FAMILY REUNION 2012

AUGUST 25, 2012 .. REUNION DAY .. WOOOOOO HOOOOO!!! 

I THINK I have everything ready to go!!!!   Hmmmm .. picnic basket full of goodies .. purse .. jammies .. makeup .. toothbrush .. and a change of clothes .. Christmas gifts for Billy, Zelpha and Jude .. "treasures" for the auction (we have a "white elephant" auction and the money goes into a family flower fund for flowers to be sent from the family for funerals etc.)  and of course my Netbook computer .. don't know if I'll have time to use it or not but I gotta' have it with me .. LOL!!  Whoops .. camera .. gotta' add my camera to the pile!!  

GOT IT .. OK .. READY TO GO .. WOOOO HOOOOO!!!

J B Bridge .. we're almost out of Missouri and into Illinois!!  

An interesting sight rolling down the road .. the Bates Motel .. LOL!!! 

An interesting sight at Casey's in Greenup, Illinois .. an old Model T ..

Being pulled by this modern up to date motor home!!!  

What a difference a few years make .. LOL!!!  

We were in touch with my "Illinois daughter" Cris via cell phone .. here again what a difference a few years make .. and met up with her when we reached Greenup and she rode on to Hidalgo with us.  We arrived at the Hidalgo Community Center about 10:30.  There was not a soul in sight!!  However, the door was unlocked so we unloaded all our goodies and went on in.  The tables had not yet been set up for the auction items so we busied ourselves setting those up while waiting for others to arrive.   By 11:30 we were still there all by ourselves and getting a bit nervous .. wondering if we were there on the wrong Saturday!!!  We tried to call someone to say "Hey where is everybody"???  but our cell phones wouldn't get any reception!!! 

 WHEW!!  Finally .. about 11:45 .. somebody else arrived!!  Jenny, Teresa, Jeremy and Corbin!!  Were we ever glad to see them!!  It turns out that we had the time wrong .. we thought lunch was at 12:00 .. it starts at 12:30 .. Whoops!!! 

And from that point on people just kept arriving!!!  Peggy, Lee, Anita and Juanita.

Darrell, Diann, Tommy and Matt

After these arrivals I was busy inside and didn't catch any others as they arrived!  However .. I did get this picture of Chet ...

.. refusing to let go of this cooler!!  Evelyn had arrived and the Banana Pudding was in this cooler!!  In our family the Banana Pudding is the highlight of the reunion!  Mom ALWAYS made Banana Pudding for our holiday dinners and get -togethers ..  there was quite often a squabble among the grandkids over who got that last spoon of Banana Pudding .. LOL!!  

Checking out the auction items and writing bids on the papers!!  

 

 

Whoops .. I didn't get pictures of the last 2 tables!!!  

 

After Mom passed away Richard's wife Joanne took the clothes, scarves and jewelry she had worn  and made Memory Bears for all of her children and for the granddaughters.   Some of the family members brought theirs to the reunion.  We all agreed that we should all bring our bears next year.  

 My bear didn't make it to the reunion but I just have to show you her picture anyway!!! 

 Joanne pieced this quilt together by hand to put in  the auction.  The squares in the middle section are made from the last of the fabric she had left after having  made so many bears over the years!!  

The food line ..  Turkey and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Baked Beans, Four Bean Supreme, Corn, Chicken, Taco Salad, Vegetable Salad, Pulled Pork, Rolls, Ham Sandwiches .. I'm sure there are several things I have left out!!!   And then there were the desserts .. LOL!!! 

Desserts .. let me see .. Apple Dumplings, Cranberry Bread, Brownies, Chocolate Fudge, No Bake Cookies, Rice Krispie Treats, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Mini Cheesecakes, Blackberry Cobbler, Peach Cobbler, Banana Pudding with and Banana Pudding without Peanuts, and "Mom's / Grandma's" Cinnamon Rolls!!   Another delicious treat Mom made for all of our holiday dinners .. Diann and Anita made these using Mom's old recipe!  Thanks girls they were delicious!!  I told them they will now be the official Cinnamon Roll makers for our reunion every year .. LOL!!!   

Everybody digging in!!  

After the food .. the drawing for the "Traveling Picnic Basket"!!

