Reunions 2011

This month we were excited to be able to attend 2 of my family reunions. The first was the Curtis reunion. My Aunt Wilma does a ton of work to put a Curtis reunion on every year. I really appreciate her doing this because I really don't think we would have them if it wasn't for her. This year we had it at the park in Wellington and relatives traveled from all over Utah, California, Colorado, and Texas to be there. My cousin Max hauled a HUGE barbecue all the way from Texas to cook delicious briskets for the reunion. I really wish I would have gotten a picture of it because it was massive! My grandpa's family is full of really neat and genuinely nice people. It was so fun to visit with everyone and see relatives that we haven't seen for a very long time. Memories from the Curtis side of the family include our trip to Fort Worth to visit my 2 uncles and their families, playing the piano at my great grandma's house, going to Disneyland and staying with my Aunt Karen and Uncle Tony, and much more.


My grandpa with his brothers and sisters

My grandma and grandpa Curtis hold a very special place in my heart. My mom was a single parent and they did everything they could to make sure I never went without. When my mom first told them she was pregnant they didn't want to have anything to do with me. My grandma said when they came to see me at the hospital it was love at first sight. They have been a huge part of my life ever since. I remember chocolate milk and donuts from the milkman every Saturday morning, my grandpa reading the paper, my grandma putting a puzzle together, crocheting, or reading a book, shopping at the mall with my grandma, building forts in their living room, playing Nintendo, making up dances in their basement, long phone calls, long drives to visit graves over memorial weekend, trips to Washington DC, New Mexico, Texas, California, Nevada, Colorado, South Dakota, and many more. My grandpa taught me the value of hard work (he is the hardest worker I know) and my grandma taught me how to stick up for myself and to stand for what I believe in. I know they are a huge part of who I am today and always look forward to their visits.


My grandpa Curtis holding Kinlee

The other reunion we were able to attend was the Clark reunion. My mom and I decided to put this one on because it had been years since we had one. I think the last one we had was my first year of college so it was at least 12 years ago. We had a great turn out. I think my mom counted 101 Clark's. We had an auction to raise money for the next reunion and made around $600!! Our cousins Jerry and Lisa rented bounce houses for the kids and they had a blast. We are hoping that next year we can use the money to pay for all the reunion food and some fun activities. The Clark's have a special place in my heart because many of my childhood memories happened on my great grandparents farm in Wellington. I loved spending weekends and summer's at their house. My great grandpa Clark taught me how to saddle a horse, butcher and wrap a cow, play solitaire, shuffle cards, and much much more. My great grandma taught me kindness, unconditional love, how to make the best mashed potatoes ever, the importance of a good book, that a dishwasher is for storing goodies, not washing dishes, how to use an outhouse, how to make pancakes over an open fire, that the best Christmas presents are the homemade ones, how important missionary work is, and many more things. My great grandparents worked at the Manti Temple for many years and were always involved in service. My grandma loved owls and my grandpa could play the banjo. They were amazing people and I miss them dearly. As you can tell, many of my best memories were at their house. My cousins and I loved collecting eggs, playing in the play house, the silage pit, riding bikes, chasing peacocks, playing night games, homemade root beer, and the list goes on.


My grandma with her brothers and one of her sisters



My aunt Connie doing a headstand, she is 62 years old!!

I am so grateful to have so many fond childhood memories and that I could sit and reminisce with the people who made it all possible. Family is so important and I am so grateful it's forever.