Reunion Planning--The Countdown Has Begun

Back in the summer, we talked with the kids about when they would like to meet for our next "formal" reunion.  Everyone was leaning towards June of 2025 as we have gathered in the winter the past few times and it is somewhat limiting in activities. We then planned to go to Arizona for Thanksgiving and to Tacoma at Christmas time to visit those families after our return from our mission.

It was the plan UNTIL Tosha and Austen got orders to go to Okinawa in mid-December (that has been a crazy ride for them and it is still up in the air if they are going and when they are going.  Certainly not in December.)  We made a change to the days before Thanksgiving again, rented a place in Ogden Valley to gather, and started making plans.

It was so amazing and exciting in the days before people started arriving.  Even being 69, I still like to plan these events and I love watching them play out and see everyone having fun.

Jena and I made the grocery shopping trip--which really involved three trips over a few days.

While we were getting things ready, Gary was also helping get things put together at home.  We removed our back door with the doggie door and put in the original door which has been downstairs for 20+ years.

Friday night, Tosha and family arrived. So on Saturday, Tosha and Austen helped Gary cut branches in the bushes and trees while the rest of us headed to the nearby Bluff Ridge Park.

Niki

Jena

Cooper

Ava

This is where Tosha attended 3rd through 6th grade, so we decided to get a photo at the sign (not the sign that was there when Tosha was at the school, however.)

It was sweet to spend some extra time with the Russells before we all gathered on Sunday to start our reunion in Ogden Valley.  I love the connections I feel with these sweet kids even though we don't spend much time together.  We are lucky grandparents (and aunt!)