All I can say is WHAT A WEEK (and a half)!
So much to share, I hardly know where to start.
Chronological is always, well, logical, right? So I'll start with the Call Family Reunion.
We headed up to the Barn last Thursday.
The reunion didn't officially start until Friday afternoon, but the Goldsberry clan showed up early to help set things up, since mi mamita was pretty much in charge of most of it.
(Photo cred Stan Feil)
On Friday, we all wore our Goldsberry shirts my mom and dad gave us for Christmas (seriously, mi mamita thinks WAY ahead!). The theme this year was THE COLORFUL CALLS, and each family group was given a different color, and had the option of getting shirts in that color. It was really great to be able to tell who went with what family group so easily.
The reunion didn't officially officially start until AFTER lunch, so after getting everything set up and ready, we headed to the local Red Baron for burgers, onion rings, fries, and shakes... YUM!
Then it was time for the festivities to begin.
It was a bit of a slow start, but was so fun to see families keep trickling in.
Matt and Marty were assigned to the rocket-making-and-launching station, which was probably the big hit of the day. The kids (and many adults) got to decorate their rocket, then launch them via Matt's nifty air-compressor launcher to see whose would shoot the highest.
There were snow cones and homemade bread and jam for snacks... so so good on a hot summer's day!
And this little ride is always a favorite of the younger crowd...
It was so nice to finally meet Marty's girlfriend, Amee, and her cute kids (only 2 of her 4 pictured here)...
Such a beautiful backdrop!
Bill became an impromptu grillmaster...
it was such a hot day, not many chose to roast their hotdog at the fire pit. Mi mamita was a bit saddened by this break from tradition, but since the option to NOT sit by a hot fire on a hot day with smoke blowing in your face was available, most people took it and ran.
This was the killer dessert table. Those spudnuts had been homemade by my Aunt Annie that very day... double YUM!! These are the same famous spudnuts she made for mine and Bill's wedding reception 29.5 years ago (which were MIA by the time the reception was over, so Bill and I tasted nary a one).
Yep, that was about it at the fire pit. Sorry, momma!
After dinner, we had a lovely program.
A beautiful rendition of the Stars-spangled Banner,
followed by various life-sketches of ancestors (Josh portrayed Anson Call)
and amazing displays of talent.
Afterwards we mingled (amongst ourselves hahaha)...
...and watched a glowing drone drop glowing spinners once it got dark.
Tay and Nae made it up that evening, so we shared a hotel room (thank heavens that Afton finally got a hotel... thanks to having A TEMPLE IN TOWN. We've stayed in the same dingy motel several times over the past years. Bill, Jill and I all reminisced at one time or another about it... the showers... the pool... yuck.) We chuckled as we saw many Call family members arriving at the new(ish) Fairfield Inn around the same time we did... I'm pretty sure the hotel was sold out.
Evie slept like a champ, and it was so so fun to wake up with this little ray of sunshine:
Back at the Barn, we wanted to grab a few pictures of these two cute babes together. Asher is Josh and Kayla's son, so he and Evie are second cousins.
It took a lot o' work to get those smiles... this was Evie's stone-cold face most of the picture-taking session hahaha.
I kept thinking she would fit right in as a pioneer baby.
After a special temple devotional given by my Uncle Fred, a sealer in the Star Valley Temple (the devo was at the Barn, not the temple, but this picture Stan took was beautiful...),
(Photo cred Stan Feil)
and a few hours of games and activities, it was time for the color throw. My mom had liked the idea from our Youth Conference last year, and thought it would be a fun activity to go with the reunion theme.
Lex and Jason made the long drive up that morning... I'm so glad they were able to come!!
(Photo cred Stan Feil)
(Photo cred Stan Feil)
Then the water fight began...
(Photo cred Stan Feil)
(Photo cred Stan Feil)
(Photo cred Stan Feil)
Jason stayed clean and dry. I love this picture of him and Evie.
I think I'll title it "The Stare-down."
I think I'll title it "The Stare-down."
After the festivities were over (including a super delicious lunch), we headed back to the hotel (hurrah for late checkout) to clean up a bit. Bill was driving back to CO, and I was going to UT. We stopped again at the Red Baron for a little trip snack of onion rings and shakes. (Plus I like to see Jason smile haha.)
I decided to take the scenic route home, thinking I would drive by Bear Lake, but my navigation got disconnected somewhere along the line, and I ended up going through Preston, ID.
A most amazing and beautiful drive.
And I seriously don't think it was much (if any) longer of a drive. It was my lucky day.
Still so much to come!
