Sunday, August 16, 2009

Carl Webster Reunion-Hanna, UT

August 13-15, 2009 we had the opportunity to go with David's family to a great little retreat called Warm Springs Retreat in Hanna, Utah. David's dad reserved the whole campground for the three days, which included trailer spots, small cabins, pavilion, amphitheater, fire pits, river rafting, a pond with kayaks and paddle boats, and a main lodge. We had a great time with the extended family!
This is David's siblings: Carolyn (Gregg), Wendy (Stephen)& Leon (Janet)
Below are just a few of the 286 pictures that I took over the three days....

The grandkids and the great-grandkids really enjoyed the paddle boats and the kayaks....we had kids try kayaking that were only 5 years old and they were really good!

We had planned lots of fun crafts for the great grand children.....above they are making bug catchers and in the picture below they are making either a sun visor or a princess crown visor!
We had other crafts planned as well, but the kids had so much fun riding their scooters and bikes all over that we didn't get to all of the crafts and games!

The reason for this family celebration and reunion was it was David's Mom's 76th Birthday and we surprised her with birthday decorations, and a birthday cake and ice cream and presents! She said that she never remembered having a birthday party just for her before! Below, the great grandchildren were helping her blow out her candles.....actually I don't think she even got a chance to try and blow them out because the kids beat her to it!
There was a couple of small ponds about a 5 min. walk from the campground and it was supplied with 7 kayak's and 2 paddle boats! Everyone had fun racing the kayaks and paddling around on the pond! Of course, the boys had to see who they could tip over and get soaked! We all had a great time, rather we were sitting under the little canopy while it rained, or being out on the water!
The best part was just getting to know the family members! It was fun seeing the cousins have fun together, and watching the great grand children getting to know each other!
Even Grandma and Grandpa Webster took a turn in the paddle boats......that is pretty brave for a couple of 76 year olds!
Both evenings we had a fire in the amphitheater and sang camp songs and primary songs.....both nights it was raining, but we put up canopies over the sitting area and enjoyed the fire regardless of the weather......Friday night Colonel Cluff (David's sister's husband) did a Patriotic presentation of retiring a flag and talking about his recent visit to the beaches of Normandy France....and then he related it all to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it was all very touching....listening to the music "I'm proud to Be an American" while the flag was retired was really special....even the smallest child was so quiet!
Saturday morning we had a great big country breakfast of eggs, bacon, ham, potatoes, and pancakes! Below is all of the cooks in the open air kitchen!

For Grandma's birthday we gave her a Christus Statue and a scrapbook that will eventually hold all of the pictures of the three day event....and in the back of the scrapbook we each wrote a special memory of grandma for her to read! (and cry over, I'm sure) Below some of the cousins are writing their memories of Grandma Webster!
In the pavilion area, there were many, many little chipmunks......the minute we were finished eating (& sometimes before) they would move in and clean up the ground of all the crumbs....the first day we left out some cantaloupe's and bags of chex mix and when we got back from the pond they had burrowed a hole in the cantaloupe's and through the bag of chex mix....after that we made sure to leave nothing out! The kids got really good at setting traps for the chipmunk's...Daniel set a kind of snare and the picture below the kids have a chipmunk caught in the box! Of course, they all wanted to take him home!
We had fun as a group playing, Twister, Kick Ball, Charades....(who will ever forget Leon's rendition of Peanuts!) We were laughing so hard we were all crying!

Friday afternoon we headed to the river that flowed past camp and had fun floating the river and building dams! Below the guys were trying to build up the dam to make the water deeper I guess (it's a guy thing!) Kyle (on the very left-lost his wedding band trying to lift a heavy rock!) Thank heavens his new bride, Chelsea, is very forgiving!
Everyone enjoyed watching the kids having fun!! and the men making fools of themselves!
The adults made kind of a trail to catch the kids as they floated down the river.....they had some pretty cut up legs and feet from the rocks....but the kids had a grand time.....some of there little chins were shaking so bad from the cold, but they would not quit going again and again!
Below, is a picture of the trailer spots....their was 5 spots for trailers with hook-ups, and about 8 different little cabins, plus the main lodge.
Wendy's husband Steve, made a video of Grandma and Grandpa's life and we watched it and Grandpa told us about the various pictures! Grandma and Grandpa were quite a good-looking couple in their day! It was fun to hear the stories of their life!

Below is Grandpa Webster with two of his great grand children going for a walk! Cute Picture!

Jon, explaining the rules of the next great game....he told them all to take a knee! We had some shirts made for the reunion.....and they all really do look like a team!
Alot of the time was just spent visiting and watching the kids play! We had the most amazing food and fun...but best of all was the company!
The campground does not allow 4 wheelers, but Grandpa Webster got special permission to bring a 4 wheeler so that he could get Grandma back and forth to the pond and the river! They were sure cute driving around together!
After three days of fun it really was hard to leave and say good-bye....some great memories were made and family friendships renewed!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Webster for giving us the opportunity to realize why family is so important and how much our families mean to each of us! We had a great time!