The end . . . .

Well, children,  we’ve had another very fun and memorable reunion.  I acknowledge that it is a lot of work and takes a commitment to pull a reunion off every two years.  But, as I look back on all the ones we’ve had and think about the memories that have been created, the bonding that has taken place, the laugher that you share with each other and the fun that the grandchildren have had, I know that it is worth it. 

A BIG thanks goes to Lyndsy and James for all their work in planning and organizing.  You did a great job!!  James made the comment that after Neal and I were gone that there would be no more reunions.  I choose not to believe that.  My hope is that there will always be a time set aside that you will get together whether Neal and I are here or not. 

It is amazing to think that Neal and I will celebrate our  23 years together this month and you can all celebrate 23 years together as a blended family.  A family that has pulled together in so many ways, had problems and solved them and continued to care for one another and support each other.

I am grateful to be your mother.  Grateful to be the grandmother of 19 grandchildren and one more on the way.  I love you all!!! 

The last day

We were informed that we had to be cleared out by 11:00 a.m.  It is always hard to have such a great time come to an end.  Breakfast and clean up.  That was the agenda for the morning.  I did have to take a picture of the pancake that Maren made for Brock.  This is made to Brock’s specific orders.  The strawberries have to be evenly placed around the outside of the pancake and the whipped cream just so high on the top.  Maren was being very careful to get it just right!

 

I had to take this picture of Boston entertaining himself by lining up rocks on his leg. 

I made Maren pose on this ‘hand’ chair.  I told her that I kept thinking one of the kids or someone would sit in it as a novelty and I could snap a picture but either no one did or I didn’t catch them.  Thanks for obliging your mother, Maren.  Cute picture, by the way!

The trip wouldn’t have been complete without a few bumps and bruises.  And here they are:

Hayley’s leg from falling on the hike

Boston got stung on the tip of his finger by a bee and he also fell out of the tree!  Maren still isn’t sure that he doesn’t have a hairline fracture in his wrist. 

Maren’s leg.  She banged it up good climbing up the rocks.

 

Lyndsy also got something under her contact and scratched her eye so she was miserable for the last day.

Ryan got a bug bite and needed Benadryl from Lynda Ann’s first aid kit.

Grayson had a toothache and needed some Ibuprophen (sp) from Lynda Ann.

Way to have a first aid kit Annie!

I almost forgot about the alligator!

The kids as well as the adults were fascinated that they would actually have a big alligator enclosed in the park.  Just didn’t seem natural in the area we were.  The kids and the adults spent a lot of time looking at this ugly creature hoping it would move, blink it’s eyes, open its mouth or do something – anything.  I think with a little poking through the fence Greg did get some pictures of the the prehistoric thing hissing.

The mystery of the Lost Keys

It was about 5:30 and everyone was getting tired and hungry.  So everyone made one final jump off the diving board, or one final swim across to the lake or one final jump off the cliff.  We gathered up all our stuff and headed for the cars.  Taylor came running up to me and said, “Mom wants to know if you have her keys?”  I told her that she never gave them to me after she took them to go to the car.  But, just in case my memory had failed me, which seems to happen more and more often, Neal and I took the camp chairs apart to make sure they weren’t still in the pocket.  Nope, no keys to be found.  Finally Maren came to the parking lot and asked if I remembered anything about where the keys might be and I told her I didn’t.  So, she headed to the car and the next thing I heard was “Oh SHIT!”  She didn’t have to explain to me what that meant.  She could see her keys laying on the front seat of the car.  I think her comment when she came around to the back of the car was something like, “He’s going to kill me, or he’s going to be so mad at me”, something to that nature.  While she was waiting for Greg to come she remembered that he had hidden a key under the back bumper somewhere.  He had made numerous trips to Provo because she had locked the keys in the car.  She climbed under the car but couldn’t find any keys.

About this time Greg came along and he also looked under the car but to no avail.  I have to hand it to Greg.  He was pretty calm about the whole thing!  Maybe because this has happened before?  They went off to find the police officer that was patrolling the beach on his four wheel.  While we were waiting, we encouraged James and Lyndsy and Jeff and Mindy to go ahead back to camp and get dinner going.  The police finally arrived.  He had to radio a Tow Truck to come and get their keys out.  About 30 minutes later the guy showed up, got the keys out, charged them (I think) $25.00 and we were on our way back to camp.  I will add here, that the policeman said that he wanted me to ‘shoot’ a picture to him so he could show it to his wife and make her jealous!  Nice compliment, Maren.  I would guess this may be the first time Maren has posed with a policeman with a smile on her face?  Am I right??

Home again for another delicious dinner of hamburgers and hotdogs and a fun evening of resting and visiting.  One very tired and worn out little Boston!

Dierkes Lake

A little information on Dierkes Lake.  John Dierkes came to the US from Germany in the early 20th century.  One day while exploring the Shoshone Falls area, he came upon a blind canyon which he went on to homestead 160 acres.  His orchards were flooded by water from a recently developed local canal irrigation system.  He soon began charging people .25 cents to swim in the canal and then built a dock and concession stand and a pulley for kids to hoist themselves across the lake.  It is now owned by the city of Twin Falls, Idaho.

Yup, dad / Pa snoozing!!  Yet another picture for Tucker’s scrapbook!!!

Maren and Lynda Ann jumping off the cliff.  We know Tucker would have been right there with them had he been there.  And Lyndsy as well if little peanut or Tsunami (as Tucker so fondly calls him) weren’t giving her the baby bump!

Two happy sisters!

A stop for a picnic and lunch

We decided that it would be best to have lunch at the falls before heading to the lake.  We found a tree with some shade and had a nice visit while the kids did some exploring.  Lyndsy saw this sign hanging in the tree and had to have a picture of it.  It is certainly something to think about.  We can all find a reason to smile on just about about day!  Let’s do it!!

Off to Dierkes Lake!!

Shoshone Falls

Also known as the Niagara of the West.  Interesting side note, The noise of the falls attracted the mid-19th century pioneers on the Oregon Trail.  They would sometimes hike several miles out of their way to see the falls, which were named after the Indians who lived in the area.  The falls tumble 212 feet to the canyon floor, 50 feet further than Niagara.  The falls span 1,000 feet.