Family Reunion - 2015
Updated: 08/11/15
> > > Wait for it . . .
Our
family reunion was held at Michelle and Steve's cottage. It was like being at
a resort - access to a boat, water toys, swimming, sun bathing and some games.
This resort atmosphere is possible only because of the generosity of Michelle
and Steve to share their cottage and equipment with the family. Unlike a resort,
Michelle and Steve were 'working' hosts - with some help from the rest of the
family.
Oh, Michelle took credit for the excellent weather which permitted an entire
week of fun in the sun.
The reunion started earlier than planned because Fred and his family arrived earlier than planned. They arrived Monday evening because Caitlin and Nick wanted to skip the stops along the way so they could get to the cottage sooner. We arrived Tuesday as planned and set up our fifth wheel behind the garage.
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Videos
It was great having Fred, Becky and the grandchildren for Michelle's birthday party - well, to have a piece of her birthday cake. It wasn't a real 'party' ... just a time to celebrate a little.
A birthday for Michelle had to be celebrated. We could not overlook the middle child's special day. It seems most of her birthdays were celebrated 'up north' - mostly at state parks during family vacations. It is appropriate that she likes it 'up north'.
It was a real rich chocolate cake . . . but delicious.
A fishing trip was part of that celebration. Lily had decided the family would have a fishing tournament and established a point system. It did not take long for it to be clear that Fred would be the winner of the tournament. He was so far ahead, no one would catch him.
Fred had supervision when he cleaned the recent catch. The interesting thing . . . neither Lily or Mary Lou will touch a fish, (Mary Lou handles the filets after I cleans my fish.)
While
the rest of the family (well, most of it) was up early to go fishing, Mary Lou
enjoyed watching various activity on the water.
Fred acquired the title of 'official fish cleaner', during our reunions.
But, Michelle is no slouch at fish cleaning. Here she cleans a pike, caught earlier, using a new method around the "Y" bones.
She and Fred were both taught at an early age how to clean fish, They were so young, Fred bought a wire glove to protect their little hands if the filet knife slipped.
Both do great jobs cutting the filets . . . not wasting much flesh.
The fillets in this bowl and
those in the refrigerator will
make for a great
fish dinner.
Wyatt arrived in his Batman outfit. he brought his t-ball game and his own personal pool.
Mary
Lou received a text from Ashlyn to make sure we were bringing the 'marble game'
with us. The 'marble game' is really called WaHoo. The grandchildren play
WaHoo at the condo and at the family reunions. The board we use is at least 70
years old. Fred's grandfather made the board. Fred remembers playing WaHoo by
the hour with his grandmother. It is an easy and fun game for children to play
and special to our grandchildren because of the family history.
Wyatt found the kayaks fascinating.
The older grandchildren were getting ready for more serious play.
........................................... Nick, Caitlin and Ashlyn ....................................
Look, no hands. Caitlin bounced up off her seat.
.......................................... Nick, Ashlyn and Lily ....................................
.......................................... Caitlin, Ashlyn and Lily ....................................
aitli
.......................................... Caitlin, Nick and Lily ....................................
The
ride in the boat was a little smoother.
.......................................... Caitlin, Ashlyn and Lily ....................................
Caitlin
wanted to be like the bow figurehead on the old schooners that sailed the
oceans.
Ashlyn
Caitlin
Nick
Steve
spent a lot of time 'feeding' the boat.
Just wait Wyatt, soon you will be joining the 'big kids' fun.
Time to relax (or sleep).
Playing with Grandma's toy ...
Sitting on the dog's outdoor bed ...
Wyatt
showing his mom the horn button that Aunt Michelle showed him. Fortunately for
us and the neighbors, his interest in the horn button wore off.
Kayaking was fun . . .
WaHoo
The fish fry . . . everyone enjoyed the catch. There was plenty of fish.
The grandchildren ate first, the cook and the head fish catcher ate last.
Fred
took a nap.
Becky rested in the hammock until someone gave her a hammock ride.
Mary
Lou got the net to catch a plastic bag drifting in. It did not get close enough
to her. Melanie saved the day by taking the net and running over to the
neighbor's dock.
Conversation time ...
Snack time for Batman ...
Nap time for Scott ...
Batman
walks away with his snack and is accosted by a begger.
Ladder golf ...
Caitlin and Fred in the kayaks.
This may be the time Nick started missing his dog.
It
makes Fred think of his childhood when he plays WaHoo with the grandchildren or
sees them playing together.
