Our Family Reunion, 2013, Part II

Tuesday

I know this is long.  You should see all the pictures I'm not putting.   I think I have a picture taking problem.  Anyway, the reunion continued.

After a delicious breakfast made by Kristen and Jared . . . 

We headed to the Logan Cemetery where most of my ancestors are buried.  Shonna had prepared a scavenger hunt, hoping the kids will get to know their ancestors better. There were 7 adults and 7 children, so each of us partnered with a child on the hunt.  

 Find a "P" was one of the items on the list.

 We then stopped in to see the improvements Blake has made in his dental office, then headed to the Fun Park.

 The kids loved the Soft House.

 And the Mackrory family enjoyed roller blading.  (It was hard to get good pictures because it was so dark in there.)

As we left, little Jaron, who doesn't say much, summed up the experience in one word, "Fun!"

That evening we went up Logan Canyon to picnic.  It was absolutely beautiful- the perfect evening.  

 Jared is a master at entertaining chidlren.

 He took them on a very imaginative walk where they had to run from bears and stuff.

We had a great KFC picnic.  Everyone rated it very close to a 10.  It would have been a perfect 10 if Brian had been there.  

 To say Jaron loved the chicken would be an understatement.  He ate it . . .

and ate it . . .

and ate it!

Jared helped all the kids make boats from leaves and sticks which they launched.

And only one child fell in the river.  Not bad, not bad.  

One child had a bird strafe her and ended up with a nice bath that night to get the bird poop out of her hair.  

On the way home, we stopped at Burger King for the 50 cent ice cream cones.   Yum!

Bird Poop Free, Grandpa blow dried Gabbi's hair . . .reminiscent of when our girls were little.  It was always Daddy's job to blow dry our daughters' hair.  The tradition continues with granddaughters.

And read her a story.

Wednesday

On Wednesday, we went to the Logan Zoo.  

 This swan was so funny.  The kids would bow and it would bow back.  

  We then went to the park next to the zoo and had a nice picnic and let the kids play and play.  

 That afternoon we visited a local splash park.  

Thursday

On Thursday and Friday mornings, we went to the Logan Temple.  Half of us went each day while the other half tended children.  Wednesday was ours and Mackrory's turn.  Unfortunately by then, stomach flu was taking people down one by one.  Caleb, Lily, Blake, Shonna, Kristen, and Brielle all were very sick.  At the temple, I prayed that the flu would be "stopped in it's tracks."  That no one else would get it.  It was a tender mercy that that prayer was answered.  No one else got it after that prayer.   Those who already had it, had to recover, but no one new got it.

Michelle played some fun games with us.

 Even those on the sick couch had a fun time.  

 We were supposed to go to the Arts Festival that evening, but with so much sickness, we enjoyed a relaxing evening at home instead.

Friday

Friday was Prince's and Cameron's turn at the temple.  While they were gone, we played games and got the kids ready for family pictures.

 Family pictures on the deck.

Brielle, Gabbi, and Lily

We couldn't get a picture of the boys as some were just done with picture taking.

Blake, Shonna, Lily, and Caleb Cameron

Nathan, Kristen, Jared, Jacob, and Brielle Mackrory

Jaron, Brian, Michelle, and Gabriella Prince

 After pictures, we headed to the American Heritage Center.  It's a lot like "This is the Place" in Salt Lake City.  It was a wonderful day to go as there were few others there.  The kids loved the train ride.

 And feeding the animals.

 And riding the horses.

Caleb

Brielle

Nathan

Gabbi

Jaron

Jacob

Even Lily finally tried it.  She was pretty nervous, but she did it.  

Grandpa Ken had to check if there were eggs in the bird's nest.  It's just the way he is.

After a long day at the Heritage Park, we came back home and played fun games that Michelle knew with the parachute.

And with the bubble machine and bubble wands.  

 After kids were in bed, Kristen conducted "Minute to Win It" games.  Notice there aren't any pictures of me doing the silly things!-  Blogger's perogative.

And that concludes the pictures.  Saturday was pack up, clean up, and head home day.  If you made it through the whole thing, you're my new best friend.

It was a wonderful reunion!  We are so grateful to Shonna and Blake for organizing it, and for Mackrory's(from Wisconsin) and Prince's(from Virginia) being willing to travel so far to attend.  We love our family more than words can tell and are so grateful they want to be together and are willing to sacrifice to make it happen!