Hall Extended Family Reunion

On Monday, I got a text from the owner of the Bear Lake House where we were having our reunion inviting us to go up on Wednesday night for free.  I didn't think anyone would be able to make that quick switch in plans, but I mentioned it to Gary and by the time I was home from work, his mom, sister Vonette and her husband and Gary had decided to head up on Wednesday and enjoy the peace and quiet before 50 people arrived on Thursday/Friday.

That meant that Tuesday night when I finished my final exam for school, we immediately began packing the RV and getting things ready.  Of course with all of the studying I had been doing, I had almost done nothing to get ready for the reunion.  It made Wednesday morning a whirlwind of shopping for food and getting the activities together which had to go up with Gary in the RV.  But we made it...barely.

Gary sent me this picture of the sunrise over Bear Lake on Thursday morning:

They had a great day working on a mystery puzzle game.  They had to put together two puzzles which were mixed together without photos to know what they look liked and then they had to read a brief mystery and use the puzzle clues to solve the mystery.  They had a great time and it took most of the evening and the day before others arrived to get it completed.  I was happy that they had such a great time doing something that probably they wouldn't have ever done in any other circumstance. They also enjoyed some famous raspberry shakes from Bear Lake.

Then the "troops arrived" and the party began.............

This was our third time to this same house (the one with the indoor playground and slides between the floors.)  It was the first time we had grandchildren old enough to actually enjoy the slides and the playground and "run" with the pack of other great grandchildren.  Oh how Liam and Scarlett loved it.

We went to the Lake on Friday and people took turns on paddle boats and Scott's jet skies.  Jena got her first ride with Scott and she is now a huge fan.  Friday evening we made pinewood derby cars to get ready for the big race on Saturday night.  Saturday we spent most of the day at Bear Lake at the north end where we had a beautiful spot on the beach, three shelters, and two water trampolines.  We had the paddle boats and also a canoe which provided lots of fun.  We finished with the race and then Aunt Charon did a little devotional and the party ended.  We had amazing food and fun being together.  This time, Gary, Jena and I slept in the RV at a nearby RV park because we exceeded the number of people allowed to spend the night on two of the three nights. That made sure that we got more sleep than in other reunions because I didn't stay up late talking or playing games.

My favorite moments were looking at Gary's mom as she watched her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren playing in the water or racing pinewood derby cars.  She seemed to take such joy in watching all of the chaos of family around her.  I am sure that she misses Gary's dad a lots as well during these family times and her daughter, Valerie, as well, because I know that we do.  I am sure that she wishes that he was here to share these family moments.  But I think, in ways we don't fully understand, they are there both in our memories and feelings but also observing our family growing as well.

I didn't do a good job taking pictures but here are a few of mine and others which Jessica and my niece Christie Nakae took:

Emily and Hyrum McKinney

Jena took over cooking sausage for 50 people for breakfast.

Heading to the Lake on Friday with Scott's ski dos

Natalie and Lisa  (Page)

Zaine Page (John's son)

Flash from the past--I love cattails

Our lates "crop" of Greats"
James, Emerey, Zander

 Working on the pinewood derby cars

Charon, Melissa and Chris
Milo, Crew and Taya

Halle and Aliyah Mann

Great view while washing dishes

Breakfast together-Liam and Scarlett

Riley, Milo. Natalie, Lisa, Aliyah, Hayden, Taya, Emily, Liam (accidently in the foreground)
not sure who is hiding behind Riley

I love pictures that capture fun things like flying hair.

James

Oliver and his mom, Leslie

Jessica and Zander

Emerey and Zander

The greats are in the house!

Grandma Hall

Gary and Vonette Kerr with Emerey

Liam

Charon and her daughters, Melissa and Chera

John, Matt and Amanda, Bryon, Grandma Hall, Cynthia and Nathan
four of the five Pages who are the sons of Gary's sister-Valerie

Jena and James

Mike and Charon with Chera

Scarlett

Zander and I

The trampoline is always a gathering spot

Zander is always winning to pose for a picture.

This is the only picture that shows the fun water trampolines which we enjoyed---see them way out in the water--the yellow spots?  We also got a slide for one of them but don't recommend that as it was hot and almost impossible to really slide on unless you pour lots of water on it.

Liam and Elessia taking a little ride at the lake

Chris and Jen (the other Page brother)
Chris, Jen, Lisa, Natalie and Dallin

Emily and Hyrum with their dad, Eric McKinney

Christie Nakae with Emerey

I loved this second picture with Eric and his two children
(Number three, Eleanor arrived on the eclipse day about 9 days later) 

The Hall Pinewood Derby............

As you can tell by the faces, the greats loved the races and their cars.

And that's a wrap...it was so great to get together and make memories together with all of these great people!! Until the next time.....................