what kind of family chooses to drive many hours with children in tow only to be trapped under the same roof for a whole entire week?

...these guys:

We just returned from the 8th biennial Jake Fam Jamboree to Colorado.  What a fun time!  All 18 of us were there, and we enjoyed various activities.  This is the year of many very important coffee runs:

 

the family hike

 ...turned snowball fight (Cami is getting Papa!)

 

 ending with Uncle Sol giving the instigator what she deserves:

 lots of baby snuggles with sweet Si:

 a beautiful scenic train ride

 up to see Pike's Peak

 With a very crabby Jada:

 a common scene:

We also checked out Garden of the gods:

 where Jada free-loaded off of Si's stroller:

 We saw these cool rocks

 and even managed a family photo:

 The five oldest grandkids were adventurous climbing this rock:

 and we found ourselves telling the kids, "stop scaling those 12-foot-high rocks."

 The pretty and portable Charlotte Monroe, a.k.a. "Charlie"

 And Gramma & Papa with their posse of eight:

 Here ends the pictorial tale of a fun and fruitful family holiday.  Hope your Thanksgiving was just as great. ;)