Family Reunion July 24, 2008

Robert said, "If you plan it, they will come." And you did. Everyone came even though it was hard for some. Our family is busy and spreadout but we have fun when we get together.

I can't say Lagoon was as fun as Disneyland, but the campground was nice and it was nice to be that close to the park. I loved having breakfast and dinner there so that people could travel back and forth and Anna said the tent was an adventure. Rob and Val stayed with Roger and Bonnie which was probably a lot softer that the tent but that meant
they had to travel back and forth. Susan and family stayed at Libby's with swimming pool, etc. and probably had the nicest accommodations and Katie opted for the futon at Roger's the second night rather than the couch in the motorhome with us.

Haley, Natalie, and Chase immediately renewed their friendship and spent their time testing all of the kid rides while Jake, Isaac, and James seemed content with the merry-go-round and ferris wheel. Rob and Val and kids were the only ones to try out the water park, but that didn't mean people didn't get wet. The Log Flume and Rattlesnake Rapids made everyone soggy. The "big kids" spent their time on the Screamer and the other highspeed roller coasters and then in the evening the "adult kids" joined the "big kids" while Grandpa and I tended the "little kids."

The dedicated North Dakota family got up early the next morning, after staying at Lagoon until 11:00, and took Rob to run the 12K for the 24th of July parade. I'm not sure the kids really knew what was going on because when Haley woke up in her carseat in the morning she said, "How far is it to Roger's house. Aren't we there yet?" I think she totally missed sleeping at Roger's that night. After running the race, and watching a little of the parade, they met the rest of us at the Zoo in the heat. You could see the energy drain out of Rob minute by minute as the day progressed. Everyone loved the Zoo. Sometimes we were together and sometimes in little groups. It was fun to have so many people all over the zoo to run into.That night we gathered at Roger's and ate chicken enchiladas. The little kids played in Roger and Bonnie's cute little playroom and the big kids played with Roger and Bonnie's big kid games.

And then in the evening we sat on the lawn, sang songs while Rob played his beautiful new guitar, and watched the fireworks all around us. The kids played on the lawn while the rest of us soaked in the mellow evening.










The next morning Susan, Shawn, and Kelsey had to leave. Shawn could only get a few days off work so early in the morning we gathered at the nearest waterfall and took family pictures. We took pictures of big families, little families, big individuals, and little individuals. Funny pictures serious pictures, great pictures, not so great pictures. I love them all.
At this point we had to split up Susan, Shawn and Kelsey left for home, Anna, Mike, Kaden, Chase and Natalie went back to Lagoon, and Rob and Val needed to tend Denise's grandchildren while they went to a funeral. That was a sad thing becauseDenise's son died, however, for Val it had a silver lining because she got to see her Dad. We played hop scotch and other games and then had a hamburgers and homemade potato salad outside on the lawn.


The next morning, we went swimming at the hotel where staying Anna and Mike were staying. It was fun. The big kids played ball while the little kids splashed around in the water and jumped in and out of the hot tub. At first, James and Isaac were frightened of the water but nothing stopped Chase, Jake, Haley and Natalie. They were everywhere and loved it all. Chase was especially well equipped for the outing and Jake loved to jump from the side to his Mom. When it was time to get out, no one wanted to leave but we had to get back and start planning Natalie's birthday party. We dried off, wrapped in towels and warmed up and then headed for Roger's house.


Natalie's birthday party was a luau. We had wonderful hula dancers for entertainment, especially Kaden and Chase. They were really good and Haley and Natalie were very graceful. They knew just how to sway and wiggle. Even James and Isaac gave it a try. The dancing was followed up by balloon volleyball which turned out to be a race between all of the big guys to see who could get the other one wet. I think Grandpa won. We ate chicken haystacks and fruit kabobs with Natalie's birthday cake for dessert. Katie, Val and Bonnie spent the afternoon decorating the sandcastle cake while Chase, Haley, Kaden, Natalie and Grandma made flowers to decorate the yard. The highlight of the evening was Natalie blowing out her candles and opening her presents. It was a great party and a good way to end our reunion.

Our trip is over and everyone is back home, back to work, and starting school. Dad and I are already contemplating our next trip while all of you work and study the fall and winter away. Retirement is great.