Friday, July 4, 2008

Independence Day

Our first installment of S Family Reunion camping pics. We spent the weekend at Catherine Creek campground, eight miles outside Union, Oregon.

Our tents, with BC & Tawnee's place behind them. We all slept in the big tent and Brennan had the small one to himself - the bachelor pad.

Dad and Rozzie. Roz loved camping - I don't think we'd ever taken her before, but she took right to playing in the dirt and hanging out with the little cousins. The night we left Vancouver, while helping Dad load the car, she tripped and smacked her face on the pavement. She has a lovely scabby goose egg on her forehead and a cut-up nose... just so you'll know what happened to her when you see her in pictures.

My injured brother BC. The night before his birthday, he was trying to butcher one of his chickens, and the axe landed on his finger instead of the chicken's neck. It cut to the bone, but his finger should be fine. He spent his birthday in the hospital having surgery and we weren't sure if we'd see his family at this reunion, but he figured he could either sit at home and do nothing all weekend, or be with us and do nothing all weekend. We're glad you made it, B!

The common area of our camp. Heather and Deen are looking tentative.

Note to me: that thick coated wire makes a much sturdier clothesline than plain old rope. Uncle John and Aunt Karen brought it - they're the master campers.

So are BC and Tawnee. Here's Tawnee expertly washing out a pan. We were all wowed by Tawnee's tie-dye prowess this weekend - she tie-dyes clothing and sells it at the Farmer's Market there in Tri-Cities on weekends. Very cool stuff. Demeter wore a darling top and skirt that Aunt Tawnee had made for her.

Dena and Neenaw in the kitchen. It was fun meeting Deen's baby girl Brook for the first time - one of four new ones to meet this trip.

Grandpa, taking it easy by the fire. Ahhhh, camping.

Stanlee, Berkli, Jen holding Sienna (another new one), Becky and Cami - making campfire biscuits. Jen was so sweet to pick up Bella at the Boise Airport before leaving for the campground. She and Matt had to wait around longer and leave later than everyone else so they could pick her up and bring her with them. Bella was in Salt Lake City all week for U of Utah soccer camp and stayed with Aunt Kristy, and we flew her into Boise so she could join us at the reunion. Thanks so much, Jen and Matt!

Aunt Karen, Harrison and Stacy. When we left the camp, I asked Harrison which of the cousins he liked best and he said, "All of them." He had such a great time hanging out and playing with everyone.

Uncle John (chug! chug! chug!) and Deen, with Whitney in the background.

The ever-popular hammock with the girls' tent behind. The hammock spent the weekend rocking all the little kids - sometimes I'd look over and there'd be five or six kids trying to ride the thing.

Zane riding his bike (another popular item). We had a nice situation there in the woods, with a great road to ride bikes on. Quite a few family members brought their bikes.

Our recently-released sister missionary, Heather, in front of Jen & Matt's tent. She's easing well into civilian life once again. It was so fun to see her after such a long time.

Chow time! From left: Harrison, Dad, Matt holding Jetta, Heather holding Xanden, Dena holding Brook.