ready for the big day.

Grandma Jeri and Max before the wedding...no finger sucking again!

We are missing our fourth bridesmaid...where are you Jenni? I think Lindsey and Terese were trying to get a picture of just them but I weaseled my way in.

Scott did a great job keeping Max occupied while we waited for the guests to arrive.

I think it's safe to say Jimmy is responsible for this picture...it's a little disturbing but kind of cute in a weird way!

The tux was killing me. I'm having it dry cleaned so he can wear it every day.

The men being tough guys. Hank is really concentrating.

Rusty and his best men...Randy, Adam, Rusty, Rick, and Lynn

Rick and Randy with their daddy

Scott, Jeri, Rusty, Collette, Grandma and Grandpa Griffin, Karen, and Griff

The whole family (why didn't someone tell me to put my bouquet down)

The bridal party

The wedding was beautiful. Hank and Max were the ring bearers which I don't have a picture of. Hank held onto those rings for dear life. Max wanted Randy the entire ceremony. Thankfully Dyson kept him distracted so everyone else could enjoy the wedding. Rusty and Collette seemed so happy and excited to be married. Randy and I both got a little emotional. Once the ceremony was over...the party began!

Max totally got the party started. He was tired and sick of being confined all day. Once he heard the DJ spinning the tunes, he was instantly happy. I love his dance moves. It's just a nice slow bounce followed by a gallop and a jump. So precious!

This little boy could only take so much! He was completely wiped out so we made the best bed we could for him and he crashed for an hour like this.

Needless to say, he was the hit of the wedding!

Grandma Griffin with Rusty (We couldn't get Grandpa to dance!)

Jeri and Scott

Griff and Collette

Jeri and Rusty

I love how happy he looks in this picture!

Randy and Collette

Hey, that's my hubby...back off sis-in-law!

We were all done being sophisticated and proper so who better to get the party started than these two! Rick requested a little R. Kelley to get the people on the dance floor.

Randy always has to do the finger point! He has moves you've never seen and I love it!

I think Collette will officially claim Hank, Max, Colby and Dyson as her nephews now!

Look who woke up! He positioned himself right next to the speaker for the remainder of the reception so he could really feel the beat.

Collette and Rusty can cut a rug! Rusty even busted out the worm, which was really impressive I might add.

Hank loves music and loves to dance even though he's a little shy. He requested his favorite jam "Boom Boom Pow" and the crowd went wild.

I think they are singing in this picture?

My kiddies were quite a hit with the ladies! They had no problem finding dance partners.

This picture makes me giggle!

I know one thing for sure...this wedding would not have been half as fun without the Griffin enterage.

Maybe it's because we don't get out much!

What were we singing? Billy Jean...Gettin' Jiggy Wit It...Vanilla Ice?

These two didn't stop for 3 hours staight!

Colby is looking at them like they are nuts.

The boys were done about an hour before the adults were. The final song request was a family song (or so Randy says) entitled "Shout"! The rest of the day, someone would say "Hey ey ay ay" and everyone would follow by singing "Hey ey ay ay ay!"

After the reception we took a trolly tour of the city.

Rick and Adam

Rick, Rusty, Grandma, Griff, and Randy

We stopped by this bridge for yet more pictures.

Rick, Rusty, Jeri, Jenni, Randy, and Griff

Terese, Collette, Annie, Lynn

The OUTLAWS! We've got to stick together, know what I'm sayin'.

Total gangstas! I love how I don't know how to flash a gang sign...I don't know what I'm doing.

We were totally beat after the festivities. We rested up at the hotel and had a little dinner at Claire and Jimmy's. Our kids were more than ready for bed around 8. Randy had the brilliant idea to head out to Wrigleyville because a Cubs game had just ended and he wanted to check out the scene. Karen kindly agreed to stay in our room with the kids so we could go out for a few hours. I can't believe how many people were out on a Sunday night. We met up with Rick, Lindsey, Justin, Susie, Landon and Erica at the sight were it all began, The Cubby Bear. That is where Collette and Rusty met four years ago. We had some great times, but I forgot the camera...which could be a good thing!

The next morning we had some time to kill before our flight left so we headed to Navy Pier. We played a little mini golf and walked around. There is so much to do there but we were limited on time.

We took a jet boat tour of the city. Max missed it, poor little thing. Too bad he didn't save his nap for the plane because it was a LONG flight home! As you can tell we had a fantastic time. Chicago is such a beautiful city, I can't wait to go back. I'm so happy for Rusty and Collette. She is a great addition to the family. Now, I'm done blogging for a week!