Colorado Reunion

Every July, my dad, his siblings, and their descendants return to the ranch in Mancos, Colorado, where they grew up. There are over 100 of us now. I try to make it back every year. I love that my kids know these people who were so integral to my childhood.

This year, my sister was in Utah for her husband's family reunion so we spent some time together and then caravan-ed to Colorado. Sadly, my dad wasn't able to go because his cardiologist wanted him to stay close to home. His blood pressure was way too high and the doctor was concerned. It was especially hard for him because last year he was on a mission and couldn't go. Plus, our family was in charge this year. It wasn't the same without him.

This is an old school house we passed on the way.

Jalen and my nephew Riley each lost a flip flop to the hay stacks.

There was a time when we'd have 25 tents pitched around my Uncle Mark's house. Now there are only a handful. We stayed in a hotel because sleeping on the floor is getting to be difficult for me.

Bill, Anne, Kathy, and Dianne

Julie & Bill

Kelly's  daughter, Kristie, Brittany, and Justine.

Cameron chilling

Aunt Kay with Molly

Setting up the shade

Ashley and her boys - Simon and Will.

Lauryn and Jonny

Aunt Julie (she really is a happy person)

Aunt Mikki 

Aunt Jean, Anne & Bill

Roping skills! Cody, Clark, Jonny, Austin, Clara

The trading post and raffle were a huge hit.

3-legged races - Cody and Katie, David and Baylie

Wheelbarrow races

Mingle

Team tag 

Human barrel racing - Rex Johnson

Lauryn

The originals - Eric, George, Mikki, Julie, Lyman, Dennis

I doctored in my dad.

Jalen in my Uncle Eric's hat. My Uncle Eric is a true cowboy (in case you couldn't tell).

Eric brought horses for the kids to ride. 

Jalen held on to Tiff for dear life.

Pie eating contest

Trevor will never eat cream pie again - and may never eat chocolate. He didn't eat anything the rest of the day.

We had smaller pies for the children.

Water relays

Stoney and husband, Mikki, Eric

Cameron

Molly & Lily

 Jonny

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Tug of war 

Going to the ranch always fills my soul. It's hard to describe. It reminds me of who I am and what is really important in my life. It centers and ground me in a way  nothing else does. I don't know what will happen once the aunts and uncles pass away, but I am so grateful that my kids know these people. I often feel guilty that we aren't around family more often.

On the way home, I wanted to take David and Jalen to Hovenweep. (Baylie was on her way to Las Vegas with Tiff and the twins.) I hadn't been to Hovenweep since I was a kid. It is an amazing place, but very remote and hot. The ruins there are remarkable.

Archaeologists aren't sure what the towers were used for.

We thought these flowers were pretty.

I remembered picking this plant to make "Brigham Tea" for my Granny. I thought it was gross.

We saw several of these rock monuments, but don't know what they are for. I Googled it and apparently it's a current fad.

I found this mailbox in the middle of nowhere fascinating.

Navajo hogan and corral

Next we went to Bluff, which was settled by my ancestors.  The story of how they got to Bluff is a remarkable one.

This is a replica of my great-great-grandpa's cabin. The genealogy is interesting because my great-grandfather married his stepmother's sister.

Original handcart used on the trip.

Inside a Navajo hogan.

Inside a Ute teepee.

We visited the grave of my great, great grandmother.

Next stop was Blanding, the town where I grew up, which was also settled by my ancestors when they left Bluff. I lived here from the time I was 7 until I was 15. Most of my childhood memories are of this place and it is home to me.

This church was built by my ancestors. At one time, the Church was going to tear it down because it wasn't up to code, but my dad lobbied against it and was able to save it. I'm so proud and grateful for that.

This plaque explains that Blanding was the site of the last Indian uprising in the frontier west. The Ute's were led by a man named Posey. My granny used to tell me about how scared she was of him.

We climbed all over this bell as kids. It seemed a lot bigger then.

The house where I grew up. The wooden gable is new. The original gable was much smaller. 

My dad was the football coach and I spent a lot of time on this field.

I had Jalen reenact a moment from Scotty's childhood where he pouted on this door that led down to my dad's coaching office.

My Granny and Granddad's grave. Someday David and I will be buried close by here.

My dad's sister Mary Helen that died the same day she was born. My granddad was on a mission in Brazil so my Granny went through it without him.

This rock formation is called  Church Rock, but we always called it Aunt Jemima.

Meanwhile, Baylie is having a blast in Vegas, including getting a pedicure.

Jalen spent a night with his cousin, Asher. They went hiking and swimming. He didn't even miss us. I sure missed my kids.

We've had such a wonderful visit. The kids want to stay and it's tempting for me as well. But it will be good to get home and we all miss Tashi.