Ann taking her cousin for a spin in the Race Jeep.
We had our annual family gathering last weekend (hence the lack of updates). I was busy up til folks started arriving on Friday morning and didn’t stop moving until Sunday night. We had around 40 folks camping, tenting, RVing, staying in the house, crashing in the bunk house, and even sleeping in the shop’s extra rooms. The weather was perfect, warm during the day and cool enough at night for some fires.
The balloons launched at 7am Saturday morning, but Sunday proved too windy (the balloons launch about a 2 miles from us). This year the winds took the balloons east, so we didn’t get any close up views from our property (but most relatives went to the airport to watch them). However, most of the time we were all having fun, playing games, eating and hanging out. Here are some random pics from the event.
We rented a bounce house and obstacle course for the young ones.
A silly race.
Using chalk paint, I made four square, hop scotch, and a tic-tac-toe play areas.
I built a set of corn holes with a balloon theme. These were a bit hit.
On Friday night, one of the relatives got out his fire dancing items and entertained us at the fire pits. He’s been spinning fire for more than a decade (though he’s only been part of the family for just over a year). So, this is a neat treat.
A second fire shot.
On Saturday night, we hid easter eggs with various items in them for the kids to hunt down with flashlights.
The chalk illustrations were enjoyed by young and old.
One unexpected surprise was a game of kick ball. I hadn’t played in probably 4 decades. We quickly realized that a bunch of us are old!!
Another kickball shot.
This is a good shot of the balloons getting ready to leave.
This photo shows a few balloons going low along the Yakima river.
Ann and her son Daniel (and his favorite hat, lol).
Here’s a group shot with Ann trying to wrangle everyone (an impossible task).
Looks like a wonderful time ☺️… are you accepting applications to become Family members?🤓
Dave…..you and Ann should be very proud of all the work put in for this get-together. You may not even realize it now, but you have made lasting memories for multiple generations of family. I was at the funeral of a cousin two weeks ago. Much of the conversation revolved around all the annual family picnics that he and his wife put together for over 40yrs. The last was a pig roast about 6yrs. ago. It was the last before both of them had declining health. I was talking with one of the sons about the pig roast. He proceeded to tell me about all the memories he had of my father putting on a gigantic chicken barbecue for extended family in the 1980’s.
Once again……great job…..take a well deserved break !