Goodbye July Stop 3

After a lovely camping trip to the Tetons, our next stop was Garden City, UT to enjoy a few days by Bear Lake!

It started a little rough... we didn't have an address for the cabin, and poor Cheryl and kids were waiting for us to arrive for several hours... but once we all got settled in, we fell in love with that cabin!

The cooks loved the kitchen:

The runners loved the local trails: 

 The kids loved the swings, the fire pit, and the amazing willow good for climbing and swinging:

And everybody loved the close proximity to Bear Lake, just out the back door and across a field!

 On arrival evening, we played family Jeopardy! We got to learn about Koberstein family history, which was fun! Then we got Weston on skype and he officially announced his engagement to Myra! YAY!!!!

 The first full day dawned cool and wet... but luckily, the plan for the day was to relax and hang around the cabin. The kids all enjoyed playing and Aunt Karla opened up her hair and nail salon!

After some lunch, we biked/drove to Jake's Shakes, which was also a fun family history sites. Mom K showed us around the little house turned shake shop and showed us where her old rocking chair and Cuckoo clock used to be... it was her grandparent's house. I thought that was super cool! And the shakes were amazing also! Famous for raspberries! yum!

We spent some time out on the lake that day, but the rain brought us in earlier than planned... but no matter... cousins + cabin + board games = fun no matter what the weather!

That evening, we had a wonderful family fireside. Each of the siblings had been assigned an ancestor from Garden City or Montpilier to research. I thought it was a great assignment! Our family got to learn about Naomi Phelps Jensen, my kid's great-great-grandmother. It was fun to remember her so close to her home!

Thursday dawned bright and beautiful and begging for adventure, of which we had plenty! 

In the morning, we biked/drove to the Garden City Cemetery, where we found grave sites for several Koberstein ancestors. In this picture, Daniel Joseph, Weston, and Joseph are all sitting by their namesake ancestor: Joseph Weston Gibbons.

On the way back to the cabin, we indulged in several rentals of watercraft! Jon and Lynn rented Ski-Doos and Grandpa rented paddleboards and kayaks for the day! It was an adventure getting from the rental marina back to the cabin's sandbar...

Dan and Wes found a groove on the paddleboards and taught us all how to stand and maneuver them. So much fun!

Everyone enjoyed the little kayaks, especially the little people, for whom the loud Ski-Doos were a bit much... It was a perfect day on the lake... until it was time to return the Ski-Doos... My adorable and adventurous (aka reckless...) husband wondered what would happen if you take the Ski-Doo at top speed (50mph) and then turn as sharp as you can... twice... Answer: severe pain in the ribs after smacking water that feels more like cement... luckily, no bones were broken, no internal bleeding, but Jon is facing a long, slow, painful recovery of severe rib bruising.

Later in the evening, we enjoyed a mission report and pictures from Grandma and Grandpa!

And the next day...checkout at 10am. Bidding a fond farewell to our seven bedroom, seven bathroom cabin! I would go back in a heartbeat! It was lovely!

View from the cabin...

...and the view from the lake.

As one last bit of awesomeness, Dan, Jon, Grandparents, and grandkids 12+ got to go to the Logan temple to do baptisms. A fitting end to our great reunion!

This little guy wanted to be an honorary Koberstein :) We said it was ok.

Goodbye July Stop 2

After an enjoyable weekend in Logan, our month away continued in Grand Tetons National Park! I'd never been in the park before, but have often seen the majestic mountains in the distance.  We met up with Gwen and Mike and kids, Mom and Dad K, Dan and Karla, and Lynn in the park.  Surprisingly, we were the first ones to arrive, even though Gwen and Mike left Logan before we did and all the rest of the crew were already in Idaho.

We all stayed in Colter Bay Village, which is where Mom and Dad worked during the summer when they were dating. Mom was a waitress and Dad was a bus boy.  It was really cute to hear them talk of the things that were the same and different and remember fun hikes and moments they shared together there.

We stayed in a tent cabin, a very interesting, but very fun structure... two log walls, then metal frame with thick canvas secured over top.

Family selfie in the tent cabin.

