Hinton Family Reunion, Sunday, July 2

 Sunday was a beautiful day.  We started the day by getting ready and driving to the cemetery to take family pictures.  

Kenny was having a hard day, but otherwise this is a cute picture of us with all 14 of our grandchildren.  How we love these precious kids:  Kenny, Caleb, Gabe, Brielle, Elisabeth, Nathan, Samuel, Gabriella, William, Hannah.  Back Row:  Audrey, Lily, Ken, Kay, Jaron, Jacob.

Then we added in the adults.

Our core family:  Michelle, Shonna, Kristen, Ken, and Kay

How we love our precious daughters: Michelle, Shonna, and Kristen

Then we walked over to visit Grandpa and Grandma Gabrielsen's graves.  All fourteen of our grandchildren.

The three that are named after my dad:  Gabe, Brielle, and Gabriella.

The next activity was that I taught a class on etiquette and manners.  We started it by having the adults do a role play of poor table manners.  They did a bang up job.  They pushed to be first in line to get their (pretend) food, loaded their plates without regard to those who would follow, talked about poop and other disgusting things while they pretended to eat, put their feet on the table, picked their teeth, said rude things, etc. etc.  They were great.  The kids were flabbergasted.

The kids were in shock and amazement.  They had to share their stories of how they couldn't believe what they were seeing. We then went in the family room.  I told them that etiquette and manners is about helping others and yourself feel comfortable.  I told them they would represent their family, their businesses, their church, and maybe their country on a mission.  People would be watching them. I had the kids hold posters of the dos and don'ts of manners. It went well.  I hope they learned something.

I gave them each a bag of jelly bellies if they said thank you.  Here is Lily sorting her jellybeans.

The afternoon was spent doing crafts or whatever the kids wanted to do.  This was a common sight.  Brielle was Lisi's helper the whole reunion.  She is so cute and so very patient with Lisi.  Brielle suffers from migraine headaches.  But she doesn't let that stop her from doing good and helping.

1, 2, I love you! (That's what I always say when I take a picture.)

Playing a game.

The kids love diamond dots.

Some even got in a little afternoon fasting nap.

After a delicious break the fast dinner, we gathered for one of my very favorite parts of the reunion: the talent show.

I love how every child participates and looks forward to being in the talent show.  I love how they support each other and cheer for each other.  

Lisi

William brought down the house reading books he has written.  The first two were darling, illustrated stories with characters and plots.  The third one, as Ken our fabulous master of ceremonies, said, displayed some writer's block.  For instance: "Chapter 2: dash, dash, dash, dash, dash."  "Chapter 3: RRRRRRRR." etc.  He had us all rolling.  His parents were lovingly trying to get him to relinquish the stage.  Finally, Michelle said, "Good job, William" and scooped him up and carried him off while he continued to read.  It was so funny.

Kenny has a beautiful singing voice.  He sang a song for us. 

Caleb played the french horn.

Brielle showed a picture of herself.  She has been shadowing an ER nurse this summer for an assignment for school.  This is a picture of her giving an IV.  She LOVED working in the medical field, especially the excitement of the ER.

Cute Gabe played a piano solo.

Samuel brought his bike all the way from Colorado to show us how he has learned to ride.  Way to go, Sammy!

Audrey played a piano solo

and displayed some of her artwork.  She is a very fine artist.

Hannah played a piano solo.

Lily has been learning how to play the ukelele.

She also played a piano solo.

Jaron also played a piano solo.

Jake did a power point presentation on ancient cultures.  This is one smart kid!

Nathan also played a piano solo.  Nathan felt horrible this day.  A few days earlier he had his wisdom teeth removed.  After the evening activities, Blake took him to his office to check out his mouth.  He discovered Nathan had a dry socket.  He filled the socket with soothing medication and gave him medicine to take.  He felt SO much better the next day.  We all commented that it was so good to have the real Nathan back on Monday.  He plays such an important role in our family.  Thank you, Blake!  Blake also helped Kristen with a jaw problem.

Caleb also played a piano solo.

We didn't get a picture of Gabbi's individual talent (not sure how we missed that), but Gabbi wrote THE cutest script for her family to act.  It was SO cute and fun.  I wish I could post video.  It just won't do it on blogger anymore.  

This is a family of actors and singers.  They all had a solo.  Man, it was cute.

Brielle gave a beautiful devotional that evening, involving the children.  This girl has a gift for teaching.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the reunion.  They are cuddled, listening to the devotional.