My Favortie Reunion Memories by Lucinda

I have a lot of favorite memories from reunions. I loved it when the Thomas family would go camping for a few days. It was always fun to get to know cousins (and second cousins) better. I remember going up Payson Canyon quite a bit.
One time when I was young, Dan taught me how to roast a marshmallow. He showed me that if you watched it carefully, when it started to smoke, then it was time to turn it. That method has worked very well for me ever since:) I remember that after he showed me, I went around to everyone and asked them if I could cook them a marshmallow :)
I remember another time when we were camping with the Thomas Family. It was the year that I really got to know Lori, Amy, and Jenny; some of Aunt Olive's granddaughters. This was great because they were close to my age and it gave me someone to hang out with. That year we also played "Thumper" and slept out under the stars on the picnic tables. I think it might have been the last year we went camping for the Thomas Reunion.
I have also enjoyed our family's reunions. I think I will always remember the paint fight that Krista, Jana, and I had a few years ago. That year we also shared memories that we had about our grandparents. I really enjoyed this because I only remember Grandma Thomas and Grandpa Dunn. It was fun to hear of memories that my siblings had of our grandparents.
I think my favorite part of reunions is the opportunity to visit with family that you don't always take time to visit with. It is also nice to spend time with all of my nieces and nephews, especially the ones that I don't see very often.

Jana's Favorite Reunion Memory

I remember this reunion more clearly than i remember anything else before i was 10. I was 7 years old and it was a Gunderson Reunion at Moon Lake. As we were driving up i was really excited and had to ask mom if EVERYONE was going to be there. She said everyone would be there eventually. She said that everyone was coming but, Uncle Steve (Gunderson :) ) was going to come up one day late because he had work.

To me, coming late to a reunion because of work was nothing short of a sin. I decided he needed to learn a lesson.

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So, a couple of days later dad was filling up water balloons. we had a water fight planned at the beach. Dad said that we would have teams and rules and...stuff. Because we begged, me and a few of the other little kids, including Kara, got just 1 balloon. At first i wanted to keep the precious present. Then i saw Steve. he was sitting in a circle with the other grown-ups. I stood between two white metal tables. i decided it was time for him to learn his lesson. I aimed and threw the balloon as hard as i could. I missed. It hit the tree a foot behind his head.

The adults looked over and laughed at me. Saying "oh you're lucky you didn't hit him" I was determined. I turned to Kara who was standing next to me the whole time holding a great big blue balloon. She was only 3, poor kid. I begged her to hold her balloon for just a second. she refused but, i was persistent. Through whatever lies i told her i got that balloon. I wasted no time in chucking this one also. this one hit the target right on his right shoulder. Kara was probably crying at this point and in the future i did apologize but, at the time, the only thing i cared about was my uncle who had stood up and ran over to the water pump. I guess he got my aunt Tricia because before i knew it they were both coming at me! Tricia went to one side of the table and Steve to the other. I was trapped. I tried to think of ways to escape. Running one way then the other. Finally i resigned myself to running straight for the other grownups, in front of me, and hoping i could make it. As soon as i stepped out of the tables they both got me at the exact same time.

That was how it began. The biggest water fight of our lives. Everyone got cups and water balloons or got out of the way. my dad was at the water pump filling up water for everyone and advising them on who to get next. At one point i saw the younger kids, the ones i played with, all hiding and sniffling up by a tent with my aunt Phyllis. I went up there and tried to feign innocence but, Phyllis wouldn't have it. She sent me away. So, i was the youngest one in the water fight.

When it finally ended I asked my dad when we were going to do the normal water fight. He told me that we ran out of balloons. I never really wanted to do that one but, it was a shame it ended. He said "but, this one was better" I smiled, dripping at him and said "yeah it was"

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July and August Stories

July is almost half way through! I can't believe it! I thought that for July we could share favorite stories from Family Reunions. This could include from our own family reunions or from other family reunions.
For the stories in August, I thought it would be fun to share stories of our grandparents. I know that some were shared at the Thomas reunion last weekend about Grandma and Grandpa Thomas. It was fun to hear about them. Remember you can e-mail them to me or if you are an author on this blog, you can post it yourself. If you have any questions, let me know.

My Daddy by Camilla

One memory of Daddy is that when I was five I was able to go to work with him and he couldn’t get in the house so he opened the window, then he and all his friends looked at me. I had no idea why they were staring at me , but dad asked me to go through the window. It was one of those small windows so I’d have to go unlock the door and then let them in. I was worried about the landing but there was a poster so I slid through the window and opened the door and let them in. I’ve had to do that with his truck when he locked it.