The Andrews Family had their first official reunion this year. We were missing a few families but it was the most we had had together in two years, and the longest we've spent together, ever!
We began at Temple Square listening to an organ concert at the Tablernacle.
We were able to see it up close and personal. It was a very cool experience.
We spent another hour enjoying Temple Square and visiting with family members.
Then we were on our way to Afton, Wyoming. We stopped at Bear Lake to picnic and play in the water.
Unfortunately it was partly cloudy and windy, but we did enjoy making some sand castles and wading in the muddy sand.
As everyone trickled into Afton (our cabin was actually in Alpine, about 30 minutes past Afton) we had dinner together and enjoyed the stunning sunset views from the wrap-around porch.
Here is the same view the next morning, which was 43 degrees by the way! We loved the cool mountain valleys and green vegetation, but mornings were cold!
The "cabin" was actually a large 5 bedroom home that we rented. It was spacious enough for our 30 people and beautifully situated on a hill full of aspen and conifers. (I can't find my pictures of it!) The boys turned the kitchen table into a ping pong table, and there were countless games of pool played in the basement.
The kitchen was nice and big, which was good for feeding 30 hungry mouths!
After church on Sunday, Mike took Ella and Ty to the Pallisades reservior and dam.
The had a good little sightseeing adventure while we got Sunday lunch ready back at the house.
That afternoon we piled in the cars and took a drive to Afton to see historical and family history sights. This was Anita's aunt's home.
Anita narrated the tour on a speaker phone conference call between all of the cars.
The older girl cousins (Talia above, Keira below) were so cute with my little kids. Jake and Ty take a while to warm up to people, but they kept trying!
The kids enjoyed some stretching breaks out of the car.
I believe this was Anita's grandparent's house in downtown Afton.
And then we went to the famous Elkorn arch in the main street in Afton. We got out here to find the old drug store that was owned by Anita's grandparents, Gilette and Louisa Call.
Chase is too cool for school. At least he pretends to be, but he likes holding baby Jake more than anyone!
Keira is Ella's very favorite cousin! And she is so sweet to entertain, help, include, and play with Ella.
Here it is, the old Call family drugstore.
Then it was onto the Afton Cemetery to find family members.
Here are Mike's great grandparents, Gillette and Louisa Shepherd Call.
Here are Gillette's parents, Joseph Holbrook Call and Sarah Isabel Barlow. They are descendants of the famous Mormon settler Anson Call.
Next was a stop at the Afton tabernacle. The tabernacles of the early church are so impressive and beautiful! The history and spirit of the places are tangible.
That night after some delicious Thai food prepared by Rachel, we had family stories told by Grandma about her grandparents, Gillette and Louisa, and her parents, Tracey and Viola Clifton Call.
After all that seriousness, Mike and I broke out some Minute-to-Win-It games (from his recent youth conference, thanks to my great neighbors!) to entertain the troops!
The Tissue Toss was messy!
This was an attempt to get the most pieces of popcorn on their teammates shaving cream shower cap in a minute... in the end people were just tossing their whole bowl up and it would have worked better to make a one-at-a-time rule. But it was still entertaning!
Then came a game with swim noodles. The object was to keep your swim noodle between you and your partner while stealing other teams' noodles. It was hilarious to see people running (or being dragged) backwards!
Of course some sword fighting ensued.
The best act of the night was a game to see who could shake the ping pong balls out of their tissue box first. We chose Grandma and some uncles to do the hip shaking and I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long time.
Then some rounds of kids tried it. Pretty funny stuff!
That night the adults tried to stay up and have adult conversation (mostly gospel oriented) but the kids stayed up too and made lots of noise playing games. Maddie and Ella were able to join the big girls in the room with bunk beds for a crazy sleepover! They stayed up till midnight the next two nights. Thankfully they slept in until 9 the next morning!
After lunch on Monday we loaded up the cars to head to Intermittent Springs just up the canyon from Afton.
Cousin Jonathon creeped my kids out with a horse head, and then let them play with it.
Baby Jake got strapped in for a ride!
Our little family, and then lots of family at the trail head.
The next few were just shots of waiting for everyone to gather to start up the trail together.
And we're on our way!
This was out first glimpse of the springs. We kept winding around and got to the top of that picture.
Unfortunately, they don't tell you here that the springs don't "intermit" in the spring/early summer when there is still runoff. What we saw was a constant rush of high water! It was pretty but someday we'll have to see it when it stops and recedes, then rises and roars.
Mike and Ty's selfie at the top!
Sarah and Jared
It was much steeper than it looked and once we all got up there it
felt pretty unsafe. It was a little slippery and treacherous getting
back down with all the kidlets.
The kids thought this little snowdrift was pretty funny to see in summer.
At the bottom of the main spring there was a little rocky pool and we let the kids wade and play. Jake took a break from the back pack, but he wasn't too fond of the cold water.
And this is the classic story we will be telling for years to come... Aunt Rebecca taught Ty how to give Wet Willies! She said, "Ty, lick your finger and stick it in your Dad's ear." He got a big mischievous grin and tried it. I told him "That's called a Wet Willy!" and he thought it was just hilarious. He gave Mike about 50 by the time we got back to the car, and Mike says he may have touched his ear drum.
That evening we enjoyed some quiet time in the cabin and Mike and I made our dinner (pasta and salad bar). Then we had Family Home Evening, with a beautiful thought by Rachel from her missionary Michaela. After that, Riley and Ryan wowed us all with their incredible magic card tricks.
Then the whole family played the funniest game. There were four teams and we had to have a representative from each do an assigned task, like best face above. Biggest burp... highest voice... best at thumb wars...
Best Splits...
Highest eyebrows...
Longest tongue...
Biggest smile.... It was pretty hilarious!
Our family night treat was smores in a cone. You put marshmallows, chocolate chips, nuts, fruits, and anything else you can think of and melt it in the fire or oven. Yum!
Tuesday we had to pack up and head home. On the way some of us stopped in Paris, Idaho to explore our roots. I have ancestors that settled there on both sides: the Stucki's on my mom's side, and the Weaver's on my Dad's side. Mike also has ancestors from there, the Shepherd's and Poulsen's, I believe. I had never realized how much our ancestors must have crossed paths before us, and I think they helped that boy from Georgia come back to the west to meet the girl from Idaho!
Anita was able to play the organ and gave a little concert. They were just starting to decorate for a 4th of July concert.
Across the street from the Tabernacle was the Paris Museum. It was full of amazing artifacts and photos from the settling of Paris--a treasure trove! Right at the front entrance hangs a portrait of my great great great great Grandfather John Ulrich Stucki, whose biography I recently read. I fell in love with their family and was so excited to be able see some of the things I read about. He was the first mayor of Paris, and donated the land for the Feilding Academy, a beautiful college that was built there, but later burned. He also served as president of the German/Swiss mission twice, leaving his large family and wives home in Paris. He was an amazing man.
Imagine my delight when I turned from reading his book in the museum (the same one I have) and spotted this right behind me! The card says "Bavarian china beverage server, owned by Jane Stucki." She is my great (x4) grandmother, his second wife.
Of course we had to stop at Bear Lake and get some famous raspberry shakes.
Talia accidentally dumped her's on her nose!
Talia had never seen the Logan Temple so we stopped for a quick photo. She is one cute girl and we're so glad she got to come with us! I want to hire her as my nanny.
The family reunion continued at home... more on that coming!
