2010 Family Reunion 3

Closing Ceremonies

Editorial note: Some explanation for the unusual arrangement of photos for installment 2. I had it looking so good then I checked the publishing preview and there were so many things wrong including pictures on top of each other and all kinds of sizes to the script. I worked and worked and couldn't get it to do anything. Then Aaron helped me and we at least got it to where we could publish. I'm hoping that whatever I did last time will be different this time.

What good are Olympics if you don't get an award. We had some great ones. Everyone got something as you will see. The ones Melanie gave out looked pretty close to the real thing, at least for a reunion.

We started with the youngest. Aren't these the cutest little boys and girls



















Worked our way up.























Not the best picture of Sarah and Annaliese
Then the young men young women



























And Aaron being crowned


















Then we women panning for the camera.












Next the over 30 men:












And finally the passing of the torch for the next reunion in 2012.
(A fun torch watched over all our games.)

Good luck Emily. We are all willing to help in
what ever form you need.

Thanks again Melanie for a wonderful time!

2010 Family Reunion 2

Family Olympics
We had a fun time with the Olympics part. The family flags were a great idea and each unique and fun. There were activities that everyone could have fun trying. 'Course it helps to be the only ones in your class. Dad and I had it made!


We did kick the shoe.
It wasn't as easy as it looks.
sometimes it goes UP








Record keeping became quite involved, and two heads are always better than one.
The hula- hoop had quite a following. Some practiced and practiced until quite expert!













Most of us tried the standing long jump. I think I made a little over a foot.






I think Melina jumped farther than I did.
Aaron was the over-all winner. Much to his older brothers chagrin.

The water balloon shot put and the Frisbee discuss throw were very entertaining. I think the shorter family members were really excited when they saw all those water balloons.

Granddad got lots of exercise chasing the Frisbee.


There was some haggling with the judges.



And lots of looking at the posted results charts.



Studying and figuring where involved!

And that about covers the better pictures I had.
There will be a part three about our closing ceremony

Disappointment and Reprieve

This is a bit of a catch up blog so that you will understand some of our current concerns. The last of March first of April for a "last fling/spring break" vacation we got a fun young women from our ward to stay with Grandma and went to Texas to visit the Parkinson family and pick out a new travel trailer at the largest dealer in the nation.

We had a really good time at the Parkinsons swimming and visiting, and picked out a great 5th wheel. We wanted a floor plan in the Harry Potter tent idea but had to contend with reality. There are no perfect floor designs but we felt we got the best compromise. Since it was in a huge showroom they only take them out and rearrange every two weeks so we couldn't take it home with us as we had planned. We made plans to pick it up when we came back to Alec's graduation.

A couple of weeks later when we were trying to get in touch with the dealer we discovered that they had gone out of business. They had some money and our trailer. Dad did have the phone number of the salesman we worked with. He called and found our salesman was very surprised to be out of work but was gracious in giving us suggestions of what to do. We called the manufacturer and because we had all the info on the trailer they were able to locate it and get it shipped to another dealer in the same area. Unfortunately we had by this time purchased plane tickets for Alec's graduation and couldn't pick up the trailer at that time. We are still trying to get our down payment back, but we have a 5th wheel somewhere south of Dallas.

Here a the couple of pic. I remembered to take. I only used my cell phone and sometimes those don't turn out all that well.
Picnic at the church for conference.




Megan and friends ready for the Church Prom. I got to help a little with the dress Jenny was sewing for her. It was beautiful and a lot of work, and didn't quite get finished in time.


PS...... We just found out that Visa has gotten our down payment money back. Hurray!

2010 Helm Family Reunion Part 1

2010 Fun and Games

What a delightful and successful family reunion we had. Way to go Melanie! I'm not going to do much writing, but thought you would like to see the few good pictures I got. I've either got to get a better camera, or take photo lessons.

Waiting for breakfast. Didn't we have some great meals.

Hard at work

We did a lot of visiting

Bird watching
(Black-headed Grosbeak)
taking photo's

Lunching
Hiking and waiting for buses.
some got a lot of time to play in the dirt
And had fun with cousins!
thanks to Melanie and Emily there were also bubbles when we weren't busy with other stuff.

All in all we sure had fun. Thanks everyone.
Olympic events to come.