Aspen Grove Family Camp Staff Reunion

Every time we drive through Wind River Canyon, I tell Tyler it's my favorite place on earth. It turns out this whole time I've been lying. Wind River Canyon has to take 2nd place behind Aspen Grove.

Yesterday I took my family to the Staff Reunion. Last time they held one was 5 years ago and I was working at the camp in Arts and Crafts for the second year, engaged to Tyler. Wow, 5 years already.

Going back was amazing. I've always been afraid that I wouldn't have as much fun as a camper, because being on staff at Aspen Grove was the greatest experience ever and it would be hard to top that.

Taking my kids back and watching them run around enjoying the places and things that I loved and helped create turned out to be fantastic. I can't wait until we can afford to take our family there because it's a magical place, my personal Neverland.

We started out at the castle aka "Theatre in the Pines".

Alex could have stayed there all day climbing and running around.

They had a blast, and I had to remind myself that we could go there anytime we wanted, so we wandered back to the grove to check out all the old haunts.

Unfortunately the best swing set in the world and my favorite spot at camp, was replaced by a giant 4 story guest lodge, so we wandered past and sat by the fish pond for a minute.

This is my old "office" the pottery bridge where I spent most of my days teaching pottery and doing my own side projects. My real favorite place at camp.

A picture of me standing by my old work, holding my new job.

There have been some cool improvements since I worked here, like the random animal statues all over.

Tyler was a sweetheart and carried the camera around so I could be in pictures.

He did a pretty good job, no?!

Here is the look that seems to be on Alex face more often than not these days. It is usually accompanied by something like "don't touch me, I can do it by myself, let go, leave me alone".

The bridge was fun.

I now fully appreciate the super awesomeness of the playground. I could happily sit here all day watching the kids wear themselves out on all these cool toys, under the mountains, next to the forest. To the left of the picture is a sandbox, giant playground with slides, and pirate-ship playground. In front are 2 airplane teeter-totters, and to the right is a life-sized teepee.

They ran the train so all the kids could enjoy a ride.

I was so excited that we got a family picture on this horse.

There is a lot of history there.

The all time favorite was the super long slide.

I don't think It will be very long before Heidi is asking us for a pony.

She would have spent all night atop the donkey if we had let her.

My girls are finally letting me do their hair!!!!

Frontier village was a hit. The girls loved running in, around and atop all the old buildings and old west stuff.

Alex did her fake smile for this picture with out me even asking. It was a first.

While Alex ran up the hill and went down the slide 20 times, and Tyler took Heidi on another train ride, I sat back and enjoyed the scenery.

We finally got a family picture! Who cares if the kids are smiling, we are wearing name tags, or my hair is a mess! We are all in it and matching!

While both our girls can be quite moody, at least one of them loves one of us at least once a day.

There wasn't a lot of staff from my years, but that meant I got to focus on my family and having fun. I did win a t-shirt in the drawing though, and we got to eat in the lodge and have those wonderful mint brownies. It was a great evening spent in the mountains, and now I want to go back everyday.