Ron Hales Reunion 2010

We traded family reunion responsibilities for this year with my sister, Elaine, and hosted the Ron Hales Family Reunion. Though Elaine had a tentative reunion planned in Washington State, the fact that her husband Dave is deployed in Iraq and wanted to participate in the planned activities in the Evergreen State and that Elaine was just called as Primary President, we told her we would plan this year’s reunion in exchange for 2012.

We have previously posted that we were able to spend an overnight at the Huffaker’s cabin in Midway. For the reunion, we were able to rent this same cabin for four nights. It was great that everybody was able to sleep in the same cabin. I was told that one of my niece’s favorite part of the summer was sleeping in the loft with her cousins.

On the way to the reunion, we were witnesses to an auto accident. I was driving in the middle lane, about to pass a tanker truck on the interstate, when I saw it slam on its brakes, smoke up the road, and begin to swerve back and forth. As I passed the truck, I saw a white car spin around and then drive in the opposite direction and then crash in the borrow pit. We pulled over and backed up to make sure everybody was okay. Everybody was safe, but I waited until the policed arrived; they took my statement.

On Tuesday we started gathering around noon and had lunch. Andrea and I were in charge and we prepared the fixin’s for Super Nachos. You know, chips piled with chicken, beans, cheese, onions, peppers, olives, salsa, and sour cream. Well, I learned that most of my extended family does not take very big helpings. Most of my nieces and nephews took like eight chips and covered them with a few pieces of cheese. I was sad that they didn’t want to truly experience Super Nachos.

That day the kids played around the house and then we went to Zermatt, which was less than a mile away from the cabin, where my sis-in-law, Jeanette (from North Carolina), just happened to be staying (she had booked an extended weekend there months before we had planned the reunion). At Zermatt, we played in the indoor-outdoor pool.

Wednesday we went to Park City and went to the Olympic Village. There we saw the ski jumpers, or whatever you call them, do some aerial tricks into the pool. We then went down the alpine slide and zip lines. It was a lot of fun.

Thursday we went to the Scerra pool in Orem. All the kids had a good time swimming, diving, and going down the water slide. That night we did Hales Family Olympics, which included the marshmallow shot put, paper plate discuss, and some relays. For the last game, I made each team come up with a game incorporating all the items used for the previous games.

On Friday, we went hiking at a state park. It was a three mile round trip hike. The hardest part was getting to the mouth of the trail since the map the local rangers gave us did not provide accurate directions.

During the reunion, Zachary started to walk a lot more. He also tried to teach his cousin, William, how to push a chair.

First Tooth

Zachary cut his first tooth today. Yes, you can barely see it--but it's there. I promise.

Zachary - 10 Months

Dear Zachary,

You are ten months old. And it's crazy.

You walk, but not very much. You haven't decided it's your favorite mode of transportation. The most we've got out of you is 28 steps at one time. You'll walk a couple yards at a time if we coax you. But, otherwise, you prefer to crawl or push the furniture around. By that I mean our kitchen table chairs can often be found by the door, or our footrests are never by the couches but more often by the tv.

You are still super friendly. Though the last week you've been a bit shy around certain people. I don't understand why since you've been jumping into strangers' arms for months. But, that's okay. I don't mind being the preferred one.

We've taken you to the pool a couple times. Oh my! You LOVE the pool. I think you'd like to swim by yourself if we'd let you. However, you don't quite "swim" yet--so we're not really pleased with the idea of you gulping that much water.

Last week when we were driving to Island Park for our family reunion, we stopped in Ammon, Idaho, at our friends' house. They have a little boy who is almost 10-years-old. He and his friend were playing with a toy. You sat back on your knees, paid close attention, and just laughed this deep, delicious laugh. I watched you and realized you are not a little baby any more. Yes, you are still a baby. But you are quickly becoming a toddler--a little BOY.

You are still taking two naps a day. Thanks.

And, we are feeding you more and more solid foods every day. Most of the time, though, you're more interested in what we're eating than the food we got you in a jar. I don't mind that.

One more thing. You know that thing that so many babies do from the time they are just old enough to grasp things? The "I'll grab my feet while you change my diaper and maybe even when I'm just laying on my back" thing? Well, you've FINALLY started doing that. I love it!

Your Dad and I love you!!!!