After arriving and setting up camp on Sunday afternoon, we walked down to the lake and threw rocks and enjoyed a picnic dinner with everyone, which was cut short by oncoming rain and lightning and thunder.

My kids aren't quite sure how to handle lightning and thunder... kinda freaks them out... can't blame them; it's not at all a common occurrence back home.

We moved our dinner into Gwen and Mike's cabin, then went on a walk after the storm died down a bit.

Happy Birthday Baby Joseph! birthday cupcakes after dinner!

Changing poopy diapers togher... true family bonding time...

Jon can't resist trying something impossible... we all pushed and shoved and heaved a large fallen log over several large boulders and into the lake! After it floated away, Jon's dad told him to retrieve it, so he did... the lake was a pleasant temperature, the night was beautiful, and it was hilarious!

Someone had to teach baby Joseph how to throw rocks... that is an untie's job :)

As we huddled in for the night, we heard the storm coming back strong...


In the morning, we awoke to a somewhat unpleasant, but somewhat funny surprise... Xochitl sat up in her sleeping bag and said, "Mom, I must have been really hot last night! My bed is ALL SWEATY!" I looked over and saw that her bed was indeed wet, but not with sweat.  She was sleeping in a HUGE puddle that had seeped in during the stormy night. I guess we're lucky that Xochitl never felt cold... Unfortunately, Dawna had set her backpack and her clothes bag on that side of the tent also, so our Monday morning was spent hanging out sleeping bags, clothes, books, and shoes to dry.

After the laundry was hung, we headed out on an adventure! The rest of the fam were sightseeing in Yellowstone for the day, so the six of us headed out to find Jenny Lake and Hidden Falls.

We went to the dock, hoping to take the ferry across the lake and then hike a short distance to Hidden Falls, but the ferry would have cost over $60 for our family, so we opted to take the long way around the lake.  It was really a beautiful hike, albeit long... the sight of the hidden falls was well worth the effort of the hike. I tried to get someone to take a good picture of our family by the falls... but unfortunately, Sarah wasn't there, so we just got mediocre pictures... all well...

As we hiked and drove back to our tent cabin, the rain began to fall again... we may have driven a little fast as we hurried to get our clothes in before they got soaked Again!  Thankfully, we were successful.  We had a great evening of listening to stories of Sacagawea, eating at Mom and Dad's old workplace, and hanging out by the campfire at our tent cabin.

Larry was having a great time making baby Joseph laugh and laugh! 

And so ended part two of our Goodbye July... but the fun is still just beginning...

Random Reunion

 It all started when Joe H. had a conference in San Francisco.  Cheryl H. emailed us and asked if she and the kids could hang around for a couple weeks.  Naturally, we said of course anytime and every time you're here!!

So they were coming to visit! Yay!

And then Lynn and Weston, the local boys, said they weren't going to miss out on the fun... they wanted to come play with Cheryl and Joe and the kids...

So they were coming, too! Yay!

And then Dan and Karla had this cute baby boy to introduce to his many aunts, uncles, and cousins... and the Bay Area is at least a little closer than Oklahoma... They got tickets to fly!

So they were coming, too! Yay!

And so we were all here in Newark/Antioch having a grand old time...
When the phone rang...

And then Louis had some work testing to do in Milpitas; just for a day and a half... and wondered if he could stay at our place... Bring It On!!!

So he was coming too! YAY!

And somehow, for two days, six of the seven original Koberstein Kids were all together in one humble home! Oh the fun! The Games, the Music, the Museums, the Laughter, and the food we all shared! It was an awesome impromptu family reunion!

BUT WAIT!!!

Where is Gwen?

Apparently she didn't get the memo... So sad... We would have loved to complete the picture...

Can't wait to see all of the Kobersteins--including two RETURNED MISSIONARIES-- next summer at the actual Organized and Planned reunion...

Car Museum! Dipsea Run!

This week was a lonely one for me and the kids.  Daddy was gone Tuesday night through Saturday morning.  Gone on business... to Tahoe... Can't underestimate the importance of "team building" can we?

Yeah, I was a little jealous... but it's not like I would have been snowboarding anyway, so that made me feel a little better...