Fred
applied lubricant to the HitchHiker vent seals for us.
... I need one of these.
A boat ride . . .
We motored by Melanie, Scott and Wyatt's motel.
.......................................... Nick, Fred and Melanie ....................................
Michelle provides rides based on the toughness of the riders . . .
.......................................... Nick and Caitlin ....................................
.......................................... Nick, Caitlin and Melanie ....................................
Nick and Caitlin wanted to ride with Aunt Melanie.
UP and OVER ... Fred missed the dumping.
All he got was the
result of the bodies sliding across the water.
Everyone was safe ...
And, judging from the smiles, having a great time.
.......................................... Nick ....................................
Nick wanted to be towed back to the cottage.
Steve puts the towable in the garage for the night.
Dinner out . . .
Scott did not think Melanie really needed to go where she wanted to go.
Then, he decided to stop Wyatt from following his mom.
During
the brief delay waiting for the reunion group photographs, some got silly.
Melanie and Scott paddled away . . .
. . . and back.
Michelle and Steve's cottage is in a quiet part of the lake ... but ... every once in a while,
Sometimes
Lucy and Charlotte are put in 'place'.
Following that example, Wyatt would put himself in 'place'.
Why can I only drive the boat when it is on the lift?
Grandpa
wasn't very happy when his grandchildren were playing Wahoo and eating
watermelon with their fingers - without napkins. But, Grandma said "it's okay".
Lunch was cooked over an open fire using pie irons. Great pizza!
Come to find out, another family was having a reunion at the same time we were.
Rest time for Michelle and Becky.
Soon, the idea caught on . . .
After being in the water, Charlotte to her position at the end of the dock. Lucy was just acting strange.
Fred
did not notice until he was posting this photograph that Ashlyn was up to her
old tricks - posing for Grandpa.
Water football . . .
Lily
and Nick have played together since they were very young. Nick was always
protective of Lily.
I
can put my whole arm in the potato chip can.
Just
walking with Dad . . .
Dinner . . .
Lily and Michelle - alone time . . .
All
aboard . . .
Dad
and I were out for this nice long walk. When we got back, he said ... "here,
you're with Grandpa" and headed for the cottage. What's going on?
We're back . . .
This must be Lily's favorite dessert.
After dessert a campfire was on the schedule. Ashlyn and Lily wanted to play the "Jelly Bean Game". Those that played were either winners or losers.
A loser . . .
A winner . . .
Each jelly bean color had two flavors - one good, one bad.
The good ones were traditional flavors.
The bad ones were: dirt, baby wipes, skunk scent and etc.
(Caitlin thought and other agreed 'skunk scent' was the worst.)
There was a knock at our door this morning. Melanie had a McDonald's breakfast sandwich to finish before going to the cottage.
Wyatt had been wanting to get in the HitchHiker, so it worked out great for him also.
Final day conversations . . .
The lake was like glass . . . A final boat ride was schedule prior to the "good-byes" being said.
As Grandma waved to Grandpa on shore, Michelle joined her for a relaxing float.
Monday
morning before we left for our next destination, there was a little knock at our
door. Michelle and Lily had gone fishing earlier in the morning. Of course, Lily
caught another fish. Now that Uncle Fred was on his way home and no longer a
competitor, Lily can regain #1 status.
Videos . . . with towed toy.
NOTE:
Downloading
these files will take some time. Keep in mind this is my first attempt
at including videos and these were made in a bouncing boat.
1 - Click on the link for a video.
2 - Watch the "DOWNLOADING FROM SITE/BUFFERING" message
3 - When the download finishes, the video should start
automatically
4 - CLOSE or use your BACK
ARROW to return to the reunion page
5 - Click on the another video link, if
desired
Nick, Caitlin and Ashlyn (82MB) > > > 0 Videos/afr15-1_696tube-nca.MOV
Nick, Fred and Melanie (126MB) > > > 0 Videos/afr15-2_595tube-n-f-mel.MOV
Nick, Ashlyn and Lily (91MB) >>> 0 Videos/afr15-1_697tube-n-a-l.MOV
Nick (568MB)> > > 0 Videos/afr15-2_596tube-n-video.MOV
We enjoy the family reunions. The family gathering together for a fun time is important to us. Both of us appreciates the time and effort our children and their families give to our annual family reunions. We are proud that the children, spouses and grandchildren get along so well that the time is enjoyable.