  For those of you who don't know the story .. this is the picnic basket Mom used for many years to take food to picnics and reunions.  Peggy received this basket after Mom passed away and one year when she came to the reunion she brought it with her and had this sign on it ..

And explained that she wanted us to put our names in the basket and the person who's name was drawn would get to take the basket home with them and keep until the next reunion!!  Needless to say we all thought this was a fantastic idea!!  And we have had a drawing for the "Traveling Picnic Basket" every year since then!!!   

Lee was the very happy winner!!  He and Anita would take it back to Florida with them and bring it back next year!!  Lee won the basket a couple of years ago and when he brought to the reunion the next year he and Anita had filled it with   Sand Dollars to give to everybody!!!  Hmmmm .. makes me wonder what they'll have in there next year .. LOL!! 

AAAHHHHHH ... time for the Auction at last!!!! 

Last call for placing bids was 2:30!!  Then  Jeremy and Corbin .. checked the bid papers and called out who got the winning bids on each item!!  Thanks guys .. you did GREAT!!! 

Little Henry was very excited about all his treasures his Grandma Terry bid on for him!!!!  

AND NOW THE FAMILY PHOTOS!!



 

THE "SIBLINGS"

Back row .. Kay, Shirley, Richard, June, Tommy, Juanita, Dorothy Jeanne
Seated .. The twins .. Evelyn and Elizabeth

THE "GRANDS"

Jimmy stretched out in front
Peggy, Jenny, Lisa
Matt, Cris, Madonna, Teresa, Lee, Becky
Little Henry wasn't supposed to be in this picture but he was so excited he just couldn't wait for the "Greats" pic!!!  

As you can see the "Grands" are the BRATS of the family .. always have been .. LOL!!!

THE PAPPARAZZI!!!  Did you notice the camera in Madonna's hand in the first picture of the "GRANDS"???  This is the picture she took while we were taking our pics!!  We can always count on the "Grands" and the "Greats" to pull something .. nobody wanted to miss a chance to get a shot .. LOL!!! Thanks Madonna .. I love this pic!!! 

The "GREATS"

Aubrey, Henry, Corbin, Jeremy, Ariel
Corbin and Jeremy are looking for Corbin's brother Nicholas who is usually with us .. LOL!!!  

Ahhhhhh .. Corin and Jeremy are happy at last .. Madonna added that little pair of rubber boots from the auction table to represent Nicholas .. LOL LOL LOL!!! 

DOROTHY JEANNE'S FAMILY

Becky, Cindy, Matt, Diana, Chet
Becky and Chet are twins also!!!  



 

Juanita and Peggy

TOMMY AND HIS FAMILY

Lee (aka Tom), Anita, Tommy, Diann, Darrell, Matt

Tom and Anita came from Florida .. Diann and Darrell came from Wisconsin .. and Matt came from Arizona!!!  Diann had brought her Memory Bear along and a wonderful scrapbook she had created in memory of her mother, Susan, who fought a tough battle with Cancer and passed away last year.   Matt is Susan' husband .. it was so good of him to come all the way from Arizona to be with us!!  These kids all traveled very many miles to be with Tommy and the family on this day!!!  

I missed a chance to get a pic of June and her son Max!!  So this will have to do .. Max is in front of his laptop trying to skype with his sister Kelly in Texas.  June is in the background waaayyy back there in the red shirt with stars on it!! 

Kelly on the skype screen .. Hi Kelly!!! 

 

Richard and Joanne

SHIRLEY'S FAMILY

Teresa, Shirely, Jenny
Corbin, Jeremy

KAY'S FAMILY

Left side of table .. Henry, Natalie, Austin .. or is it Avery????  

Right side of table .. Jim, Jimmy, Terry, Kay

 

EVELYN'S FAMILY

Ariel, Bill, Evelyn, Tony, Aubrey, Lisa

ELIZABETH'S FAMILY

Madonna, Elizabeth, Cris

I think it can be said that a great time was had by all and no one left hungry .. if they did it was their own fault .. LOL!!  Can't wait until next year!!  

This reunion is held each year in honor of our wonderful parents .. Noble and Leona Grissom!  I know that as we go through the day sharing the delicious foods that everyone has brought and stories and fun and laughter that Mom and Dad are up there looking down upon their much loved children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and smiling .. their hearts filled with joy!!