My family had a long-overdue reunion in Park City, UT. I think it had been 6 years since I'd seen my brother, John, so I got really choked up when I got to hug him. With so much family in town, my sister, Kathryn, added on her wedding to the end of the week. It was a full week!
Star of India take-out across from the Capitol.
I packed the car full of family items that I was ready to part with - books, art, vintage clothes, etc. Here Maria cracked us up modeling tiny gloves from Grandma Lettie. It was really hard to let go of so much at once, so I actively cringed at seeing a few items go to siblings and even took a few things back home.
Dad & Karen told stories of their service mission to Hong Kong working as psychologists/counselors to the LDS missionaries throughout Asia.
They brought back Chinese dresses for the little girls.
Carla played the ukelelee while some of the cousins sang "Be Like Nephi".
Dad & Karen generously paid for our hotel rooms in Park City and we got to enjoy some fun things there. Nightly potlucks, swimming, little hikes, outlet mall shopping, etc. One night we were having a loud, raucous time at the pool. I saw a little family come into the pool area and decide it was too busy for them to swim. On their way out I heard the mom complain, "Animals!" Yes, that's my family of 20+ kids and loud parents.
One night we spent dancing. Carla taught us to Hula and Jenn gave the girls handmade hula skirts. William taught us the Highland Fling all dressed up in a Scottish kilt/hat/flowy blouse/stockings. William also demonstrated the Hakka with wild face expressions. (I don't know if his expressions were more shocking or the rest of us watching him.) Maria showed us some Latin moves. Dad & Karen danced to Elvis. Claire hid.
We spent one day doing the Alpine Slide, Alpine Coaster, and Zipline down the mountain. I was freaking out waiting for the Zipline totally sick to my stomach and ready to back out, but it was all fun. I took Claire on the Alpine Slide and I couldn't get the brakes to work for the top half of the ride! That was scary and I felt really bad for putting Claire through that. My favorite was the Alpine Coaster. Richard kindly babysat while we went on the busy Zipline.
Rich and Richard hiking among the alpines.
John carrying Gavin and one of his girls. I was really grateful for his help as I have felt so weak that it's hard to hold Gavin in my arms for more than a few minutes at a time. :(
My intention for the reunion was to be loving and positive with everyone, an especially difficult feat in my family who has a history of fighting, hence no reunions for years on end. I'm sad to say I was the one to start the only fight of the week! What is wrong with me? Here I'm trying to undo the effects of crying all night. Ugh.
We also got to see my mom's branch of the family. Here Grandpa & Grandma Blake are telling us about their sweet courtship.
Aunt Lorraine & Uncle Henry.
We stayed overnight in Grandma Helen's cabin near Midway, UT. Here are Rich and Helen having a quiet chat over breakfast.
My little "Heidi" in the mountains.
Sadly, the reunion was book-ended by 2 funerals of Rich's grandparents, Ace and Carol. So, at the end of the week we had Kathryn's wedding and an overnight drive back to the Tri-Cities to make Carol's funeral service. For Ace we sang "Oh My Father" to the tune of "Come Thou Fount" and we botched it. Rich's voiced cracked at the last verse and we spent the rest of the song cracking voices and giggling because we couldn't sing more than two notes at a time before one of us would drop out from crying. I felt terrible. But, Ace always had a smile on his face so hopefully he did then too. For Carol we sang a pretty "Beautiful Savior" with Rich's sister and her family.
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