Lonny and Tammie: Family Reunion

Boy has the time flown by. So much has happened so this is all about catch up time. I'll start with

Natter Family Reunion - July

We all gathered at Scott and Erin's home in Illinois to start our week long family reunion. Grandma and I drove to Chicago from WA so that we could take all the camping gear and things that the kids needed (wanted) from home. Aaron had just gotten a new puppy and wanted the dog cart so that as his puppy got older she could learn to pull it.

Akela 4 mos. old

We arrived at Scott and Erin's about Wed and everyone else started to appear by Friday. Saturday we all drove to a home owned by Scott's employer on the beach of Lake Michigan. We spent about 3 days there playing games, hanging out at the beach and one day at the Indiana Dunes. There was decently warm water in the Lake compare to the cold beaches in WA and lots of sand and sun.

Great Grandma with Jackson - are they both sleeping?

Jackson in the car. I think he is hungry!

Eliza and Akela playing in the sand.

Riki, Eliza and Jackson

Playing Bang. I bet Danny is the renengade.

Erin and Eliza - ready for church.

Playing in Lake Michigan.

Grandpa and Jackson

Grandpa running down the Indiana Dunes

Daddy.... I want to go again.

Scouting for the best place to start

We then headed into MO for camping with a side trip to Nauvoo for the Nauvoo Pagent. After driving all day from IL to MO in the pouring rain we ended up spending the first night in a hotel because all of our gear was wet. We now know to put the sleeping bags into plastic bags as the car top carrier is not waterproof. The next day we headed into the campground, set up camp, made a run to town to pick up all the things that we forgot and some of the family did a little bit of hiking. It was interesting on the way through MO we passed the hospital that Riki was born in. While we were playing at the river in the campground Tim finally arrived to join us. Jackson was so happy to see his daddy! The next day we got up early and left to drive to Nauvoo to spend part of the day touring and the evening at the pagent. It was a wonderful day and the pagent spectacular. We even had a good dinner at the Nauvoo Hotel (I think that is the name) before the pagent started. Before the pagent there was dancing and lots of games and contests that the kids joined in on. I sat saving our place with the dog, Akela. It was a long day but very worth the drive to and from. We got home very late to find our camp being ransacked by racoons. I didn't know that racoons knew how to open up coolers. We got there just as they were running off with our cookies. We cleaned up and they soon returned to see what was left scaring grandma who was in the tent closest to the picnic table. We then decide we needed to put everything in the cars. The next morning (early) Lonny and all the kids took off for the IL Caverns for some caving fun leaving grandma and I to take care of the little ones (Jackson 7 mos. and Eliza 2 yrs). We had a busy day keeping up with them and trying to entertain two little kids. Lonny and all the kids seemed to have a wonderful time in the caves. Erin went in as far as her belly would allow her to go and then headed out to the lawn chairs with grandpa to wait for the rest. The next day it started to rain again and we decided that maybe we would leave a little earlier than planned. Tim, Lindsey and Steve all left for the St. Louis Airport and the rest of us drove back to IL to finish up our trip. It was a wonderful time and so much fun to be all together again. We did miss Michael though. Next year we'll do another reunion. The plan is Zions or in that region before Steve and Lindsey leave for law school somewhere.

Erin and Eliza at the river.

Scott and Steve catching crawfish

The girls chilling out

Eliza heading over to Scott and Steve to check out the fishing.

Stopping for lunch on the way to Nauvoo

Scott, Eliza and Grandpa. Looks like Grandpa and Eliza traded hats

Scott, Erin and Eliza and baby(?) makes 4

Tim, Riki and Jackson

Games and Fun before the Pageant.

If there is a competition, the kids are involved.

Is this a game of skill or weight

Tim might have Scott outweighed (I mean out skilled) this time.

Wait!! Riki is cheating!!!

Will this be an even match?

Go Eliza!!

On your mark, get set, gooooo!

Story time.

This must be the strong man competition?

Then it is time for the Nauvoo Pagent

It was a wonderful show. It reminded me how thankful we should be for our ancesters who lived and had to leave this city and the sacrifices they made for us. We even had a chance to look for the old Hendricks homestead.