Lance Reunion in Samaria
Phillip was in percussion and then band camp from 28 July to 08 August. He was at school for 8 hours most days as the band practiced their new show, Bionic. Phillip showed me a video of him playing with 4 mallets! Pretty cool. Everett learned Monday morning that the corn topping season is done. That was short, only 3 weeks long this year. The boys worked hard and hopefully earned enough money to last them through the next year. They are very excited to get their paychecks this coming week.
Most of the week before the reunion the girls helped me get stuff ready for Harry Potter school. I made 5 cloaks out of two king-sized sheets, 4 little ones and a cloak for Phillip. Amelia was the biggest help. She researched ideas for classes and came up with a schedule. Everett tried his best to research ideas for quidditch but came up short in the end. Friday morning I was off to Walmart and DMB supply for PVC and balls. We found most of the items we needed at the dollar store and in my well-stocked craft cabinet. Amelia is going to miss my stash of craft supplies. I’ve searched FB and used musical instrument sites for about 3 months now looking for a 3/4 guitar for Evelyn that was in my price range. I finally found a Martin LXM guitar from a gal who wanted to upgrade to a Taylor GS (the one I really want). Evelyn is thrilled to have an instrument that does not drown her size wise. I spent a day cutting paper with the school cricut for my school bulletin boards.
We had most of Friday to pack up at our leisure. Justin said he would not be ready to leave until 5 pm or later. So we took our time packing and getting stuff to the garage. Justin finished up his work at 2 pm so we were able to leave around 3:30. Amelia was picking up Phillip and running an errand for me around this same time, once she got back we packed up and van and left. With all the Harry Potter stuff and various instruments our van was stuffed to the gills. We brought back Jeremy’s guitar and Evelyn’s new guitar for Jeremy to check out, maybe even change the strings. Google took us along a very scenic route on dirt roads and then country lanes through gorgeous hills. The drive was spectacular.
The reunion was at Sunshine Ranch, elegant country retreat in Samaria, ID (about 12 minutes from Malad City). We pulled up to a cute iron wrought fence, excited voices floating across the lawn from the backyard. Soon everyone was in the back playing games with the uncles, aunts, and cousins. Dad used painter’s tape to assign bedrooms to everyone. Ours was right next to the front door with two queen beds. The house layout was interesting with nooks and crannies all over the place. Evelyn, Penny, Hannah, Josie, and Rachel made a cutest pack of girls ever. The older cousins took their task of entertaining baby cousins very seriously! Jeremy’s kids are so darn cute and tiny. Everyone was outside throwing balls, playing pickle ball, volleyball, playing on the swing set, and/or running around like tornados. I brought my telescope for Harry Potter astrology class, the temptation to use it that first evening was not a trifle. My laser pointer ran out of batteries, that meant pinpointing the MOON was quite a challenge. I was more than a little frustrated to not get the moon in my scope within 30 minutes. We had a radical dance party with church dance music and of course our party light! The lances kept games going at the dinner table almost the entire reunion. It was fun to visit a conversation here and there as we chatted with each other. Joe and Kat arrived around 9:30 pm. Dad reported that many little stomps and giggles floated through the ceiling from several cute girls sleeping in the attic…right over his bedroom.
Saturday was Harry Potter school day! We somehow misplaced a PVC part for the quidditch post, I ran into town for the part with Yulia. We started school after lunch. Amelia stole the show with her sorting hat voice as she sorted the kids into houses. We decided to use random names like griffin claw, turtle fang, and etc. I tied colored string on each cousin’s wrist to indicate their house. Phillip taught wand making class while standing inside the wood storage pit next to the BBQ grill. I loved how the older cousins immediately helped their younger housemates. Everett taught quidditch next. That was very fun after some trail and error, I sure got a workout. Lia and Mia taught potions (Italian sodas), Emmie taught charms (keep uppey), Grandma taught care of magical creatures (fairy garden stuff), Everett L taught transfiguration (clay figures) and John taught Defense Against the Dark Arts (corn hole). We had six hours of entertainment! Those kids were worn down and tired by dinner…you’re welcome. I was also very tired after all that fun. Kat enlisted Jared’s help to hide motivational figures around the house, all the whoops and cheers after one was spotted was quite an entertaining game. I loved the potato figure! James and Miekka were the true heroes as they managed all the food and meals. That is no easy task. A set of cousins helped clean after each meal.
Everyone filled out 10-15 index cards with jeopardy-type questions about the original 8 siblings. James or I read questions at each meal. It was a fun way to remember all the little stories and include the littler ones on the stories.
