July 2012

I think I will always remember this July as one filled with fun times.  Not that it hasn't been also filled with the normal ups and downs of our lives and new challenges and changes.  That is how our lives are.  But there were some great times and that is what I will keep with me.

As usual I will separate events into separate posts.  Start here and work towards the end of the month.

Good byes and farewells

until we meet again in three years--2015.  I love you all from the oldest to the youngest.

We said our good byes Saturday night as we were leaving early Sunday morning to get my dad back for the funeral of his father-in-law.  We also wanted a early start for Scott so that he could ride in the cooler morning time to Flagstaff.  He said that the ride turned out to be quite nice especially approaching the mountains around Flagstaff.

Scott loading his motorcycle on the repaired trailer

Repair shop in case you have a need in Flagstaff...
Scott found it using his smart phone when we discovered
the problem while getting gas on the way to Mesa.

 Gary and I like to stop at random places so Gary thought this view point might be fun as there were a large number of cars and tourist buses parked there.  It was a dusty hot walk up a hill only to discover that the actual view area of the canyon was further up and down from our location.  (How did the pioneers do that.)  We settled for the top of the first hill.

 Heading back down to the car

Megan, Jena, Scott and Chantel

 The view...this was near Page AZ.  I think it is called Horseshoe Bend or something like that.

We dropped Megan off in Provo and my dad off in Salt Lake before we arrived home.

Ben was glad to see us but he had done well by himself and taking care of his responsibilities.  He even remembered to take out the recyling even though I had forgotten to write that down.

It was a great trip and our RV worked great.  I look forward to more chance for us to travel in it....

now if I could only find some days in the next 6 weeks when we can go!!

Games, Games and More Games

If you know me, you know that Gary and I like games.  Well that is a trait shared by most if not all of my siblings, their spouses, and children.  Our parents, especially my dad, were game players so it came very natural to us.  My mom said that she thinks I was 14 or so before I realized that other people didn't play war board games (think "Midway" and "Battle of the Bulge") with their dad until after mid-night on Friday nights.  So when Gibersons get together, game playing will result whether you plan it in or not.

This reunion we devoted five hours at a nearby Church for games of all kinds.  Some of the grandkids got a chance to play a game with Grandpa (I don't remember the name).  The rest of us tried a few different games.

                                                   Volleyball is a big favorite in our family.

  

Max nd Sophee had to pass on the pizza for lunch
 so they are waiting for their baby food.

 The official game playing was set up on the stage.  That way people could come and go from the volleyball game.

Our newest favorite game--Telestrations.  (We loved it so much that Gary ordered it for my birthday last week.  We are hoping to play it with our friends for the first time tomorrow night.  And I have already adapted it and used it for senior Primary sharing time last week in talking about Be kind by doing and saying nice things.)

There was lots of picture taking by cameras and phones.....

My niece, Kara, her husband Tommy and their daughter Morgan

My sister-in-law Sandy showing a picture to our assorted nieces and nephew

 Our last activity of the afternoon was a "Relay Race" my youngest brother had put together.  In order to progress forward, your team had to answer a question taken from my dad's autobiography which he wrote and gave us a couple of Christmas' ago.  We were lucky in our group because my niece Lisa had just reread it the weekend before in preparation for a lesson she was teaching in Young Womens.

And, of course, while we were cleaning up, another basketball competition broke out!

Saturday evening was hang out time and we talked, watched a Diamondback baseball game on TV, and played more games. Jena and I spent time playing with the babies which was fun for us.  It was probably the most contact Jena has had with babies and it was fun to watch her interact with them.

Giberson 5K Race, Walk, Bike or Stroller

6:15 was an early wake-up call to sign in for the 5K.  By the time we got out from the RV parked at my sister's my niece and nephew and their families were already signed in.  Very impressive especially Randee and Paul with their five year old and 7 mth. twins.

Sophee and Max

 The Official Sign-in

 
Jena is ready to go.....

 "Trash-talking" among the leading contenders for the win....each trying to determine the "grit" and "style" of the others.

 Owen  and Aubrey chose to ride bikes (not sure parents were as happy with that near the end when they had to help push the bikes through some rocks.)

 Some shoe wear

 The start.......we left from Valerie and Lance's circle driveway and followed a marked course around the neighborhood.  It had an option for a short course of about a 1.2 or so which is what Jena and I ended up doing. We all knew to step back and let the true runners lead out.

 And we are off..........

 As I was busy taking pictures and Jena took off running with her cousins, I lost track of her for a couple of minutes.  When I turned the corner and notice I still could not see her, I became a bit concerned.  I stopped my brother who pointed out an approaching golf cart and there she was catching a ride (with the permission of her uncle.)  Apparently a neighbor was driving his golf cart when he saw our pack of runners.  He chatted with my brother, Jena and others for a minute or two  while they ran along and then offered a ride to anyone who wanted one.  Jena jumped at the chance and got a ride to the next corner.  She was pretty happy about the ride.

Uncle Lance had done a great job marking out the course,

 What you see if you are running a 5K in Mesa in June.  It was warm enough although I am not sure how hot it was during the race.

 This is Jena and I crossing the finish line of our shorter race.

By the time we finished our race, a number of the 5K runners had already past us.  Here is Chantel making the final turn as she passed us.

AND SHE WON THE WHOLE RACE!!!

She ran it in just over 19 minutes which is one of her faster times she said. Considering the heat and the fact this was her first Giberson reunion, that was amazing and great for us.  The Ipsons said it was the first time a non-Ipson had won their family 5K.

The first three finishers--Scottie, Jordan, and Chantel

                                                                       The trophy

 Notice Scott rubbing his eyes......he and Gary had opted to sleep in and not run in the 5K.  Fortunately Gary had woken up and woke Scott up so that they were at the finish line in time to see Chantel cross and win.  Gary takes credit for making sure Scott was at the right place at the right time.

