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!