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!

Not our best week -

Well, it's bound to happen to all of us sooner or later, sometimes more often that we'd like. You know, those weeks (or months, or years) that come along and you wish you didn't have them at all? Last week was one of those weeks for us.

To start the week off, lets talk snow - last week of May (!) snow - 3" of heavy, wet morning snow - plus did I mention it rained all day in addition to the 3" of heavy, wet morning snow? I endured this weather just like the rest of you but when I sat down to eat dinner Monday night guess what my little eyes spied????

Yep - you guessed it. Gazebo #2 is no more. Caved in to this weather like a wet noodle! I couldn't believe it, but it's true! Here are a few more "not our best week" events -

Kids announce that Denver will be their new home, and they're moving ---- NEXT WEEK -

Didn't make it down to visit with my parents-

Roofing Association Director resigns and lucky me inherits the job (temporarily)-

My big pile for the Deseret Industries didn't make it to the drop off -

Costco no longer sells my lucious edamame beans -

I found 2 dead baby birds (and evidence of more) in my garden -

The furnace is still kicking on (last week of MAY, mind you!)

But, even though this wasn't our best week, there were a few shinning moments:

Watching these exceptional men deal with "issues" of their own -

This precious little one turned "6"!
With all of the blasted snow and rain this year our wisteria blossoms are prettier than they've been in years -
The kids are SO excited to get to Denver -

I read our Sunday School lesson so I will be prepared -

I lost 3 more pounds -

Costco now selling "fresh" peach pie -

Got the garden tilled and planted!

Family dinner at Market Street -

And finally, always the brightest part of my life -
No, some weeks are not our best - but then, there is always NEXT week to look forward to -

Gotta get it -

COCONUT LIME VERBENA -

Get it ---

Smell it ---

Enjoy it ---

Bath and Body Works!

Sunday Family Time

Sunday family dinners are some of my most favorite times - we get to have the family together and do, well, family things. This last Sunday was finally good enough weather to venture outside for a bit afterwards and there was a whole lot of different things going on.

Annie "created" different things for us to snack on -

Berlynn "created" a Barbie Disneyland for all of us to come walk around, why just look at the creative way she placed these Barbies around the yard -

Can you believe what a great job she did?
Here she is demonstrating her "hole" digging technique used for the Barbies -

She did such a great job, we loved walking through the Barbie Disneyland

The men folk enjoyed sitting

Cate enjoyed the playhouse (still)

Missing from all of this creating, playing and visiting was this handsome little man. No, he actually wasn't in the bathtub (but he does LOVE to go fishing in my new tub), but I for sure didn't want to leave him out. He was busy creating and playing by himself, downstairs!

After all was cleaned up and put away - I was outside working in the yard the next day when I came upon this "shoe tree" and thought it was so cute (maybe only to a Grandma), but had to snap a shot to remind me, always, of the great fun it is to have little ones around. Can you find all 4 shoes?

Love having the family around, especially for Sunday dinners!