Harper Family Reunion

After we came home from the Hales Family Reunion, Sarah and Rachel spent a week at girls camp.  They had a great time, but as soon as they got home, we were off again, this time to the Harper Family Reunion held in Island Park, Idaho.  On the way, we stopped to pick up David's brother's boat, which he graciously let us take for a few days before the reunion started.  After the first day of some engine trouble, we had a great time doing lots of boating, tubing, and waterskiing.

We had hot weather, beautiful cloudless blue skies, and a cool lake.  Summer doesn't get much better.

David with his wonderful sweet parents

 On the first day of the reunion, we met here:

 We had quite a crowd, but this isn't even everyone.

Harper Family Reunion 2012

 It was so wonderful to be in the temple together as a family. 

 Later we drove to Island Park for some of this:

 and lots of this:

 For the next few day, we played games, swam, visited, and did lots of boating.

 David taught the three big kids to waterski.  I love the look of concentration on Ben's face.

 Sarah spent most of the time doing this.

 She eventually got up, but decided riding the tube was more fun.

 Rachel got up too.

 The lake is so pretty there in Island Park.  I love the wide-open sky. 

I got to take a turn too.  Lately, every time I waterski, I decide that it might be my last time, so we might as well take a picture for history's sake.  Who knows how many more years my body will be good for this kind of crazy stuff? 

 It was a fabulous, fabulous reunion. 

I loved seeing so much family, letting the cousins play, and taking time to reconnect and relax.

On the last evening, the first generation kids and spouses, along with David's parents, spent an evening together in West Yellowstone.   We ate at a fun restaurant, then met for a family meeting to plan the next reunion.

This is a picture of nine of the ten kids and their spouses along with Mom and Dad Harper.  Steve and Jennifer had not yet come back from Israel when we had the reunion.  We missed them, but were so glad that nearly all the rest of the family was there!

 Love this family!

William is 3!

 William turned 3! 

We had a busy day, but when we finally got together at the end of the day, we got to celebrate.  William chose his birthday dinner menu of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli.  Afterward, William got to open his presents.  He got some new Cars

a soccer ball, and soccer goal, some coloring books and markers from Grandma, and a new train. 

Opening presents was serious business.

William has been talking about his birthday cake for months.  He wanted a chocolate cake with dinosaurs and candy on it.  He helped pick the dinosaurs and we put three on since he was turning three.

After he blew out the candles, he started eating the M&Ms and managed to eat almost all of them off the cake before we got it cut and served.  That boy loves M&Ms.  They were the secret weapon that got us through our trip to the Middle East.  Amazingly, they were sold lots of places.  David would buy a package and then ration them out really slowly, so that William would cooperate for as long as possible.  So for his birthday, we just let him eat them.  He was as happy as could be. 

Kate was having some birthday jealousy, so William tried to cheer her up by making her smile.  He was so cute and sweet with her. 

Happy Birthday William!  We love having you in our family. 

Here are some facts about William right now:

1.  He loves cars, trains, guns, swords, and balls. 
2.  He loves to play outside, especially playing baseball and jumping on the trampoline.
3.  He is very much a boy and is not willing to dress up in anything girly.
4.  He loves to pretend he is a knight with a sword, helmet and shield fighting a dragon, or superman with his cape that must get all the bad guys.
5.  He really likes playing with the Winnie the Pooh figurine set.
6.  He loves to eat meat and usually begs for more at meal times, but is probably our best vegetable eater too.
7.  Other favorite foods are pasta, fruit leather, broccoli, pizza, peas from the garden, all kinds of fruit, etc.
8.  He is a sweet boy and insists I snuggle with him each night before he goes to sleep.

Hales Family Reunion Day 3 - Sol Duc

After leaving beautiful Lake Crescent, we drove about a half hour deeper into Olympic National Park to the Sol Duc Resort at Sol Duc Hot Springs.

 We checked in our cute cabins nestled in this beautiful valley. 

First stop:  The hot pools.  There was a regular swimming pool, and then three different hot pools at varying temperatures (and a slight sulfur smell).  They felt wonderful! 

We hadn't been there very long when William slipped jumping into the pool and cut open the back of his head.  I was so glad David was along with some supplies to get him all taken care of.

A few staples and he was as good as new.  Sarah was the shining star helper of the day--she didn't panic at all that blood and helped to hold his head still while he got his staples, all the while telling him a story and keeping him happy. 

 Later that night we celebrated Danielle's birthday

 and hung out together.  David loved holding these little ones. 

The next morning we did some hiking.  Our first hike was a short half-mile nature walk through an old growth forest. 

 Then we went on a longer hike to Sol Duc Falls. 

Sol Duc Falls were spectacular--much better in person than these pictures show.  The falls were huge and roaring and powerful. 

Girl Cousins!

 Rachel loved getting the spray from the falls.

 The boys joined in as well.

 We got some cute family photos in the amazing scenery.

 This section of the falls was on the cover of National Geographic not that long ago I was told.

 After the hiking, we were glad to get back into those hot pools to soak again. 

 The kids had so much fun swimming.

 William learned to be more careful getting into the pool.

The next morning we had breakfast and packed up.  Time to go home!  Some of the family stopped in Seattle to see the King Tut exhibit on their way home.

It was such a great reunion!  Thanks to everyone who came so far and sacrificed so much so that we could be together.  I love my family!