• AlPiNe DaYs • 2010 •

{Notice everyone standing in the shade that the telephone pole is providing}

Paskett Family Reunion | July 15th - 17th 2010

For Dad's 80th birthday, we wanted to have a BIG celebration so Mom and Dad reserved 3 out of the 5 cabins at Bear River Lodge in Christmas Meadows, Utah- in the Uintah's. The cabins worked out perfectly to accommodate the 102 (and growing) members of our family!

There is never a dull moment at a Paskett Family Reunion. Our days were filled with the following activities and traditions...

- Hiking: I think some of us might consider the "walk" to the fishing ponds a hike!

- Fishing: The cabins had two fishing ponds stocked full of fish. I think everyone who casted in their line was sure to catch something. We even tried catching them with our hands!

- Otter Pops: 400 otter pops were consumed. FOUR.HUNDRED.

- Swimming: I am pretty sure that we scared away anyone else, that happened to be staying at Bear River Lodge, that wanted to hang at the pool, we dominated the pool!

- Guessing Jars: This is a kid favorite (maybe 'big kid' favorite too)! This year we made sure to have a candy jar for everyone. Thanks to Elycia and the 'Jar Committee' for keeping track of all the jars, tallying all the counts and making it such a fun event.

- Movie Night: This is a fun night! There were 6 different movies being shown (2 in each cabin). Each grandchild was given a ticket with their name on it and list of what they could get at the 'concession stand'. They got to go through and pick a candy, a cookie and popcorn or nachos. The nachos were a yummy addition to movie night! Thanks to Keith & Barbara and Company!

- GREAT food: A BIG THANKS to Scott and Nadeane for heading up the food committee and pretty much doing all the shopping. It was a huge task and we are all so grateful for what they did!

The last night of the reunion was in honor of our Dad & Grandpa! We gathered at the amphitheater for the celebration. Scott did an excellent job in planning the program for the 'Living Funeral' or 'Celebration of Life' (if you prefer :o) for Dad. The grandkids sang songs, Ruth read a Life Sketch poem and each family member got up and shared a special thought and/or memory and their love for their dad and grandpa. Dad closed the evening by sharing his thoughts/feelings and testimony. A baggie of a few of Grandpa's Favorite things were handed out (mints, gum and money - he is usally sharing these things). How grateful we are that we had this evening with our dad and grandpa!

On the last day we took family pictures and a special stop was made in Henefer to visit the home where the little farm boy we call 'Dad' grew up.

It was such a special family reunion for all of us. What great memories we have made. How thankful we are for the time we have together, for the blessings in our lives and the love and tender mercies of our Father in Heaven.

A lot of planning and preparation was done to make this reunion/celebration a success. Thank you so much to everyone who helped out. A very BIG THANKS to Mom and Dad for putting this all together and providing such nice accommodations. And of course to Scott and Nadeane who took charge. They put so much time, thought, love and effort into planning. We are so grateful for all that they did!

A Celebration of Life

Dad's 80th birthday was celebrated in the form of a family reunion because he insisted it was not about him...

but we didn't listen...

for someone who has always made it about everyone else - it is time we made it about him - and that's what we did!

••••••••

Me Familia: Below is the book that we did for our wonderful Dad! Thank you SO much for contributing to this book. I really appreciate everyone's help! I gave it to Dad the other night and he read it with tears in his eyes. I am so glad we had the chance to celebrate Dad and tell him how much he means to us while he is still with us.

Also, in the book, I have included most of the pictures that Greg took and some of the pictures that I took. This way I don't have to post 500+ pictures on one blog post :o) Take a look - they are a lot of fun!

Here is a link to all of Greg's pictures.

Thanks for being such an awesome photographer!

http://gallery.me.com/g3d#100096

P.S. I love you all SO much!

(NOTE: To view the book bigger - click on the 'We Love you the Most' link at the bottom. Then click the orange preview button. In the bottom right hand corner, click on the 'view fullscreen' button.)

We LOVE you the MOST! | Make Your Own Book

ElDeR ScHnEiDeR

Cute Elder Schneider!

Thanks for always sending his letters to us Doug & Trish!

'Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' {D&C 88:63}

Colton Nunley | Eliza Canon Keddington

We had a enjoyable evening Sunday with the family at G&G Paskett's. Colby, Deanie, & new arrival, baby Eliza came down to visit with the Nunley's, which had driven into town for ONE day, because Colton received his Patrachial Blessing. Colton has been going to UVU, and just finished his 1st semester. He is working for most of the summer but is preparing to turn in his MiSSioNaRY PaPeRS soon!

(I stole this post from Brooke's blog -thanks sister!)

GReaT GRaNDMa PaSKeTT holding baby Eliza. Even though this isn't Great Grandma's first, it is if you're talking blood related.

I can't remember the last time I held a newborn baby. She is so cute! Can't wait until 4 Quarter.

Matt, Matt's friend Jackie, and Colton enjoying some yummy dessert.

GRaNDMa KeLLY (I have to laugh every time I say that - it is just too weird), DeaNie, eLiZa, & GReaT GRaNDMa PaSKeTT.

Question...

On December 7th, 2009 I sent Dad the following email. He responded to my email and I thought I would post it on the blog for y'all to read.

My Question...

Hi Dad, I was just thinking about you today and I was also thinking about the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind emailing me what you remember of that day. I believe you were 11 years old then... where were you? what do you remember? did you know anyone at Pearl Harbor? were you scared? smells? who were you with when you heard the news? anything?

I remember you saying yesterday that you were thinking about how long you have lived and I am interested in your thoughts and memories of what you have experienced.

I love you VERY much Dad! You are the best! Thank you for all you do!

LOVE YOU,

Rachel

~~~~~~~~

Dad's response...

Hi Rachel, Might say I'm a little slow about answering this email from you, but remember, I wasn't born yesterday! Anyway, what I remember about that day is brief but here it is.

We were living at Grandmother Gallacher's home at the time. Address: 532 East 7th South in Salt Lake. We had evidently finished up with the flock of turkeys by that time because Dad was there. He often listened to the news on the radio and he told us that he had just heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I don't remember just how much he said but I got the idea that they had sunk many of our ships there. It was very frightening to me because there was so much being said about the war in Europe and the bombing of England. We occasionally saw newsreels at the theaters so I had some basis for the visualizations of what must have been happening. Dad often told me about what he heard of the news on the radio. He relied primarily on the radio for news and entertainment because of his blindness.

Anyway, with that news I began to wonder where and when they will be coming to strike next. I was not sure how far away Hawaii was from Salt Lake City. As I walked outside I looked toward the west wondering if I would see Japanese planes coming toward the city. But there were none, thank heaven!!!

Thanks for the invitation to share memories with you Rachel! I love you!!! Dad

Love...

I think these picture show it.

{Thanks Matty, I stole them from your facebook}

I had to post this because, well, I just L.O.V.E. Dad's face!