Great Grandma

August 4, 2011

Our vacation: Part 3 in Bend

We went out to the dirt patch. Grandpa had a ball cooking foil dinners and a cherry chocolate dutch oven dessert.

Jonathan was working on the storage containers he has buried.

We walked the Butte twice with Sheryl (she ran part of the way).

On top of Pilot Butte.

We spent an afternoon at the High Desert Museum.

A sleeping porcupine.

There was a fascinating raptor show out in the wild.

Our vacation: Part 2 in Utah

Brenda and her kids were there too and the 5 little girls had a ball. Here they're trying to see how many sox they can fit onto one foot.

We went to the park for free lunch.

Grace climbed a pole

The kids had fun with the Wii rock band

We spent an afternoon with my sisters and drove to Camp Floyd where we had a picnic in the park.


There was a museum. Johnston's Army camped there.

Gail also made a lovely dinner for all of us. Grant has been at BYU for six weeks at a papyrology seminar. At our request he gave us an impromptu lecture about the facsimiles in the Pearl of Great Price. They are actually common funerary papers buried with the dead to help them in the afterlife. The depiction is of Osiris (god of death) rather than Abraham. The knife was just drawn in to represent the attempted sacrifice of Abraham. Joseph actually wrote the Book of Abraham by revelation like he did the Book of Moses rather than translate it from the papyrus.

Our vacation: Part 1 in Central Point

Part 1: Medford openhouse

Cupcakes made by Marie

Homemade bread (by Marie) and jam was also on the menu

July 17, 2011

Family Reunion at Camp Alpine

We enjoyed the zipline

All were there except the Goodwins

There was a talent show. This number was "As Zion's Youth in Latter Days."

We danced the Virginia Reel

Grandpa brought crafts

We walked in the woods

We enjoyed the confidence course

Archery was popular


As was boating

A good time was had by all!

In no particular order, here are some of the things that impressed me during the reunion:

1. Zachary's expertise playing "As Zion's Youth" and the young people singing it!
2. Esther's excellent performance of "Memory." Such a beautiful song.
3. Brenda's beautiful arrangement of "How Great Thou Art."
4. Jessica's song ("My Task") was spiritual and that keyboard is more expressive than I thought it would be. I'm sure my Dad was listening to it.
5. The fun of dancing the Virginia Reel. It tickled me to see how much Gideon loves to dance.
6. All those who pitched in with cooking and clean-up. Particularly Ken and his girls cleaning up after the last meal--Ken singing and making it fun and his girls working hard!
7. Gideon wanting to sit on Jason's lap during the talent show. Jason watching him while the others went running. They are buddies!
8. Ann Marie's confidence in playing a song she had memorized.
9. Creative box decorating, notably Sam's bug box and Rachel's black box with sparkles.
10. Neil's uncanny ability to find the lost lock.
11. Neil's calming MC-ing.
12. The two skits that were actually funny and creative.
13. Robin's gracefulness on the zipline.
14. Zachary's expertise in flipping burgers.
15. Brenda's prayer that Jason's wedding ring could be found (and it was the next week by a girls camp).