Family reunion on top of the world

I just came back from a fabulous family reunion.  About sixteen years ago, my folks started giving their family a reunion as a Christmas gift.  They save up their timeshare weeks and swap them for all the same place the same week.  Their posterity now numbers 74 if you count my sister and nephew who died in infancy and the five unborn babies.   So that's a bunch of family at the reunion!  This year's reunion was at a ski resort on top of a nearly 9,000 foot mountain.  The resort was called Powder Ridge.  It was not too far from home, so that's why people were able to come and go, but the last seven miles are pretty scary either going up or going down.  We had 65 at dinner on Sunday, and about 60 who were there most of the week.  I was in charge of Sunday dinner, and Mom and Dad reserved a big room at the lodge for a church meeting and then the meal.  Here are some events of the week:

Hiking - of course!  There were many access roads around the ski resort with amazing views.  We even found a snow field and had a mini snowball fight.

You can't see in this pcture, but most of the plants behind me are bluebells and in bloom.  What a view!

Ahh, true love.  Sara and Eric on the hike.

Getting ready to leave on the hike.  Later we were joined by about ten more people.  From left is my amazing mom, Sue, Alaina, Rob, Julie, Linda, Derek, me, Sara, Eric, and in front Debora, Hannah and Karin. 

Just loved this old tree and the view below.

Brian's family and Brynlee joined us later in the hike.

Our grandson Lee turned four while we were at the reunion.  His mom worked hard to make a great party for all the little kids and a bunch of the older ones too.

It was hard for Lee to blow out his candles.  Some of them got sprayed pretty well.

Water balloon tossing was a great party activity and enjoyed by the adults too.

Grandpa's magic rock disappearing trick was a highlight of the party and of the week.  He encouraged all the kids to go looking for magic rocks and for the rest of the week helped them determine if they had found one.  One little niece learned the trick and even used Bryce's patter as she tried it on her family.

The lodge had a swimming pool, which was enjoyed on several occasions.

And the best night of all - spa night!  This was a hit four years ago at the last reunion, and an even bigger hit this time.  We gave each other neck, hand and foot massages, pedicures and fancy toes.  It's a wonderful bonding experience among the girls in the family, and even my mom came and enjoyed herself.

Love this picture.  My "glitter toes" actually reflected the camera flash!

I wish I had pictures from "Grandpa's golf clinic.  My dad worked really hard to put on a delighful morning of golf instruction and practice for a good sized group.  We also spent a day in Ogden and a group went to the temple together.  We ate well (too well most of the time) and just had a great time.  Thanks Mom and Dad for doing this for us.  I can't thank you enough.