Family Reunion:

In August, Donny was flying home from Azerbaijan where he is serving in the Peace Corps for a couple of years. It is such a momentous occasion for him to be coming home for three weeks that Teri arranged a family reunion for her kids and families. On the most part that reunion turned out to be fantastic. Richie drove in from Idaho with his family, Traci and family flew in from Utah, Christy and her family flew in from Michigan and of course Donny from Azerbaijan and the Oregon families drove in and Bob Woodward, Teri’s step dad came up in his motor home. It was the longest and most pleasant visit from Bob we have ever had. Don, Teri’s kid’s dad was also there with his wife Kit. One highlight of the reunion was a trip up to the Great Wolf Lodge in Washington State. We stayed two days and one night at the lodge with water play for the day of check in and check out. What a great place for a family event. Another major part of the event was family portrait time. Teri hired a photographer to come do a formal group portrait of all of us and of each family group. Sadly Marty, Christy’s husband had to fly back to Michigan unexpectedly so was not in the pictures.

All went very smoothly during the reunion and Teri did not try to do everything or prepare two or three meals per day for the whole thing and happily they all pitched in to do their parts making it better for all. I had built a play structure in the yard for our grand kids that kept them occupied for much of the time. Then of course we have our large downstairs set up as a grandkid paradise.

Father's Day Family Reunion

This has been a year for family reunions. The first, bringing all my six kids together, was a total surprise perpetrated by Teri. What a surprise it was and so absolutely fantastic. I had no idea that anything was in the works although if I were a more suspicious person I would have seen some clues that might have alerted me to something in the offing.

Teonei was going to stay with us for a couple of days on either side of going to a home school conference in Seattle. Kandle decided she would go to a day of the two day conference with Teonei so she came to our home to stay the night as well. I had no idea that anything else was planned. Teonei then told me that Rajesh, her husband was going to come for the weekend so we went to the ariport to pick him and his boys up. I was excited to see them and have them stay with us. We got the airport and drove into the arriving passenger pick-up area when Teonei said she saw them. I didn't but pulled over to the curb. I got out of the truck and looked over the crowd of people for Rajesh. Teonei said she saw them but I still couldn't. I saw but did not pay attention to a man with a hat on walking toward me with a huge smile on his face. I kept looking past him for Rajesh and then noticed that the woman with the hatted mad was none other than Sarah, Ryan's wife. Instantly I realized that if that is Sarah, the guy she is with must be Ryan. What a surprise. We greeted and he told me that Teri had flown him out to be with me for Father's Day. That was such a surprise and if nothing else happened I would have been thrilled but that wasn't the end of it.

We arrived home to find Don and Laura hiding in the laundry room. Another surprise and now even more happy. How could it get any better. Well it did because Teri had arranged to have Jason come with his daughter Zoe and his girl friend and her two sons. He brought Sebastian and Chris, Kandle's husband came with their two girls. It was so great to have all of them there but sad that Rajesh and sons did not get to come. I hope to have them all back with no one missing in a year o

r two.

It was a fantastic reunion with cousins running around and brothers and sisters getting caught up. It was truly the best father's day I have ever had.

Thank you Teri