Diehl Reunion Part 1

It had been 4 years since our last Diehl "reunion" when we went camping near Flagstaff.  There were only 6 grand kids at the time with 2 on the way (Charlotte and Eliza).  Since my sister Alyn and family came out from South Carolina for the first time in 2 years, we decided it was time for another bonding experience.  Now there are 15 grand kids so we decided camping might be a little much with so many small kids (6 still in diapers, most not in school yet).  We went back and forth with locations ranging from San Diego beach house, Zions, Duck Creek... you name it.  But we finally decided less is more and took over the house my brother's family is taking care of in Camp Verde.

 It is HUGE with 5 bedrooms in the main house, and 2 bedrooms in the guest house.  Throw a camp trailer in the driveway for the parents and older grand kids, the huge grassy yard and the perfect pool complete with hot tub, water slide/waterfall and we were set.  It was 3 days and 2 nights of cousin bonding, not much napping, tons of swimming and sun. I was exhausted by the end!

Montezuma's Castle.  Our first outing.  I hadn't been since a grade school field trip.   The Native American high rise- can you imagine climbing a ladder up there all the time?  Makes me feel lazy just thinking about it.

Matt contemplating the wonder of the ruin, Olly, Charlotte, Spencer, Lia

We decided to trade off for date night so we could have some adult time.  Our was at a Western Town/Show in Cottonwood called Blazin' M.

The town and shops weren't too exciting, the food was good but the show was AWESOME!  I laughed so hard, the singing and yodeling was fantastic, and I got a little teary for "Arizona" and "God Bless America".  You definitely got your monies worth with the show.

ITINIARY

DIEHL FAMILY REUNION JULY 26-28 2012 CAMP VERDE

Thursday July 26th

10-12  Montezuma Castle $5 for adults/kids free

12 Lunch by MINDY/JESSE (@ their house)baked deli sandwiches, pasta salad 

1-4  Nap time for little ones / quiet time then pool swim for older kids

5-9 DATE NIGHT at Blazin M ranch $39/adult http://blazinm.com/reserve/

(Erin/Matt)  (Jesse/Mindy)  (Cody/Emilee)

5 Dinner by GAMMONS- Make your own tacos/quesadillas

6 outdoor games for kids (red rover, hide and seek, red light green light, duck duck)

8 bedtime for kids

Friday July 27th

Early AM Run 3.5 miles thanks to a missed turn- my first time hitting the 3 mile mark! Cooler weather and lots of interesting scenery (read farm animals)

8 Breakfast by HANCOCKS- breakfast sandwiches

9-12 Page Springs Fish Hatchery tour/ Nature Hike

12 lunch by EMILEE/CODY- carne asada

1-4 Naptimes for little ones / crafts for older kids- dads- paper airplane folding/contest, moms paint girls nails red for the pictures, and finger painting names with painting tape, movies

1-5 DATE AFTERNOON, Mexican Food + bowling

  (Alyn/Nathan) (Kori/John) (Mom/Dad)  (Marti)    

More swimming

5 Dinner by WHITMERS- Sloppy Joes, fruit, chips, potato salad, beans

6-7:30 campfire/ stories/ s'mores(Dad/Mom in charge of s'mores & program/stories)

8 Bedtime for kids- Adults stayed up to play some games this night

Saturday July 28th

8 or 8:30 FAMILY PICTURES at Jesse and Mindy’s.  

9 Breakfast by MARTI- fruit, muffins, cereal

11-4 Extended Tayrien Reunion @ Jesse and Mindy’s house, swimming

12 LUNCH BBQ sandwiches, (by MOM/DAD)

1-4 Nap times for little ones

5 DRIVE HOME

My kids pretty much lived upstairs playing with their cousins.  I wouldn't see them for hours.  Charlotte declared her two cousins near her age "her BEST friends!"

First s'mores!  We couldn't make them fast enough- it makes my teeth tingle to think of all that sugar.

Sorry I didn't edit the video- skip to about 30 second in to see the shot we were going for.

Charlotte wore a life vest for the first time ever in the swimming pool and loved the freedom it gave her a little too much!  Olly was a big fan of doing the water slide with mom- we did it at least 20 times one right after the other.  Stay tuned for part 2 and 3.