Moosman Reunion 2010

This year for our Fred/Vauna family reunion we found ourselves returning to our "roots". We headed down south, past the "Big Rock Candy Mountain" to a place so dear to our hearts - Escalante, Utah

Stunning and breath taking in beauty - however, I don't ever remember thinking it was when I was a child or early teen. All I remember thinking was "are we there yet?" Weather hampered our slot canyon hike (Steven & Andy did sneak it in the day before and took excellent video's for the rest of us), but with family around, it was all good.

Here is Dad giving us all a little history of "how the land (should) used to be" before bull dozers and excavator's - Here we are in front of the old homestead - oh the memories I have of sleeping in the big bed, Saturday night baths in the #2 tub, hunting for arrow heads, TON'S of petrified wood, picking apples from the orchard for Grandma to make apple pies (in the wood stove), picking asparagus along the ditch banks, sliding on the red rock, and lots of family! Good, no GREAT memories of my youth. The old homestead doesn't look like much now (although it is on the historical registry), but in my mind this old homestead is filled with love and a warm sense of family.

If you look closely, you will see my Grandfather's initials carved in the brick of his childhood home "EM" for Elmer Moosman. In the brick above it, you can also detect a faint "Verda" for his sister as well -

I absolutly LOVE this picture I snagged from Heather - it is of her new born little Autumn with family and the homestead in the background. It's all about our "roots"....

We made a visit to the Cemetary, here is my Great Grandfather David Daniel's headstone -

This is Christian Moosmann's (original spelling) headstone, he is the one who joined the LDS Chuch in Switzerland, immigrated to the United States, helped settle Santa Claria, Pine Valley and eventually ended up in Escalante, UT. And, in Karen's very own words, "Christian begat David, David begat Elmer, Elmer begat Fred, Fred begat Steven ......."

History lesson/tour finished (Escalante isn't that big you know), it was on to family games and activities. Here's some we enjoyed. Can you get an oreo from your forehead to your mouth in less than a minute? Steven can't -

Neither can Whitney -

But Andy did (can you also spot the oreo in mid air? It was Tim's attempt!)

Tim playing Ladder Ball -

One of our favorite's - the balloon game

I tag Kathy - opps, we're not supposed to are we?

Easton won the kids - Myles won the adults

With 15 kids 5 & under (and rain), we managed to keep them pretty well entertained. Some of the activities included face painting -

A pajama parade -

How about a pinata?

Bubbles ----

Painting -

More bubbles -

A few more random pictures

The Moosman Family reunion is one I can't wait for each year. We missed those few who weren't able to make it, and really enjoyed those that did. Thanks for the fun and memories, family!