Labor Day Weekend Reunion

On Friday, August 31st, the first order of business is dinner.  That was just the beginning of a family reunion of my parent's children, their children and grandchildren.  We decided on Monday to make this happen and we did it!  There were 30 people who attend in spite of the short notice.  It was pretty awesome to get siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. etc. together.  Kyle looks a little serious sitting by his dad, Brett with Mindy and Doug.  Coralee and Lance were enjoying the BBQ chicken sandwiches that Kay had prepared for the main dish.  We also had hot dogs and many salads and desserts.    Kay and Lee also got a beautiful cake from Costco.  Kay and Lee did an awesome of hosting this reunion.

Aaron and Tia and Wendy and Martin were enjoying all the good food and conversation.  Lea is Chance's friend and Connor joins them with some dinner.

Coralee prepared a little speech about the meaning of family and how the meaning has evolved and changed within our family.  We chuckled when she started out by saying because she was the oldest it gave her the privilege to give this speech.   

The group picture!!!  Not in any order - Sean and Jodi Elwell and their 4 children, Mindy and Doug Gailey and their 3 children, Kay and Lee Newbold, Tia and Aaron Arnold, Wendy and Martin Forler, Lance and Coralee Kulman, Kyle Sherwood, Brett Sherwood with fiance', Sabrina Gilstrap and her girls, Bill and Teri Sherwood and Dan Kulman with fiance', Kimberly. 

Sisters by chance...Friends by choice...

To start with...

"Siblings are the people we practice on,

the people who teach us about fairness and

cooperation and kindness and caring -

quite often the hard way.

And that someone need not be perfect for

you to love them."

Pamela Dugdale

"Both within the family and without,

our sisters hold up our mirrors; our

images of who we are and of who we

can dare to be."

Elizabeth Fishel

"Having a sister means having one of the most beautiful and unique human relationships.  We share with our sisters a special intimacy, a communion of heart and mind more powerful than any friendship."

Author Unknown

"....my sisters have shown me how to live."

Georgette Wasserstein 

 "She takes my hand and leads me along paths

I would not have dared explore alone."

Maya V. Patel

"For when three sisters love each other with such

sincere affection, the one does not experience sorrow,

pain, or affliction of any kind,

but the others' heart wishes to relieve, and

vibrates in tenderness.

Like a well-organized musical instrument."

Elizabeth Shaw

 

"It's only in the last five years that I've truly learned how to love my sisters

with all my soul and at the very deepest possible level..."

Molly Parkin

Moeller Family Reunion

On Monday, August 27th, there was a Moeller Family Reunion at Mud Mountain Dam near Enumclaw where I was raised.  Janet Lee Moeller Dickson put it all together and did a fantastic job.  She had pictures and shared lots of information about the descendants of William and Theresia (Schafer) Moeller, our great grandparents on our father's side.  Pictured around each table starting at the left - Lynda Moeller English, Lance Kulman, Paul Dickson, and Coralee Moeller Kulman - Bill Sherwood, Mary Jo Moeller Davy Kendall and Janet Lee Moeller Dickson - Lee Newbold, Mindy Newbold Gailey, Shaylynn Gailey, Austin Gailey, Cierra Elwell and Kay Moeller Newbold.  The weather was just about perfect - a little sun but not too hot.  The youngsters enjoyed the wading pool and playground.  As usual, there was plenty of good food.  Janet Lee prepared BBQ chicken and hot dogs for everybody and we all contributed to the potluck. 

Kyle's Hunter Safety Class

Kyle spent a week with G & G to take his hunter's safety class.  Grandpa went with him to class every night.  Kyle was determined to pass this class so he studied after he got home from class and in the mornings and afternoons before going to class.  He passed with flying colors and has the certificate to show for his hard work.

Bill's 50 Year Class Reunion

Wow!!  Bill's 50 year Class Reunion!!!  The weekend of August 3, 4 and 5th was filled with activities.  Friday night was a no host reception for the classes of 1961, 1962 and 1963 at the Four Seasons in Enumclaw.  Saturday morning was breakfast at the Black Diamond Bakery followed by decorating the Black Diamond Eagles hall for the big reception on Saturday night.  Sunday was a picnic at Mud Mountain Dam.

We interrupt classmates Mike Walton and Gary Damiano to snap a picture.   Bill took some time to visit with Theron Morgan and Brenda Sargent.

Frank Mihelich and his wife, Barbara were having a good time catching up with friends.   Daryl and Dorothy Sleigh were guests of Bill's class.  Daryl was a teacher and Dorothy worked at the local bank.

Judy and Howie Sonneson and Tom and Chris Jameyson have been friends for many, many years.   Teri and Chris were classmates in the Class of 1966 and Judy was in the Class of 1967.  We all fell for older guys.

Kathy Nichols Gross, Georgene Potochnik Murphy, Pat Christensen Garrett and Frank Kladnick were the planners for this reunion.  They deserve a big hand for the outstanding job.  All the activities were well attended and everyone pitched in to help when needed. 

Monte Mitchell, Bill and Mike McNeeley had a good visit at the picnic at Mud Mountain Dam.  We visited with John Sanuy and his wife, Kathleen, five years ago at the 45th reunion and had a chance to catch up with them this year, too.

Phyllis Gill Johnson, Linda Sevilles Boyce and Bill enjoy the shade.  It turned out to be a very nice day for the picnic.  Everyone enjoyed John Sanuy and his magic tricks.  He is dang good!

 

It was a great weekend.  Lots of stories told and memories revisited.  Glad we were able to go.  Also, thanks to friends, Dave and Nina Pearcy, for letting us be their house guests for this special weekend.  It was good to spend time with them.