Give me Liberty

Each summer we make the pilgrimage to the Liberty Compound....aka "Neverland". Here's a recap of the fun events....Games/lunch at Sheep Creek with the entire Skeen clan in town for Battalion.

Slip n Slidin'

Jamie put on games for all 50 of us. This was the Kiddie Fear Factor Face off.....yes, this would be Brody eating a white chocolate covered cricket! Mine was not covered in chocolate. Tasted pretty salty.

Our team won the fear factor food challenge. I had lemon, garlic and cricket. I screamed and chewed it down!

Lydia DaNae Bundy was born only 3 days before we arrived. Linny makes cute babies.

Why is it that even my own son walked into the kitchen and said "Hi Sara" to me! Must be the blondness and the similar clothing, and perhaps we both look like our dad??

Two years ago in true Trace fashion, dad started dreaming up a production. He composed, wrote, directed, produced and payed for the entire production called The Mormon Battalion. Not to mention he made all the sets. Todd says there are maybe two men out there programed this way....and one of them is Trace Skeen.

Several of the talented Skeen family members were asked to be in the production. For some weird reason none of his daughters were, although Jamie was a stage hand. Do we really sing that bad? YES!

The audience both nights gave the cast and Trace a standing ovation.

Annie had bunnies ready for Camdyn to love. This time she wasn't climbing in the cage with them getting their hair in her mouth!

The BEST was this bear that was placed over the boardwalk out to the cottage where we stayed. Brody would not go anywhere near it w/out a hand to hold. He thought this bear was gonna get him no doubt about it! Here it stayed until it was moved right over the outside fridge looking down each time you went to grab a drink! Yikes!

Picked up Todd and Griffin and toured the Beautiful Temple Square and visitors center.

Had a sleepover at the Kehoe's in Saratoga Springs.

Went to Lagoon for the day. Brody stayed 2 hours before Annie picked him up. After I went on my one alloted ride (meaning I'm too motion sick for anymore) I manned the kiddie land rides.

Brody was in Heaven! Except for the haunted house.

We celebrated Annie's 60th on July 4th w/ some of the Griffin clan.

She had a green and brown theme going on. Her cake was divine and delicious!!!

She even had a game where a raffle ticket number got you a GREEN prize.

That morning Trace organized the Liberty "Moose River Run 5 K". We all helped man the event so later during the party we all went down and did the course as a family.

He built this bridge across the river (which this day we were just playing in).

Before the fireworks Jamie hosted another round of games, this time with the Griffin clan. I had another cricket, triscut, pop tart and grossest of all...a vienna sausage weiner thing. It was so gross I threw it up!

Logan Pool with Caspersons and Jensens. Kennedy and Milly.

Willow Park with the Searles.

Circa 1930's Bear Lake

Spent 4 glorious days in a beautiful cabin overlooking Bear Lake. Thanks to the Lindley's and a nice washer dryer set! The Lake was really full. Normally this is all beach, but for us it was a perfect river to float in.

Watch out for flying fistfulls of sand!
Caperson's brought this buggy to let everyone take rides in, on the beach and at the cabin.

I decided to take some actual peace time for myself and finished The BOok TheiF while sitting out on this deck. What a view!

Sara and I woke early to bike around the Lake. Yes, it's big. 50 miles around, but a beautiful fun ride!

Jensens, Hatches, Petes, Bundys, Lakes all had an evening party consisting of the best bbq'd chicken, kickball at the park and giant beach volleyball in the backyard. This was the most fun I've ever had playing volleyball. I'm still laughing about my flash blinding everyone as I tried to take pictures at the end and made my own team lose. I'm going to blame it on the huge tree on our side of the field and not the paparazzi flashing going off!