Sunday we had a church meeting under the pergola at 11:20 with the boys preparing and passing the sacrament. After the sacrament Dad lead a short testimony meeting under the large shade tree. Jana made me tear up as she recounted how sorry she was for ruining so many family trips and activities. Girl! We all ruined things…and I don’t care about the stupid yearbook you permanently borrowed. I had supplies to make a few rag dolls for the girls. Miekka and Mom helped me get that all ready before the girls started that project. I called for a family photo at 4 pm. It was too light still in the front at that time so Dad had a family meeting about the next reunion and time for each family report on our comings and goings. After that we took some group photos. I was having a hard time getting the pose Dad wanted with all the guys, my directions were not super clear AND the boys (James) were not cooperating. Geesh. Hopefully, the photos turned out well enough for Mom’s vision. I loved that Dad was out playing most of the games with the kids. He is quite the Keepy Uppey champion. Rudy had ALL the kids out playing football, baseball, pickleball, and etc for hours. He was amazing!
Monday, everyone was tired and slow getting a move on, too many late night playing fun games like Dutch Boy (?). The kids really wanted some water fun so we organized a water fight after lunch. We finished the last Harry Potter classes, mainly Herbology and fishing. Seth made cute dragons for each girl and a tank for each boy. Everett and Phillip are very motivated to buy a Bambu 3-d printer now. I was the herbology teacher we made dirt cups for that class. Yes, very fancy. Unfortunately, folks started leaving right after lunch. Joe, Kat, and Jeff left first. Kat made us all cry by crying herself. Miss you sweet babe. Jana left right after herbology. John and Court left shortly after we headed for home. We waited until after dinner to leave, can’t miss James’ grilled pork chops and John’s apple crisp with some magical cream cheese spread. I made butter beer as a last nod to Harry Potter. Dang. I believe Natalya had the best quote of the reunion. Seth was playing ball when she yelled, “You play baseball like a girl!” In her squeaky, high darling voice. We all died. That was so much fun. Let’s play again.
We pulled in to our Nampa home around 11:30 pm. I had to work for like the first time in 19 years on my birthday. That was not so fun. Then again birthdays aren’t much fun anymore. There was a 3.5 hour staff meeting to kick off the school year, most of the reports were “hope we can get you more information before students come next week…” yikes. I went to lunch with Heidi, Stacie, and Jenn T to Jimmy Johns for a fun birthday outing. Amelia surprised me with a cute lego plant and pot set and a flower. Everett also surprised me with a blue lego flower. We had dinner at El Guerro, can’t go wrong with shrimp Mexican food. Justin got me a paddle board and an English-Portuguese Book of Mormon!
I spent the next two days at school glueing paper stuff and getting my classroom ready for school. The kids were mostly bored at home without mom to make them clean their chores. Somehow I fit in haircuts for 5 people on Thursday and Friday. Evelyn now has cute long bangs! She’s flipping her hair all over the place like a queen. Everett had Freshman orientation at the same time as Reagan’s open house. I took him early hoping to meet with Mrs Bussey about Phillip’s schedule, he was missing band class for the year. We got that fixed. I left Phillip and Everett to attend the orientation and went back to work. Justin got the van from me at the school to go join the boys at Columbia. Josie has Mrs Hodges for 4th grade this year. I hope that is a good fit. She is a yeller but all, in all a big personality and can be quite funny.
Summer went by too quickly. We ended a week later and started a week early, that’s two weeks less summer vacation. I am dragging my feet, don’t want to go back to child prison for another year. Public school is mostly awful. I am not looking forward to the exhaustion and rush of school.
Amelia had her first few days of work at Del Taco. She only worked about 9 hours total this week. Hopefully, she can get more hours once school starts. She is also pet/house sitting for Brother Madsen’s dog Buddy. It’s strange having her gone all the time. Life feels boring without her vibrance.
Saturday was busy. We cleaned house and the yard. I photographed Deigo, Dahlia, and Dariana around 4:15 pm. Dariana turned 3 months old. She actually fell asleep for 20 minutes! What a sweet angel. My feet and arms still ache all the time. I’m scraping my feet and arms at least twice a day in an effort to stretch the muscles loose. I know life will move on just fine in spite of all the busy. We heard the Pasha nearly died at a Primary Pool party. Poor kid was pulled unconscious from the water and given life-saving treatment. He was under the water anywhere between 2-5 minutes. He was talking and eating so thankfully, any brain damage was avoided. Gosh, life can change in an instant. Miracles are all around us!
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