BHT Reunion 2012

Our family hosted the Benjamin Hewitt Tolman reunion this summer on the Tolman Ranch in Salmon. Benjamin Hewitt was Josh's great-grandfather who had 10 children. Each year, the families of those 10 children take turns hosting the reunion in order of oldest - youngest. There's even a family song that we sing every year at the reunion to the tune of 'Father Abraham'. It goes like this:

"Father Benjamin had 7 sons, 7 sons had Father Benjamin,

3 daughters, and 2 wives, and a great big huge posterity:

Ralph-Ben-Gerald-Don-Vonda-Twila-Ed-Rex-Jack-Louise."

The song not only helps me remember the siblings' names, but the order of the reunion rotation. Last year was Ed's family's turn, this year was Josh's grandpa Rex's family's turn, and next year it will be Jack's family's turn, etc.  There are only 2 siblings and 2 spouses still alive of the 10 children & spouses: Uncle Ed & his wife Joy, and Aunt Louise & her husband Joe. Joe & Louise never miss a reunion!

We'd been preparing the yard for months, to be ready to host the reunion on June 16. Our house is next door to Josh's parents house, separated only by the irrigation ditch. The majority of the reunion took place on their lawn, but we had activities and people staying in tents at our house, too, so Josh wanted it looking good. He built the new rockways this winter & spring, we stained the deck when school got out, we weeded and sprayed and mowed and watered and cleaned up the yard, planted flowers and bushes in the yard and the terrace, and Josh got the horses saddeled. Edward and Malachi poured more concrete at the basketball court, built a new GIANT giant stride, engineered a waterslide, fixed the tire swing, watered and mowed their yard, cleaned out the shop and pavilion, put new sand in the sandboxes, planted flowers, arranged the tables and chairs, set up the volleyball net, and fixed the firepit. It was tons of work, but SOOO worth it!

The reunion was on Saturday. Some family members came a day early, and some family members stayed an extra day, too, so there was tents pitched in both yards and 2 RV's parked between the road and the yard. All together, we had 100 people attend, representing 6 of the 10 families.

 Each of Rex & Beth's children contributed to the reunion meals. 

Ed & Kathy did the main food at lunch time. We ate grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. It was a yummy lunch!

Tim's wife Barb, Aunt Linette, Aunt Jane, and Aunt Janet did the main food at dinner time. We ate a variety of chiles and soups, and they were so filling!

It was a very relaxed reunion, with just the meal times planned, and all the other activities were set-up for whenever anybody wanted to do them. I liked how there was no structure or itinerary, so basically adults talked and kids played all day! The weather stayed nice, we ate good food, we enjoyed being with the family that came, and there were so many activities that the children never got bored. I absolutely loved it! It was one of my favorite reunions!

Some of the activities to do on the ranch included:

FISHING at the POND
(My kids didn't want to walk down the road to go fishing, so I didn't go & take any photos. But, some of Louise's family caught several big fish! There was a cow down at the fish pond that was following the family around, and cousin Sheri took this photo of her husband. It looks like the cow is gonna take the bait on his fish line!)

RIDING the HORSES

RIDING the BOAT in the DITCH

DIGGING for TREASURES in the SANDBOXES

RIDING the BUCKING BARREL

RIDING the BARREL TRAIN

DRAWING on the SIDEWALK with CHALK

JUMPING in the BOUNCE HOUSES
(Uncle Tim rented two of them: a large one and a small one. This is the smaller one for littler kids)

JUMPING on the TRAMPOLINES

PLAYING in the DITCH WATER

PLAYING in the DIRT PILE

SWINGING on the wooden horse swings, the powered tire swings, the giant stride, and the NEW GIANT, GIANT STRIDE

SLIDING down the WATERSLIDE

PLAYING VOLLEYBALL

PLAYING ULTIMATE FRISBEE

PLAYING CARDS & BOARD GAMES

That was 20 things for the kids to do! Here's 5 things that the adults did:

SIT on the GRASS & TALK

LAY & TALK

 MINGLE & TALK

SIT on CAMP CHAIRS & TALK

and STAND & TALK!!!