Shiver me timbers!

For the Memorial weekend, we headed to my family's cabin on Bear Lake. We shivered...literally. It was wet, cold, windy, rainy, and OCCASIONALLY sunny...but, not enough to warm us up, just enough to dry the tent. We ask ourselves every year on the drive home why we inflict such pain and agony on ourselves. The answer to that question is explained below (thanks for some of the pics Chelsie):

Theme for this year: Pirates of Bear Lake

To start the Pirate adventure off, we went on a treasure hunt. This treasure hunt involved a GPS, multiple locations that were miles apart, different means of transportation....4-wheeler, trucks and our own two feet, 8 treasure map clues, 7 treasure chests, 1 key, and of course...the LOOT!

This picture was on the very top of a mountain over looking the lake. We climbed the mountain with 4-wheelers. My parents are sitting in the "grave of an unknown buccaneer." There we dug, and found a treasure that consisted of some "loot" and a piece of a map. We repeated this scenario at 5 different spots. At one particular spot, we were all standing around looking and reading the clues...my Grandma lets out a shriek. We look down...SNAKE!!!...crawling around our shoes! YIKES! I had to double check my big girl panties after that one!

My two favorite little crew mates!

I found this idea here. Mini marshmellow shooters. The kids LOVED them...super easy...highly recommended!

Kiddos with their shooters...their were mini mallows EVERYWHERE!
(check out the two cuties on the front row!)

Captain Jim...aka dad/Grandpa! Doesn't he make the scariest pirate ever! He summoned one of the crew mates to death for sinning. He brought him forth....

Each kid had to walk the plank and beat him for causing such misfortune to the ship.

If I were ever on a real pirate ship and was summoned to torture, I would want to be beat by this particular crew mate. She hardly made a bruise!

Check out Jaxon's eyes! I would close my eyes too if I were beating on a decapitated pirate!

Gotta love the tootsie rolls with the drool down the chin!

The kids and their pinata treats! Notice the pirate head Captain Jim staked out front after to remind us to make good choices. I'd say lesson learned!

We also played pirate bingo and had a pirate dinner consisting of:

Seaweed: Alfredo
Catch of the day: chicken
Treasure sticks: Breadsticks made into an "x"
Polly Parrot food with Skeleton blood: Salad with ranch dressing
Shark's blood: Hawaiian punch


The girl's also were able to squeak in some "craft time".

We made a version of these blocks.

...and these fridge magnets! Ca-ute!


Overall, it was another memorable weekend!


Saddle up, pardner!...next year....Wild, Wild West!