Trip post 9: reunion day 3, hike and auction

 My grandfather LOVED to hike. One of his favorite hikes was the Mt. Timpanogos hike. I remember hiking it with him quite a bit as a child.
This was what was on the schedule for Saturday morning. I have very low expectations for Felix, but we went anyway. This hike is so great because there is an easyish one up to a waterfall, then you can go up higher to another falls and a cave. We opted for the small part since we had little children.
By the time we got to the start of the hike it was pouring rain. POURING! Like, soaked within minutes, pouring. I thought, if we only get a short ways up, we can bring the kids down and wait in the car until everyone else is finished.
I tell you what, that kid (all our kids!) made it all the way to the top, in the pouring rain, in some rough mud and rocks to climb over on the trail! I was so amazed!

 It took both Travis and myself holding Felix's hands the whole way. But he walked almost all of it! Thank goodness for Steve and Shawna who helped Lydia and Jill and Will and Grandpa Sam for keeping an eye on the other kids. We passed them on their way down and that is the only time we saw them!

 Beautiful hike!

 Lovely waterfall. It stopped raining maybe halfway up.

 We made it!!! I really amazed me! Can you tell?

 My lovely sister, darling daughter, and myself.

 The last night of the reunion we usually do an auction with items people bring to the reunion. We use pretend $ and each family gets the same amount of money. The items donated include: original artwork, heirlooms, rotating items (ones like the wooden "thumbs up" that you can rent for one year), crafty items, homemade food items, and things that we want to share or that we are done with.
Before the adults got started with the auction the younger kids got to open goody bags. They got some fabulous prizes.

Some of the older grand kids opted to participate in a Favorite Things Exchange. Each child brought 3 of the same favorite thing. Each child had a turn to explain what their item was, then draw 3 names of other participants to give their items to. It was so much fun!

Boys with their goodies!

This is a picture of the 5 granddaughters. Of the 23 grandchildren only 5 are girls. We were happy this year that 2 more girls were added and another expected! I am happy that Zoe and Gwennie have each other and Greta and Leia have each other and that Lydia loves the company of her boy cousins so much!

I really could go on and on about our amazing reunion and about all the pictures I wish I would've taken. About the overwhelming love I have for all of these folks. I truly feel so abundantly rich to be surrounded by some of the most amazing people I know! How blessed I feel.