 From the race into swim suits and into the pool.  And again basketball....here Jena is trying to make a shot.

 My dad enjoying the shade while he watches his posterity involved in water basketball and "Marco Polo".

 Valerie and Lance have an acre of land and are in the process of creating "Grandchildren" paradise.  They have a turtle, bunnies, and chickens in their farm area, a pool, and a vision for their back lot playing field.

Some brave (or is the word, crazy) souls headed out for a dusty game of Ultimate Frisbee...at 10:00 a.m.  in Mesa in the summer.  Fun times...

And all of that was done before 11 on Saturday!  There is more to come.

Our Logo

Here is our family's logo:

We loved it.  Afterall we do own a pinewood derby track, raingutters for the regatta, and the framed large posters of the Scout oath and law, plus additional leftovers of years working in Scouting.  However, scouting also can refer to adventure which we love as well.

The Giberson Races begins....

While construction continued at Valerie's house, we headed over to a nearby Church which we were using for our Opening Dinner and Pinewood Derby Race.

The set-up

Our logo for the reunion

The BBQ dinner is served...we had 40 people this year from Utah, Texas, and AZ

The Pinewood Derby Cars...We ended up with 29 cars,

 The three oldest Great grandchildren (Jay, Owen, and Audrey) are preparing to "reveal" the Reunion T-shirt.  Designed by my nephew, Niles, it included the Giberson Race logo on the front...

 And on the back, logos for each of the sponsering companies (which in our case were made up companies for each of the 8 siblings and my dad).  We were "Hall's Scouting Emporium".

The great grand children had orange shirts but the rest of us had grey shirts with orange writing which you will see in pictures from Saturday.

My dad spoke for a moment sharing his thoughts mostly on marriage to the young marrieds and then future marrieds in the family.

And then the races began  (again complete coverage of the race can only be found on the extended family blog---aren't you glad?)

Elmo car actually took top honors of the four-lap race!!
Way to go, Kristen!

Mine is the green car at the top--Gib-mobile after a green station wagon we had as kids
Ben's was the brown "Bedrock"
Gary's was the red truck in this heat.

And after the track was cleaned up and we had birthday cake for my dad who had celebrated his birthday a few days earlier...

A basketball competion began..........usually happens when you have a gym, a ball, and Gibersons.

End of the evening events.  Sweet dreams as it is a early wake-up call for those running the Giberson's verision of the Ipson Family and Friends 5K in the morning.  Check in 6:15 a.m.!

THE REUNION

Three years ago near the end of our previous reunion which was held in Amarillo, Texas, it was votede that this year's reunion would be held in Arizona--the orignial idea being that we would meet up in the mountains in the eastern part of the state.  With the arrival of three new greatgrandchildren late last year who all lived in Mesa, a practicial decision was made to move to Mesa so that they could sleep in their own beds at night.  That was the only advantage as tempetures were over 100 for the entire time we were there.  I took over 300 pictures so will not bore you will all of them (on this site--family members can check our extended family site for more).  Thanks to my sister, Valerie and her husband and family for hosting us.

Originally we were planning to drive our truck down in order to get down the pinewood derby track.  Jena was the only one of our kids slated to come with us.  Upon getting the RV, Scott and Chantel decided to come with us and so we pulled a trailer with their motorcycle so they could come and go as they wanted..........

My niece had commented that she might want to come but was undecided because we weren't staying quite as long as she wanted.  A week before, it was determined that my dad's wife Karla would stay home in Salt Lake due to her father's progressive illness so my dad needed a ride down.  Having the RV allowed us to accomodate all of them so we were glad that we had it.

Looks enjoyable and fun, right??????

We arrived Thursday night after an bit of a disaster.  At Flagstaff when we got gas, Gary noticed that the trailer wheel was not straight.  With the help of Scott's smart phone we found a repair shop who determined that a bearing was lost and needed to be replaced.  They couldn't get parts by the next day.  So we left the trailer there, put Scott on his motocycle, and headed the final 3 hours of the trip.  Now this was at 4:00 in June in AZ, not the best time to be riding a motorcycle on the freeway.  Gary and Scott were keeping each other entertained as Scott was scoot a head and then park under the underpasses until the slower RV caught up.  He was hot but entertained.  Then he stopped to get gas and about 30 minutes later down the road, he realized he didn't have his wallet.  Fun and games stopped as he headed back 30 miles to the gas station and then traveled along the freeway slowly looking for his wallet.  No luck.  We had gone on ahead, not thinking through that now he had no money or water for his hot journey.  We got to my sister's and he got there about 1 hour later, very hot and tired but safe.  And then it turned out that riding a motorcycle even short distance was not that fun in the heat.  Oh, well, that is probably one of the memories that will stick in family lore for a long time.  (He did report that his Sunday morning ride back to Flagstaff was cool and has some beautiful sites.)

Pre-reunion:  Great-Grandchildren Adventure---all about them at the ....

Six of the seven great-grandchildren with Grandpa (and helpers)

The stickers room--a white room covered in stickers
Very brght and unexpected

Grandpa with some of the younger grandchildren,

Jena meeting one of the new cousins, Morgan
Jena is never really been around babies before.
She liked it but it was all new.

We ate lunch together and then headed back to my sister's.

It turned out that it had developed into a major Pinewood Derby completion Pit with people working inside and out to finish the final details.  I commented to my sister that we hadn't planned that the actual building would be a bonding time, but it worked great.

Chantel--watch the knife

Scott with the serious equipment

My dad is not a builder so this afternoon
we gave him his own train engine to race.

The indoor contruction zone

And the Reunion didn't even start until Friday at 5:00.