The Dunlap Daily Dish: BIG Summer: Part Two (Dallas and Fairview)

It's always as the year closes that I look back and realize I've fallen behind blogging! Whoops! Our big summer was only half over when we returned from Europe. We still had our Dunlap-Stoddard cousins reunion in Dallas, our Hobbs cabin retreat in Utah, and lots of summer camps and other activities to enjoy!

COUSIN REUNION IN DALLAS

The best part about our annual cousins reunion is just that: cousins! The kids look forward to seeing their cousins all year long. One trip is never enough, but we've been fortunate to keep the tradition alive for the past five years. Since Sethrina just had her sweet baby, Aila, we decided to do it at their new home in Lantana to make it easier on their family. We'll see where next year takes us!

(6/29) Enjoying Josh and Sethrina's gorgeous community pool

Dinner at a DELICIOUS local restaurant!

Goofing around after our meal - what cutie pies!

(6/30) Sweetheart cousins getting some shut eye!

Loving on new cousin, baby Aila

A very hot and sweaty Dallas walk!

So excited to challenge one another to a game of Magic!

Sweet little Aila

An Olympic relay in the back yard! Go team England!

Aunt Sethrina's nightly candy guessing game! Everyone eventually won a jar!

(7/2) A wildlife specialist came over and taught us about snakes, lizards, opossums, and more!

Brave Hannah!

Brave Beau!

Brave Hudson!

Brave Sofia!

Look at the size of that thing!

Terrified Daddy!

Lunch at Chuey's

Painted hands from tie dyeing!

When you're in Texas, you always have to stop at Buckey's!

Brothers!

Cousins joint birthday party!

(7/4) Ice cream cones on the 4th

HOBBS FAMILY REUNION AT CHLOE'S CABIN

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to have a vacation getaway with my side of the family. Thanks to Jared and Jenny, we were able to meet up at their beautiful property in Fairview, Utah and enjoy some much needed bonding time! We had a blast! I just wish that Sebastian could have been there to enjoy in all the fun. Jared and Jenny spent a lot of time making the cabins and their property beautiful. The glamping tent was SO cool! The bunk house was my favorite with a whole loft full of bunk beds! There was a fire pit, a hot tub, a little beach, twinkly light everywhere! And they bought lots of delicious foods and snacks and activities to share in. We had such a great time that my kids still talk about it and want to go back.

Unfortunately, my blue van gave me lots of trouble on the way there. I'd been having lots of issues with the van for the past couple of years. Before our drive up, I had a mechanic do a tune-up, but the morning we were to leave, my car was sitting in a pool of fluids! We had to get the van towed to the mechanic, while my parents frantically went car shopping for me! The car was fixed within a few hours, though, and we headed to Utah. A few hours outside of town, the van started leaking like crazy! It was a miracle that we made it to Utah, but it started driving really funny just as we arrived. I ended up car shopping the entire week online. After the cabin trip, on the way to Jared's home, the van started lurching and revving while on the freeway. I pulled over straight into a car dealership. From there, I called one of the leads I had written down for a van that I was interested in. The used car dealership was less than 10 minutes away. I miraculously made it to the dealership an hour before closing but was disappointed by the van options. But then the car salesman showed me a Honda Pilot that seats 8 people and was in our price range. It was a pretty, dark green (Seb's favorite color!). I ended up trading in the van and driving away with our new car! While it was definitely stressful, especially to have Sebastian a state away, I was so grateful to have my parents there to help out and glad that everything turned out okay. It's been a fun little car and it's serving our needs well.

(7/21) So happy to be together!

Jared and Jenny stocked the cabins with lots of fun treats! Spaghetti O's, breakfast foods, refreshing drinks ... and even melatonin!

A creek runs past the property with lots of water falls. Jared and Jenny made everything so beautiful with pretty lights illuminating the surrounding the forest!

Jenny provided the kids with bug catchers, sand toys, and lots of fun crafts!

The water is always a huge draw for my kids - Beau and Milo even jumped in the cold water!

Jacob and Shauna bought this fun bounce house for the kids to play on!

My dad helped Jared install the cutest little sink in Sam and Kiley's cabin.

I loved this looooong table they setup for big group meals and activities. We ate lots of good food, did a couple fun crafts, and played outdoor Throw, Throw Burrito!

(7/22) An early morning of bouncing!

These two peas in a pod sharing their bathing suits! They and Sofia had a blast telling ghost stories and doing shadow puppets in the bunk house!

Sam and Kiley's family provided these fun inner tubes to float down the creek!

The boys kept themselves entertained in the shade playing video games! Joey is so cute!

We painted canvases and bird houses!

Sneaky little "Justin Timbersnake" kept getting away!

The old gang back in action!

Roasting marshmallows

Singing and stories around the campfire

A snipe hunt through the woods!

(7/23) Cutest cousins ever!

Just missing Sebastian ... and Poppy!

What a bunch of weirdos! Except Elise! Ha ha!

Chloe is the happiest dog!

Enjoying the Pioneer Day parade

There's that happy little dog once again!

It's demolition derby time!

We had fun watching the cars crash and eating cotton candy! The hat is a gift from Dad!

Loved this candid moment with Jared and Mario

(7/24) We went to church and ... met the governor!

Relaxing after church

Jared and Jenny made SUCH delicious meals!

Yummy!

(7/25) Had to venture out to Park Place Apartments to show my girls where it all began!

(7/26) We had fun eating pizza, swimming, and doing VR at Jared and Jenny's house

The boys even took an electric bike ride in the morning!

We grabbed some Cafe Rio on our way out of town

MORE SUMMER FUN

Here are a few pictures from the summer from before and after our trips. Besides our vacations, we spent a lot of time with friends and family and going on little outings. Life is good!