BHT Reunion 2023

We hosted the BH Tolman Reunion on June 9, 10, & 11 in Ed & Kathy's backyard. Josh's grandpa Rex Tolman was one of ten siblings that began the reunion over 50 years ago, and they each took turns hosting the annual event, and then the children took turns hosting for them as their generation began to pass away. The only sibling left is Grandpa Rex's youngest sister, Aunt Louise. She was able to come to Salmon to participate in the reunion, which is more of a biennial event now. 

The main day of the reunion was Saturday, June 10th, but a few people came early on Friday the 9th to camp in the yard and hang out around the old family homestead. There were around 150 family members who attended the reunion on Saturday, which was such a great turnout. It was the MOST fun day I'd had in quite a long time. The weather was gorgeous, the company was enjoyable, and the setting was perfect. We ate yummy food (the main meal was hamburgers and side dishes), kids played in the ditch and yard, adults sat and talked, and I spent the majority of the afternoon playing games with a group of young adults for HOURS! It was a day full of complete contentment. At one point in the afternoon, I stopped and just listened to my surroundings. I heard many voices sharing conversations and laughter from both the young and the old. To me, the combined sounds represented one feeling: joy. I loved witnessing generations of a large family coming together for one beautiful day, and I'm so blessed to have been a part of this group for the last 25 years!

Aunt Linette & Great Aunt Louise visiting on Saturday morning

Ed & Kathy welcoming the large group before lunch

Josh & Edward grilling burgers for the masses

Their backyard is a perfect gathering place for family!

Josh visiting with cousins after the meal

Kanyon getting to know some of his cousins

Adults chillaxing & conversing after the meal

Younger adults game table

Josh & his sister Tiffany with Aunt Louise

Kids playing in the sand pile under the tree

Kids playing in the ditch

More toys and camping were set up in the front yard

Rex & Beth's living children:
Tim, Jane, Ed, Linette, Janet

Kanyon joined me at the young adult table for hours of game time!

I seriously had SOOOO much fun!

I'm so glad to be related to this group of cousins! They are
my favorite group to play games with at reunions!

By Sunday afternoon, there was only a handful of family who were still in Salmon. We visited in the yard for a few hours with some of Aunt Louise's kids and grandkids who were camping there. Then we headed to Cockrell Campground that evening to visit with Uncle Jack's kids and grandkids who were having their own family reunion there (thankfully it coincided with our larger reunion on Saturday, resulting in so much family being able to join us!).  We played games with them again, ate dinner, and hung out until it got dark. Kanyon had so much fun, he went back up to Cockrell Campground after work again on Monday and spent more time with them, doing crafts, eating, and playing games. We had no idea where he was, and he came home after dark with a picture he'd painted and said he'd spent more time at the family reunion! We aren't a part of Jack's immediate family, so we were so incredibly happy that he felt like he belonged there and that they welcomed him back to join them! Especially considering he doesn't usually reach out to others easily and he struggles with feelings of belonging at social gatherings. We feel so blessed to belong to the Tolman family! 

The large picnic tables had a lot fewer people at them on Sunday!

Edward drove some of the remaining kids on the Harris' wagon train.

I took this photo right before he took a curve too sharp and tipped it over!

Playing games with the Jerome cousins at the Cockrell Campground

Kanyon kept playing even after Josh and I stopped in order to visit!

He felt right at home with this family!

The painting he made at the Jack Tolman Reunion,
of him changing pipe in Grandpa's field!

Bear River H.S.

I graduated from Bear River High School in 1997. In June, we celebrated our 25th class reunion. Josh was able to come with me (he usually doesn't) to the reunion held at the fairgrounds in Tremonton.  Jonah and Micah were still gone on their boys' trip that weekend, so we dropped Kanyon off at his friend Gunner's house near Idaho Falls on our drive south, so he could have some friend-time, too. As a result, it was an overnight trip for just Josh and I. My parents thought they'd be out of town that weekend, so instead of staying with them, I reserved a room at one of the hot springs resorts in Idaho that was somewhat close to the border. It was near Preston and used to be called "Riverdale", but now it's known as Bear River. I thought it was funny that we stayed at "Bear River" Hot Springs for my 25th reunion at "Bear River" High School! 

We arrived at the Hot Springs and checked into our room on Saturday afternoon. We had a little bit of time before leaving to go the reunion, so I soaked in the outdoor pool, and Josh rested in the room!

The hot pool

The warm pool

I didn't go on the waterslides or soak in the cool pool.

My parents ended up being home after all, so we stopped by Providence for a short surprise visit on our way to Tremonton. 

The reunion was so nice, and we had a great time! There was a big turnout of classmates--probably the best we've had since graduation. The large fair building was decorated really nice, a yummy dinner was catered, we had lots of time to chat and visit, we took group photos, and a band came and played after dinner and people danced. 

At dinner, I sat by my high school bestie, Kim.