On Friday, to entertain ourselves, I took the kids on a field trip to the Danville Car Museum.  It worked out perfectly with Dawna's Social Studies chapter this week: "Transportation: Then and Now." We got to read about the "Horseless carriage," and then see one in person!

Horseless Carriage!

Dawna and Xochitl were willing to stand for pictures.   I couldn't get Lawrence to stand still at all!  HE was too busy taking in all the awesome cars!  Nana and Papa and our Danville cousins were all there too, but I missed them in the pictures. 

After seeing all the cars there, Larry now says his favorite car is the Rolls Royce. 

Beautiful Rolls Royce!

Dawna's Second favorite, because of the color, and because it looks like Finn McMissile.

Xochitl's favorite, because of the color.

Dawna's favorite

This one wins for the most interesting car: It's a specially made Rolls Royce for an Indian Maharaja, complete with two silver Boa Constrictor horns, side seats for servants to sit on during hunting, and a removable dark glass compartment so that his two wives would be hidden from public view while traveling.  The story goes this car was found abandoned in the jungle, rusting away, and was so heavy that elephants had to carry it out on a sling... I guess the Rolls don't do so well in the jungle...

While we were there, Weston and Jon took Dan on a long trail run along the Dipsea trail.  Dan did not die... Whew! I was concerned just a little bit knowing how those boys run... but really they all did great!  After the run, they all went back to Antioch for the night... four boys alone in mom and dad's house... what could possibly go wrong...

Saturday we finally all got back together again!  After a grueling run the day before, we decided to take a hike up a hill and along a ridge.  I was still the slowest one there... Lynn got great pictures, which I neglected to get from him... grrr...

Sunday the boys stayed at our place and Jon made an amazing "Surf and Turf" dinner of lobster and steak! Yum! Please come back soon, brothers!  Jon is a great cook, but he only whips out his skills when you are around.

Tough week, but great weekend! We're glad Daddy is home!

Oh my Happy Wedding Day!

August 29, 2009: such a happy day!

Daniel and Karla Koberstein were married in the San Diego temple! I have to admit that it was the best party I've been to in 4 years and 8 months--extra points to anyone who can figure out why :)

It was a rather warm day... although I don't know what other kind of day there is in August in San Diego...
Gwen and Mike, the native Arizonans, were the only ones with the foresight to bring chilled bottled water... and thankfully they brought enough to share... Really, I was just glad I didn't have to be dressed like this poor fellow.... Way too many layers...
The two of them were positively glowing with joy all day. It's such an inspiring sight to see a temple sealing of two wonderful and righteous people! And so, the number of Kobersteins in the world continues to grow... LOOK OUT WORLD!

Congratulations to the newest Bro. and Sis. Koberstein! I'm sooooooo excited to have another sister in the family! We may yet be able to stand up to the army of computer geeks!

Hike at Castle Rock

So, going back to the Tuesday before Thanksgiving...

Jon's brother Dan and his lovely girlfriend Karla drove down from Antioch to spend the afternoon with us. We were so excited that somebody actually wanted to come visit US!! It's easy for family from out of town to only make it as far as Antioch, so special thanks to Dan and Karla for making the extra trip :)

We went on a hike to find Castle Rock falls, but as it turned out, it was more like Castle Rock trickle. Dawna was very sad to discover the non-water fall... she was expecting Burney Falls, but all she got was a lousy drip of a waterfall. Jon and Dan and his friend Matt were all very studly as they maneuvered the bike trailer, with Dawna and Lawrence, over rocks, around trees, and over the edge where the trail wasn't wide enough for it to fit. I was a little nervous, but the boys did a spectacular job keeping my kiddies safe.

Matt took some fun pictures along the way:

Castle Rock itself was awesome fun to climb on, in, and around-- With lots of nooks and crannies and crags. and there was this one cave that looked like a brain... no picture of that though... This was an easier part of the trail... don't let it fool you though... there were places where the trail wasn't as wide as the trailer...
Mostly, this is just a cool picture. It captured Dawna's complaint very well: "Wanna get out!" Good job, Matt!