Reunion Time

Awhile back it was suggested that the Potter side of the family should do an annual family reunion.  We've had a few unofficial ones in the past and most of them have been here in Michigan.  But the idea was presented that each of us should take a turn to host the reunion each year.  Technically it would be my mom and dad's turn first, but with Spencer's baptism this summer and our not planning to go out west till next summer, it was decided that Kalen and I would be in charge first and then my parents will take their turn next year followed by Alison and Mike the next and so on.  We looked at other locations but with the baptism, it just wasn't going to work, so we just planned to have everyone come and stay here in Albion.  

The Utah crew arrived first--actually about a week before the scheduled reunion.  Susannah came with her two kids so that was fun for our kids to get reacquainted with their cousins.  Especially since Christopher was just a couple months old the last time we saw him.  It's been a long time since I was the "cool" aunt but Christopher sure latched himself onto me and followed me around like a little shadow jabbering away constantly.  Such a cutie.

Kendall is a huge kid magnet always and this is one reason why--he is totally game to do whatever the kids want, even if it means putting on a Snow White dress that is  5 sizes too small.

We had a wonderful day at the Detroit temple before the big crowd came.  It was really fun to be there with both of my parents and my sister performing work for our ancestors on my mom's side.

After a slower but fun week of visiting, the official reunion could begin.  The Bramhall's arrived from New Jersey and our whirlwind week was off.  We really missed Andrew and Marni and their kids and Melissa and Cody and their kids, as well as Samuel who was stationed in Afghanistan with the Air Force; but we still had a very large group and a whole lot of fun.

We spent an afternoon at Turkeyville and had a ball on the trains, as usual.  And losing a whole lot of quarters in the game room.  And spending even more money on candy in the gift shop.

Sunday was the main event--Spencer's baptism day.  Spencer was very excited and it meant so much to have so many family members there to celebrate his big day.  It was an amazing, AMAZING day.  There was such an overpowering spirit there.  Spencer asked me to speak on baptism, which I did.  He's the first of my kids to ask me to speak at their baptisms, so I was honored to be asked. Spencer asked Taylor to baptize him and Kalen to confirm him.  I know Taylor was pretty terrified to do it, but he agreed.  I cannot even put into words the feelings I had watching my oldest son perform a saving ordinance for my youngest son.  Just wow!  My niece Isabel sang a beautiful solo and then Kalen did the confirmation.  Again, the spirit was amazing and I guess several of the men in the circle felt it incredibly.  I just love the gospel of Jesus Christ!

After the baptism, we went to the park for a fun summer concert.

The next day we enjoyed an afternoon at the bounce castle where the kids played on the slides and inflatables and everyone had fun trying to win prizes with all the games.

Spencer was a big winner with this game--250 tickets!

Probably our biggest excursion was a big day trip to Indiana to go to Shipshewana--major Amish country. During the summer, they do a giant flea market in addition to all the other shops and things around town.  We had fun checking out the flea market and bought a few things including a beautiful Amish-made Sunday dress for Kaya that cost all of $7.  Then we checked out a bunch of the other fun shops around town including letting all of the kids try out an antique early 1900's carousel. We wrapped everything up with a genuinely real Shaved Ice.  Not a snow cone but real Shaved Ice like I used to have when I was growing up and our family would sell it at the fair every year.

Another big excursion was a trip to Lake Michigan.  We had tried that a few years before when we had everyone out to visit for Kaya's baby blessing but we went to a beach in St. Joseph that had major security patrols and if the wind was blowing at all, they wouldn't let anyone in the water.  So no one got to swim that time.  Since then, we had discovered the beach in South Haven that didn't have the major patrols and was actually a better beach, so we were excited to finally let everyone experience the lake.  What we didn't plan on was a "cold" spell.  For a couple of weeks during the summer, the temperatures had been in the 70's  and low 80's if we were lucky.  It made for a lovely and pleasant summer, but with the lower temps, the lake water was absolutely frigid!!!  We did have fun anyway.  The kids spent plenty of time in the water and there were a few crazies (Taylor, Jonathan, David, and Timothy) who even swam way out to the buoys.  I don't think I made it in much past my knees.  It was just so shockingly cold.  Maybe even colder than our Lake Superior dip last summer in the U.P.

There was a lot of sand play since the water was so cold!

Taylor's face pretty much sums up how cold his trip to the buoy was.

Actually got one of Christopher looking at the camera!

Tired little Barrett.

Nice and cozy in a beach blanket!

Almost to the buoy!

We hiked out to the lighthouse just before leaving .

After so many bigger excursions, we also did a few smaller ones.  We went one day to a movie, The Croods, at the historic Michigan Theater in Jackson.  And another day we spent hiking around the nature center.

I think with all the fun places and things we did, it was pretty unanimous that the favorite activity of pretty much everyone was our trip to Swain's Lake.  Jonathan had brought along his little boat with a raft for pulling people and we all took turns going for rides both in the boat and in the raft.  We brought a picnic for everyone to graze on when they took a break from the water and we all just had fun playing in the water for the afternoon.  Everyone was reluctant to leave when the time finally came.

When we weren't off going and doing, we had lots of fun visiting and eating and playing.  It was such a fun reunion and I really hope that we can keep this up every year.  We are already looking forward to next year in Utah.  And really looking forward to not being the ones in charge!