Weren't they cute...so many years ago!

Oldest grandchild, Lynetta, 1971, then first grandson, 1975 Monte, Willy who is no longer with us...1990,
In the middle is Miss Megan, then Ed then Michelle. Those were probably taken in 1994.

Ed when he was just little at Gramma Rubye's and then Calvin, Michelle, Anna Jo and Megs at a family reunion in 1995.

Ohhh, the memories of our cute kids!

First day of school at my new job!

The first part of the weekend

was spent on driving to Custer State Park, South Dakota for my husband's family reunion. I was apprehensive...but it ended up being a time of enjoying each other's company, becoming re-acquainted with those I met 5 years ago at the last and meeting for the first time those I've never seen before.

The drive was about 6 1/2 hours and Gus was a bit put out that he had to share his seat with all our stuff. (Poor guy. 5 minutes into the drive and he is sound asleep.) However, he did find SOME use for the mattress pad!


Here is the cabin we stayed in and the those of the others...



They were nice and cozy and just about like a regular motel room!

...and then there was Uncle David enjoying Gus' company!

So glad the Ellis family made it from Wichita! (David is a retired consultant for Boeing, former pilot and mechanic. He had a liver transplant with major complications a couple of years ago, he is so much like Big Grampa!)

On Saturday, some of us ventured to the trail head of Little Devil's Tower for a wonderfully refreshing and strenuous hike! It took about 30 minutes to drive up...

Here's the first tunnel....is that the rock that fell?
...and the second...

and to the trail head...

and you can't really get the jist of the steepness from this pic, but it was REALLY steep, lol...

and we hikes through crevices...

...and we had to scale some rocks...covered with lady bugs!
Cousin Aaron LOVED them!

The view was spectacular!


...and one hiker even got a call on his cell phone!
Cousin Brian from the San Francisco Bay area is talking about his plans to move into his studio apartment in Boston...he's working on his Masters Degree in Performance recently accepted in the Boston Conservatory of Music. How cool is that??? He's 21.

After we got back down, we enjoyed some good visits with all the family under the "meeting tent". I just called everyone "cousin". What the heck.
...and Scott found the cutest little buddy! Her name is Mia.
After our lunch and some long visits, some of us decided to walk around Lake Legion where the lodge is. It's a small lake, but nice granite rocks!

...and here's some more of those awesome cousins from Kansas, Colorado and South Dakota!
After we finished the hike around the lake, Aunt Eunice (David's wife) the BOOK IT! Lady rode in a paddle boat with her son and grandkids..(.yes, she took over the program in it's infant/second year and made it work. Thanks to her, my kids, and many others, enjoyed that free pan size pizza reward for reading their books in school.) Anyway, she is a wonderfully sweet aunt and gramma! She is the one facing the camera.



Her son, David Jr. brought his 2 kids on a 7 hour trip alone...to see everybody. David Jr. is also a pilot. The kids loved feeding the ducks!

And finally, when we drove to a different lodge for dinner, we had to dodge the dang buffalo! They're huge!



Needless to say, I actually did have buffalo for dinner that night!

The next morning, we had breakfast together, then headed down the road. I only got one family before my dang batteries went dead. Anyway, this is the Calhoun family...at this table you will find a sea diver, an aerospace engineer (rocket scientist!) lab medic, doctor, and the Bostonian Conservatory student.

Umm yes, there are a few brains in this family!

So, this was half the experience.
More to come...with the Memorial Service for Big Grampa...

ttyl!

Home sweet home

with lots of pics! Will write a blog tonight, today is my first official day at my new school!
Woohoo!

Happy Monday!