And so it begins...
Sanders Family Reunion 2012
Aspen Grove
One of the main rooms of our rented lodge.
Our entire family took up two whole floors with
individual 'apartments/rooms' branching off
this main one.
There was also a kitchen on each floor.
Gathering the
first night
Hoss defending his choice of phone.
Or the size.
He took some grief,
but was a good sport about it!
That's what it's all about in this family.
We all love us a
good laugh.
Grandpa and Sai
doing a little
bonding.
Grandpa is singing him
'ula bula bye bye'.
Bernie
Our Family Tree
Robyn did such a great job
making it look as good as she did.
It was so neat to see Grandma and Grandpa's
posterity
on display!
Next to it was a sign that read:
"Being a family means you are a part of something
very wonderful.
It means you will love and be loved for the
rest of your life.
No matter what."
Shirts
from past reunions and
some of Grandma's artwork on display.
I later aquired the 'lake' painting.
(Far left with red heart)
I'm so excited to have an
original 'Grandma'
hanging in my home!
Brian, Jeremy and Brock on
shirt detail.
Jeremy designed and organized the ordering of
this years shirt.
'Thanksgiving Quilt'
Everyone drew pictures of what they were the
most thankful for.
Members of the
4th generation.
Robyn had so many fun games and activities
planned for the littles.
Going on a
Bear Hunt!
Found sleeping on the playground with goodies to pass out!
It was so funny because Bernie was employed to really 'play up' the idea of this
bear hunt!
We followed actual tracks in the sand and listened for noises and growls and on a few occasions different kids were legitimately scared and wanted to turn back.
So fun!
Uncle Aaron was even on the bear hunt because he believed Bernie's story that lured the kids out in the first place.
We got a good laugh about that!
Uncle Aaron and all the kids!
hahahaha!
Always so much going on....
Part of one of our games.
Spicey noodle eating contest.
No bueno.
Scott~Chris~Paula~Brian~Chris Cates
The winner.
And pretty durn happy about it too!
(I have no idea how he did it so fast!?)
Marah busy at work
Yet another
"DON'T EAT PETE!!"
A favorite
Again, Robyn did amazing work!
Ryan and Scarlett
getting their groove on!
Gearing up for a
Treasure Hunt!
To keep the older ones from hearing the clues and running ahead of the smaller ones,
they made everyone hold hands.
So stink'n cute.
Crossing the bridge.
"Yay for hidden treasure!!!!"
The smiles on those faces say it all.
Giant-Candy-Tape-Ball-Game
Robyn and I came up with this.
Unwrap the ball of tape, dislodging what you can before the person ahead of you rolls doubles with the dice whilst wearing giant winter gloves.
There were some kinks to be worked out,
but this one will be back again next time!
Sometimes the tape would break,
and finding the end....or creating a new one
was not so easy!
I don't even know what this game is called?!?
You bend down and pick the bag up with your mouth.
No hands and nothing touching the ground except tootsies from one foot.
However, with each round the bag gets smaller and smaller.
The winner was literally able to pick up a 1/2 inch tall bag from the ground with only their teeth and maybe some super sticky chapstick....if they were smart.
Bernie trying out different techniques.
Uncle Ron checking that Bernie is, in fact, only using one foot.
Trying a different angle.
(Bernie was hilarious and quite inventive)
Marah going after a noticeably shorter bag!
Bernie with his
'crouching crane/soaring eagle'
pose.
Brock and son Jace
Julia.
We're getting down to pure acrobatics now!
Nolan and Julia going for it!
Photo bomb Bubba!
So many others played, including a 37 week pregnant Jenny (defending champ),
a portly yet disturbingly flexible Dane-ski (co-defending champ),
and the ever flexible and bendy Abby Cates (also co-defender) and this years winner!!
She shares the title with Dane's daughter Leah!
Annie taking the boys through a Zumba class!
They were surprised at the effort exerted!
Zumba is no joke!
Ask Annie!
Fox on a fire truck.
Spectating the
Turkey Bowl.
Uncle Aaron played but was cuddling with Sai for a small minute.
Then handed him off to Grandpa.
What the rest of the littles did.
Juliet~Scarlett~Logi~Alie~Jaylee~Kash~Giada
Leila
I had to post this!
This was the group photo taken at the last reunion.
Turkey Bowl 2010
Below freezing temps and a foot of snow!
(two feet according to some accounts)
Fast forward two years
Turkey Bowl
2012
The boys really got after it this year.
For the next two days they limped around and nursed sore hamstrings, hips, ankles, and egos.
Huddled up.....
"Run Hoss. Run!!!"
Little Corey was the MVP!
The big'uns completely underestimated his abilities.
Never again!
A shot of the spectators.
Chris and Brock.
Someone forgot to tell them it was
flag football......not tackle.
Awesome action shot!
The 4th generation gett'n after it!
Conner, Corey (youngest of the 3rd) and Aiden
Notice the game....
Where are Brock and Chris?
These two couldn't keep their hands off each other.
Family photo op before the big feast!
And that's not even the whole clan.
I had six siblings absent from this picture.
Daniel~Christi~Stephen~Joy~Audrey~Valerie
And two cousins,
Kim and Angela!
An amazing family!
~
Aspen Grove
2012
Grandpa Sanders
The man responsible for this glorious 'mess'!
Upon further inspection of the group shot.......
Kash and Sai 'catching up'.
Eva still looking out for that bear!
Bubba getting creative.
Giada telling him
"Dude, if your going to stand next to me, you need to get it together!"
And that's one way to avoid a family picture!
Family Picture Fail.
We did attempt to capture our little family and the glorious scenery.
It turned out more comical than anything!
I have no idea what they're so excited about!??
???
The Feast!!
There was so much food.
Everyone contributed......
and we had left-overs for days!
Left/Right Game
A tradition for I don't even know how many years now!
Look at those faces....
pure excitement!
When that was all over we had one last order of business!
Ryan's birthday fell on
Thanksgiving
this year!
We had a special cake for her and everyone sang her
Happy Birthday!!
On our last night we had a
talent show.
Scott Sanders family singing.
Julia playing the guitar.
Jay, Liz and girls with a rousing rendition of
'Popcorn Popping'!
There were more numbers and I'm sad I didn't get pictures of all of them.
Allie's dance,
Leah, Bella, and Giada's gymnastics demonstration,
more of Julia's guitar,
Bella's solo
'I Am A Child of God.'
This was our finally
or really the last and only thing anyone remembers.
Pure comedy and so great that they got all their kids to participate.
The Cates Clan doing
'Gangnam Style'
Aiden earned rave reviews.
These pictures really don't do it justice.
Jeremy, Jaime, Brian, and Abby
So fun!
The third generation
(minus a handful)
We've grown up going to these family reunions together!
Every two years we knew we'd get to see each other!
The recipients of Grandma's artwork.
The original three.
Not quite a year between us!
Even though I knew I had to go to wake up at 4 am the next morning,
I didn't want to go to bed.
That meant it was over!
Hanging out the last night!
I've always known I came from and had a great family,
but being at this reunion and coming home and telling my friends about it, listening to comments they've made about pictures that were posted on Facebook......
all of that made me realize even more how incredibly lucky I am to be a part of this amazing family.
So many people were shocked at the size.
They couldn't believe we still got together and that we all wanted to be there.
No one will understand that amount of laughter, fun, and jokes that are shared.
Such a blessing to belong to such great people and to have a family that doesn't just gather but actually wants to be there.
It's those things that make us rich.
Wealthy beyond compare.
I love my family.
The one I come from and the one I've created.
No comments:
Post a Comment