2 July 2017 - Back Home

Monday the 26th of June we flew into Seattle very late and Rebekah picked us up at the airport. She was willing to help us out even though she had work the next day. Besides working on the yard and cleaning up the house, doing laundry, we had to get the living room cleared out before our home teachers came by.
 Samuel went to school for the last day on Tuesday. It was a quick half day.

25 June 2017 - Still in Texas

Saturday the family started to disperse in many directions. Cory, Susan and their kids went to Houston and the NASA headquarters. Sarah and Michael left for Connecticut and Juan headed back to Provo and Rebekah flew back to Seattle to make it home to play for the choir the next day. The rest of the family stayed at the Heath house due to "showings" at Jon's place.
On Sunday church was at 2:30 in the afternoon but Kadie and Mitch Heath were blessing their baby and invited us all over for the blessing and a luncheon at 12:00. It was a lovely luncheon with special sandwiches that were labeled, watermelon, apple slices, veggies, and cake.

 After the blessing we drove to their church building which was 30+ minutes away. We added to the size of their ward which was small but growing. 

23 June 2017 - Finishing the Exceptional Ralph Reunion

Friday was a day at the lake. Jon drove his boat to a large reservoir, north of Celina in a State Park. The water was nice with a beach and lots of picnic tables and grills for barbecue. The Reunion shirt was passed out and pictures were taken. Then lots of water play and boating was offered. A tent was set up with an air conditioner attached for people with infants. The AC was run by electricity provided by a generator. What a fun idea. Some "spike it" games were played in the shaded areas. Grandpa cooked up hamburgers and hot dogs. The day was very hot but the water and the AC and fans made for a tolerable day of family fun.

Hadlie cooling off in the Lake.

Christian on the beach.

Isaac swimming.

Oakley wading.

Samuel with a water gun.

Emeri and Gracie in the water with floating devices.

Shade cover with Elizabeth and Grandpa working on lunch.

Rebekah soaking up the sun.

Susan loves the heat.

Ezra gets lunch early.

Yummy...Grandpa.

Andrew, Liz, Ben, Jessica and Carli

Celebrating the Ralph Reunion 2017

Samuel and Rebekah

Rebekah and Samuel

Hadlie, Juan, Christian and Jessica Salcedo

The Cory Brighton Family

Clockwise: Jarom, Cory, Susan, Josiah and Kimball
with Ellie at their feet.

Joshua, Jenna, Jon, Katelyn Nathan and Gracie

The Jonathan Ralph Family

The Austin Heath Family

Bottom: Andrew, Emeri, Isaac
Top: Ezra, Austin, Oakley, Elizabeth

The Michael Gordon Family

Sarah, Michael and Eric in arms.

Carli and Ben

The Benjamin Ralph Family

Kathleen and Stephen

Without glasses... 

The Happy Faces of the Ralph Clan

That evening was a nice dinner and the blessings of Ezra McRae Heath and Eric Stephen Gordon by their fathers. The Heath side of the family came for the baby blessing which made a very nice crowd. The Gordon extended family listened via cell phone. It was a wonderful event with the blessing of two little angels. Bishop Basilius from the Heath's ward came for the blessings and presided at the event. Dinner followed the blessings with a baked potato bar. After dinner, there was a family history night with stories from our ancestors. Grandpa spoke about his great-great grandfather on the Lindsay side of the family. Others added more history then Juan was MC for a presentation of the newbies in the family. All the sons and daughters in law were celebrated with photos and stories of their lives. Then the kids were put to bed and the adults had a movie night of Beauty and the Beast.

Blessing Day for Eric Stephen Gordon

Blessing Day for Ezra McRae Heath.

Before the blessings

 

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22 June 2017 - Second full day at the Great Ralph Reunion

Jon showing his stuff at the Basketball arcade.

After a fantastic water day on Wednesday that ended late that evening. We started Thursday at the Fun Center for the kids. There were lots of rope courses to climb and play on along with an air hockey game and video games for the older kids. Lots of fun for the little ones. If you wore a Superhero shirt you got half price.... Please note all the different super heros on display.

Motorcycle arcade for the little guys.

Cousins having a good time.

Air Hockey....

  Then there was the "Minute to win it" games hosted by Carli. A little pie in the face followed. Champions were made at the games! The evening was lots of fun for the adults as we played at the Whirlyball and Lazer Tag place. Getting bumped around a court and zapped by each other was pretty exciting. The little ones stayed home with Tamara Heath and watched Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Jarom and Samuel duked it out in the air hockey tourney.

Nathan and Andrew loved the ropes climb....

Fun ride for Joshua.

Trying to get an Oreo in the mouth from the forehead
without hands is harder than you think.

Stacking cups quickly before the minute is up....

The cheering crowds go wild.

Spooning ping pong balls from bowl to bowl...
with your mouth.

Hot air balloon battle....

Sucking up M&M's with a straw.

Tissue toss with one hand....

You gotta be quick...

Corey is checking out the contest.

Samuel waits for instructions for a balloon game.

Keeping two balloons up in the air with one hand.

Balloon battle continues with Sarah and Jarom.

Sarah is keeping it up.

Knocking the balls out of the box...with a little jiggle

Checking to see if it's out.... Jenna and Sarah put on the moves.

Yipppeeee. She got it!

Redoing the Oreo contest since
Grandpa and Ben didn't get to play the first round....

A little pie in the face battle....

Ben enjoyed it.

Michael and Austin but their best chin forward...

And Michael wins while Austin takes the "cake".

Issac takes the hit.

Sarah and Michael watching the entertainment.

"Russian Roulette" with dice and cream. Susan got it. 

Stephen prepares and ....

gets smacked...

And tries again.

Seems to enjoy getting smacked.

Ben adds a little more to the hand.

Face plant into the mouth. Just what he wanted.

Hadlie is somewhat concerned at the direction of the hand....