Family Reunion Opening

We had our bi-annual Swift Family Reunion last month.  It was great because all eight children were able to come with their families.  Also we had 23 grandchildren come.  Only the 2 oldest grandchildren were not able to make it.

We held the reunion at Sun Lakes Park Resort in Eastern Washington at a beautiful campground by a lake in a valley surrounded by mountains.  It was beautiful there and different from where we live.  We had sunny weather the whole time.

 Talitha and David organized the Family Reunion this year and did a superb job.  They put in so much work: it was an incredible time.  It couldn't have been better and we all had so much fun.

 On Sunday everyone drove out to the campground arriving at all different times.  Some stayed in cabins and some in RVs and tents.  The first event we all gathered for dinner at the picnic tables.  It was so nice to see everyone all together.

 This is a shot of the campground where Talitha and Tianna had RVs parked and Joshua had a big tent.  Unfortunately that first night we had a great windstorm and it blew his tent down and broke some of the poles.

 Julia, Christian, Elliott and Agnes inside Talitha and David's RV the morning after their tent blew down.

We had a birthday party for everyone that had a birthday that summer.  Out of 41 people we had quite a few birthdays.

Family Reunion Hike

The first morning there some of us went on a hike.  It was beautiful out.  A good thing about this reunion is that we had different optional activities for different tastes so there was something for everyone.

Here we are gathering at the trailhead for the Umatilla Rock trail which circled this incredible rock formation.  We took five cars getting there.

Everyone getting ready to go.  We had babies along in carry packs - Dorian, Joslyn, and Calista seen in this picture.  Also Jonathan and Asher were in packs.

Heading out on the trail.  It was a beautiful desert trail.

Some had good seats for the hike, like Hannah on Nathanael.

An interesting formation.

The winding trail.  We got kind of strung out at times.  Christian leading the way.

Cool rock formations to climb on.

Jacob and Julia found an interesting skeleton.  Maybe a deer.

We couldn't help but get off the trail at times.  Evan climbing up a little higher here.

Christian and Hannah posing on some rocks.

The trail went all around the giant rock formation.  The website says it was a 2.5 mile hike, which was not easy in the sun.  But it was all pretty level and little or no elevation gain.

We skirted next to a lake at one spot.

Julia, Mary-Anne, and Doranda working their way down the trail.

Dorian, Kim, Joshua, and Asher.

And we saw a Bald Eagle.  He was a big one.  It was a fun hike and I think we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

Family Reunion Swimming

Later that day some of us went swimming in the nearby lake.  It was a lot of fun and the water was warm.

 Nathanael brought this large blow-up raft that the kids were just dying to try out.  Scarlett, Leon, Penelope, Hannah, Tucker, and Spencer.

 Nathanael wading the raft out into the lake.  The waters were calm, it was sunny, and it was a perfect day for swimming.

 Christian and Ethan on an air mattress we brought.

Joshua with Mallory, Hannah, Julia, Andrew, Anges, and Tucker.

 Julia with Hannah and Agnes on a different mattress.

 Malachi with Spencer, Andrew, Mallory, Julia and Agnes.

 Ethan on the hammerhead shark.

 Julia and Hannah.

 Agnes on the hammerhead.

 Me with Agnes, Elliott, Christian, Julia, Tucker, and Andrew.

 Caleb with Mallory and Leon.

Nathanael, Tianna, Doranda, Caleb, and Talitha with Penelope and Joslyn.  Lakes are fun.

Family Reunion Hawaiian Party

The second night Talitha and David planned a big Hawaiian Party.

 Here we are at the photo station.

 There were decorations and lots of food for everyone to eat.

 David and Talitha set up these big canopies so we had shade to sit in for those that wanted and sunny tables for those that wanted.

Everyone smile.

 People played soccer in the big field next to our sites and also some kickball and bocce ball.  Nathanael and Caleb played a lot of soccer with Ethan, Jacob, Andrew, Tucker, Christian, James and others.

 Leon playing with the hulu hoops.

 Talitha, Malachi, and Tianna with Mallory and Lucy.

 Dorian playing with a lei.

 Agnes loved blowing bubbles and showing anyone that would watch.

 Penelope in a grass skirt with lei and flowers in her hair.

 Joslyn was happy even playing in the dirt.

 Joshua running the limbo with Julia and Hannah.

 Tucker doing the limbo.  Spencer, Mallory, and Leon watching.

 Hannah doing the limbo.

 Mallory took a spill.  They didn't always make it.

 Leon with a banna boat dessert.

A family picture with us and our eight wonderful children.  We are so fortunate to have such wonderful children.