No we did not take a 6 month trip. It has been a while since we have visted our own blog - we always visit everyone elses - but we hope to keep it current from this point on. This is a very long post as we have to record all the happenings so we don't forget - I'm getting older. Last weekend was our annual Gary O. Smithson family reunion. This year Litisha was the elected "reunion coordinator". Plans were to meet at Bear Canyon Lake on Friday and stay until Sunday. As it turns out this year was no different than any other year in trying to get to the designated location. Similar circumstances different people. The Hyde's went up first to stake out a large enough location for all to gather round. We arrived sometime before midnight on Thursday - only 12 hours later than planned. Brandon and fam came in just after noon on Friday and Bart's crew rolled in around 5:30 that evening with the news that Mom & Dad were stranded at the top of Slate Creek. So the adventure began. Meanwhile, Amilee and Chad were on their way up the mountain when they spotted Dad's train alongside the road. They would be first responders for help to drive in to Payson snag some anitfreeze (quick fix) and head back down the mountain. Nice try, guys! Bart and Brandon headed out for the rescue mission in separate trucks. They wouldn't be caught dead riding together - one's loyal to Chevy the other Dodge! Brandon drove far enough to get a cell signal and Bart went all the way down the mountain. Thanks Bart! This couldn't be a regular rescue mission as Dad was pulling his 5th wheel and Mom's Samurai. Brandon's buddy Ray drove up to haul dad's truck back down the mountain and brought a spare truck for Dad to use for the weekend. They finally made it just before midnight - Bart pulling the 5th wheel and Dad in the spare truck pulling the samurai. Saturday went much smoother so we thought. Games in the morning for the little kids and the big kids . . . I think Chad and Amilee won the wheel barrow race ( they are much younger than the rest). Prizes (pocket knives) were handed out to all the winners (everyone). Thanks Aunt Tish! Chelsea was wittling on her stick and oops there was blood!!!! Ran her to the nearest hospital ( Tish's trailer) and bandaged her right up! Bandaid stopped the blood and a samurai ride stopped the tears!!! A storm was looming over so we decided to take the kids fishing at a pond in Forest Lakes. Aarlee almost caught the one that got away. Four or five fish later we headed home . . .drenched and freezing. Get back and mom says lightening struck a tree just behind the Hyde's trailer! Wow haven't been that close to a lightening strike. The kids were fascinated by the charred marks on the tree and the pieces of the tree that hit the ground when part of it exploded. I think Aarlee brought some home as souveniers. Samurai rides were probably the favorite activity of the weekend next to craw-dad catching! Dad brought his craw-dad catcher so the kids loaded it up and tossed it in. Add up all the patience of 15 grandkids and there's still not enough to wait for onecraw-dad. Thank goodness a nice man and his wife gave the kids all of their craw-dads in their catcher. We ran (literally) back to camp to boil them up. My job was garlic toast - I wonder why? and grampa & gramma were cookin along with the help of aunt Angela. That was lunch! Cleaned up and ready to head back to the heat, Brandon informed us that his truck ( mind you he borrowed a friends because his is in the shop) wouldn't start. Luck would have it that lightening can fry the computer in your car! So here we go again. Good 'ol Tyler and Ray came to the rescue again. Brandon and Camille drove dad's spare truck(Brand's work truck) home attached with their gooseneck trailer - 2 samurai's and sleeping quarters. Tyler hauled Dad's 2 trailers home and Ray hauled home the dead truck. My kids were so excited to see uncle Tyler - Aubrey was really sick so they weren't able to make it for the weekend. Samurai rides are the best with uncle Tyler driving - something to do with "catchin' air" Aarlee says. We all made it home safe and sound I think . . .mom did ride with Tyler . . . The kids had a great time in cool weather and playing with cousins!! We are thankful for family who together makes unforgetable memories. We are looking forward to next year Uncle Brandon!
Saturday morning we had pictures scheduled, Unfortunately mother nature had rain scheduled. After getting all the kids up and ready by 8:00 am we decided to cancel the pictures and go out and do them ourselves and check for fun locations. We found that the Mesa Art Center is a grat place for a photo shoot. As we were taking the pictures ourselves, it began to really rain hard. The kids had a blast.
The Campbell Family blog is finally started and it is a work in progress. It has only taken several weeks to figure out how to work the site and install pictures so that actually fit on the page. I hope to have many more pictures and the stories to go with them in the near future. I am sure now that it works things should go much easier.