L-R: Jessica, Kala, Melissa, Kim, Natalie, and Christine

We spent a couple hours there, but decided to head back to the hot springs so we could soak before it closed for the night. We took a different route back to Preston, through some small northern Utah towns, and passed an awesome fireworks show in a tiny town that was unknowingly celebrating its anniversary! It was such a cool, random experience! We made it back to Bear River Hot Springs with less than an hour to soak. By this time, there were a lot less people in the water, which was nice. Josh and I soaked in the hot pool for quite a while, then ended our soak in the warm pool. 

Unfortunately, the pools at Bear River Hot Springs were closed on Sunday, so we didn't soak the next morning. We drove back to Salmon and stopped on the way in Terreton to pick up Kanyon since Gunner's family was at their grandma's house for Sunday lunch. I used to work with Gunner's grandma, so that was fun to catch up with her as I waited for Kanyon to get his things. He'd had a great time at Gunner's house, and happily spoke about all the stuff they did as we drove. It was a wonderful weekend for all of us!

1st Family Vacay of the Summer

We decided we would take three small vacations this summer rather than one big one. Because it was Ammon's last summer at home, we picked trips that we knew he would enjoy. 

The vacation we took at the beginning of June started with the idea of going to Top Golf in Salt Lake City with Uncle Bryce and Aunt Tawna before their baby was due in July. Aunt Tabbi joined us, too, and it was so fun! We had never been to Top Golf before, but it's a large driving range with targets that you try to hit the ball to. Every ball has a computerized chip in it, and the computer at each station keeps track of the different players and what targets they hit, as well as their scores. It was a fun idea! We drove down on Friday the 10th to Utah. We took the boys to Trader Joe's store, and then met up with Tawna and Bryce at his parents' house, and then drove over to Top Golf where Tabbi met us. There are multiple levels in the building; we were on the ground floor in our own little booth area. We snacked as we played, and had a good time, and went out to eat afterwards, too. Driving in Utah always makes Josh irritable, so driving down there coupled with spending money, meant he was stressed out that night, but the rest of us had a fantastic time and the twins were genuinely interested in playing golf for the first time!

Isn't she so cute?! She is the first sister
I've had the chance to see pregnant (my older
sister Lisa didn't live near us when she was
pregnant).  I was so excited for her and Bryce!

We spent the night at Amanda and Ryan's house in Ogden. They weren't home, as they were on their own vacation, but it was kind of them to loan out their house to us. It felt like we were staying at an Air BnB rental! We all got to sleep in beds, and we slept well that night. The next morning, we stopped at Josh's friend Sam's house while they chatted for a bit, before heading to Thatcher (west of Tremonton) for the annual Tolman Reunion. This year, Uncle Ben's family hosted at Glade and Debbie's ranch. When we drove up, Ammon said "I remember the last time the reunion was here--they had the BEST homemade root beer!" And guess what?! They had their homemade root beer again! We ate lunch, played games outside, visited family, guessed amounts in candy jars (and won several!), and had a pleasant afternoon. We left early that evening, drove to Pocatello to watch the new Star Wars movie "Solo" and then spent the night at my apartment in Mud Lake.

We gathered for lunch in Glade's shop

Debbie and her daughter Stephanie made quilts for each of Ben and Rosie's
kids made out of Ben's overalls and Rosie' shirts. They were beautiful and the
kids were so surprised and overjoyed!

I thought it was funny that for a bit, Josh was the only guy at the table of
Tolman women (Jack & Wanona's kids).

All the first cousins that came, as well as Uncle Joe & Aunt Louise.
Louise is the last sibling alive of the 10 kids (she is Josh's grandpa's sister). 

Kala Tolman and Kayla Tolman Cook

These were the candy jars that the boys won!

It felt like Christmas being at the theater with our whole family!

On Sunday morning, we drove over to Heise Hot Springs near Ririe. We took the boys zip-lining for the first time. We did the 3-line zip with them that morning. It was cold and windy at the top of the hills where we were zipping, and Kanyon forgot to pack a jacket, so one of the tour guides was kind enough to let him borrow his. We had so much fun! We went miniature golfing next--the course was so unique, and I loved all the farm implementations on it! It was a close game--Josh won, beating Ammon by 1 point. I came in 3rd beating Jonah by one point, and Kanyon beat Micah by one point for 5th place! We ate at the local pizza place for lunch. They had gourmet pizza, and it was fabulous! While we were waiting to eat, the boys played the arcades downstairs. After lunch, Josh, Ammon, and Kanyon played 9 holes on the golf course while I took the twins with me to the hot springs to soak and swim. After the guys were done golfing, they joined us at the pool. The pool wasn't too busy that day, which was nice. I loved soaking! We went down the waterslide a few times to break up the soak, too, and left that afternoon to drive back to Salmon. 

It was a great way to start the summer! The first vacation was a good mixture of family, fun times, and relaxing!