Welch Family Reunion 2015 - Bear Lake

Grandma Welch has been planning a family reunion for a very long time. She had finally found a place big enough for all of us to be together, which is no mean feat. There are about 100 of us now. A week or two before the scheduled reunion, she got a call from the rental agency that the lodge she had rented had burned down. Fortunately, they were able to find two other vacation rental properties that were right next to each other that would be big enough to house all of us. Whew! What a crazy beginning. Thankfully, everything else went smoothly.

Montana couldn't get away to come down, but was coming the weekend prior to get some mannequins for Katie, his girlfriend. So we decided to go up early so we could see them. We got a hotel and had a fun weekend, visiting and swimming. The boys are learning to swim because we've stayed in so many hotels in the last year. Strange.

Hannah, Charlie (in black shirt), Cambria holding James, and Soren

James is still unsure about the water. Cambria was trying to coax him in. 

We have actually invested in quite a few water toys. Something we've never really had before.

James and Dad

Charles is getting much more comfortable in the water. Still likes his floatation devices, but is happy to paddle back and forth in the shallow end.

Soren and Dad

James holding on for dear life

some sort of battle between the girls...

Soren, who swims quite well since he took a couple of swim lessons

Over she goes!

I do not know what this game was..

Involved dunking and laughing.

Sillies!

We ate at Texas Roadhouse. My little boys' favorite restaurant. Quite a table-full. 

On Sunday afternoon, we headed to Bear Lake and got settled in. Family arrived at intervals thoughout the day, until we were all gathered. None of Richard's family made it, unfortunately. Nor did Kelton's family, Jordan's family or Montana.

The big house. It had something like 20 bedrooms/baths. Wow!

We got to pick a room and chose the beach room. It was colorful and had a little balcony of it's own.

It had a nice bathroom with a jetted tub. Of course, I had to use it once while we were there!

This was the inside balcony/hall outside our bedroom door. It looked down over the living area.
These are the two Isaacs. Isaac Hammett (Brandee's son) and Isaac James Welch. They had a lot of fun playing together. 

James was so excited he was doing the Dance of Joy.

One of the rooms downstairs had 3 bunkbed sets in it, plus a pile of portable mattresses…All the middle-sized boys slept in this room together. Charlie was excited to have a top bunk. 

There was a game room with pool and air hockey.
Here Tyler (Rodney's son) is coaching James and Isaac on the air hockey.

My girls and Noah shooting some pool

Soren, Nash and Eli went with Kyle to the lake to check it out. These boys sure love each other!

Lots of craft supplies and ideas were brought along to help entertain people. Everyone got along and got to know each other. Sometimes it's hard to know your cousins when they live 2000 miles away and you only see them every 2-3 years.
Here Ella (Brandee's daughter), is helping James make some things out of Perler beads. She's a great girl.

On Monday night, we had a special FHE about Lehi's vision and the Tree of Life. Nicole and her family had gone to a lot of work to make it special. We all had to reenact Lehi's vision and hold onto the rod of iron to get to the tree.

When we got to the tree, we were each able to pick a piece of 'fruit' from it. They were clear ornaments with a small battery-powered tealight in it. And we all got a tree of life charm on a necklace or keychain to remind us to get to the tree and to bring our family members with us. I love my necklace and wear it a lot!

Lousy picture, but it was very cool to see the tree all lit up and be able to pick a glowing piece of 'fruit' from it.

Tuesday we spent the day at the Lake and Wednesday various groups did different activities. Our family went on a hike with Kyle and his kids. I will post separate entries for those two days.

The reunion ended on Thursday and we had to clean up the houses and go our separate ways. (I have to say that cleaning a vacation home has really changed my perspective on leaving a place clean when I go. I truly appreciate those who don't leave me huge messes and make my job easier. I tried to do the same when we left this house.)

It is always so good to be together, and hard to leave, knowing that it will be quite a long time before we are all together again. As the family gets larger, it gets harder to coordinate everyone's schedules and find a place large enough to hold us all. I know that Grandma and Grandpa Welch went to a lot of effort to plan, prepare and pay for this reunion and I am so thankful for that. I am thankful that they want all their kids and grandkids to spend time together and get to know each other. Nothing in this world is more important than family. I am sure there were memories made that will long be cherished. We look forward to the next one.