Collins Reunion

The Collins reunion is one of my favorite things about summer! I love every minute we're here. Landon didn't come this year, he is starting a new job on Monday at Denver Health and needed to finish out his time at Centura. He let me bring his kids, and I was so very happy about that! The kids always get in the pool first thing, and Harper and Dagny were instant friends.

Lincoln REALLY wanted to sleep on the top bunk and Landon said he could. Denya was so nervous he would fall out. Britta and Kade tried to make a blockade with some paddles and extra blankets, but they just fell off. She woke up once in the middle of the night and his foot was hanging over the edge. She woke me up and wondered if we should do something. We didn't know what to do, so we didn't do anything, and he didn't fall out!

Dagny was happy to be on the bottom, with no desire to be on top.

Right after breakfast, the kids were in the pool! Tara always has such fun floaties that she shares with everyone.

It's big enough for two!

Kade was teaching Lincoln how to squeeze water out of your hands and make a bubbly fountain.

The fun really begins when Aunt Britta gets in the pool!

 Quite the feat to hold this kid up with one arm! 

Britta and Kade were trying to get Lincoln to stand up while they held his feet. He couldn't quite do it,

but Harper was amazing! And she did it the best!

Grayson tried next, and it's harder than it looks!

Enjoying every minute in the pool!

Floatie fun!

We tried something new for breakfast that Britta had heard about. You scramble eggs and bake them in a muffin pan. then you make a sandwich with an English muffin and some bacon. The eggs took longer to bake than we thought, but they were really good and we got a lot of compliments on our breakfast.

We also had yogurt parfaits with granola and berries. 

Breakfast is ready!

Saturday morning and we are back in the pool again right after breakfast. Tara always has the best floaties and I love that this one is big enough for grown ups.

Raigen floated around with her mom.

Troy is just relaxing and enjoying the water.

Lincoln says it's time for a piggyback ride.

Living my best life!

Chatting with my favorite girls!

Lincoln has the right idea! 

Taking a break from the sun and the water. Bring on the games!

Everyone wants to sit with Grandma Collins.

Time for some rock skipping! This giant pile of  rocks gave us plenty to choose from and Lincoln wanted to be king of the hill.

Kade gave us a demonstration. It's all about the wrist action and holding the rock properly. Kade is soooo good at skipping rocks! His will bounce 8 or 10 times and would go all the way across the lake.

Helping Dagny choose a perfect rock. 

The girls practice their form. 

Lincoln gives it a try. It does take some practice to get the rock to skip and just not make a big splash as soon as you throw it.

I even had a go at it! It is harder than you might think, but it is quite addicting. Each time I would think, "Okay, this one is going to be my best and go quite far." Haha. I was not very good at it, but it is fun!

Now this rock is going to make a BIG splash!

Cute picture of a cute couple!

Denya takes advantage of a chance to give Lincoln some snuggles.

Whitney, Justin, and Devon on paddleboards. I didn't even get mine out this year! I had too much fun swimming in the pool.

Grandma Collins brought some beads for the kids to make necklaces and bracelets. 

There were some ABC beads so they could spell their names.

Happy crafting kids!

Card games are a big part of the reunion.

Who will win?

Devon brought his karaoke machine and it was SO MUCH fun!! Whitney started out,

and then Britta sang, "The Drinking Bone."

Everyone wanted to sing! (Except me, haha). Glenda and Justin belted it out, "We Built This City on Rock and Roll."

The kids were not shy at all. Dagny sang the song from Frozen, "Let it Go."

Lincoln loves Ed Sheeran and sang, "Castle on the Hill."

And this was everybody's favorite--Lincoln and Kade singing the Mario song of "Peaches." Everyone was singing along with them. Someone did "Baby Shark" and there was much dancing. So fun!

Banana splits! YUM! The Collins family loves their ice cream!

With all the tasty toppings!

Lincoln and Britta show off their ankle bracelets.

Sunday morning someone had a Twister game,

and the kids all gave it a try.

All the kids love Kade and were excited when he joined the fun.

Since Landon isn't here to have to hurry back to work, I decided to stay with Mom and go back home on Monday. Steven and Susan don't come to the reunion anymore, so we went to visit them. Lincoln found a cat and was in heaven! Lincoln loves cats and was so happy to hold one.

Dagny also had a turn. Good thing this cat is so good natured, she put up with a lot of petting and holding.

These kids were so tired!! They slept in until almost 9 am! That's what a weekend of constant swimming and playing in the sun will do to you!

I just love this reunion! Every year I think it is the most fun one we've had, and then the next summer it seems like that one is the best one ever. This year I especially enjoyed the karaoke and the rock skipping. Two things we haven't done before!