Family Reunion at Lake Apache

Shortly after Reggie returned home from Brazil and as soon as Trevor, Colette and Tayson drove down from Provo, we loaded our bags, hitched up the boat, packed up an army's worth of food and headed for Apache Lake (a few miles east of Canyon Lake) for a few days of fun, sun, skiing and eating. We were so happy to have Charisse join us and hope she had as much fun as we did. Miki and Rachelle dropped by for an afternoon of "hi---bye" ... very sad they couldn't stay longer. We had so much fun we definitely want to make this an annual reunion! Here are a few pics:

Our grandson, Tayson, was the center of attention--of course. With his sunny disposition, it was hard not to want to to hold and hug him and introduce him to all his aunts and uncles.

Apache Lake is beautiful and the water is the best we've ever had for skiing. Because it is much hard to get to than Canyon or Saguaro Lake, there is much less boat traffic. The morning water is as glassy as it gets.

We rented two "condo" type rooms--complete with a bedroom (2 doubles beds), a small kitchen, family room and bathroom ... and MOST importantly they had air conditioning. We were able to park our Expo with the trailer right out the front of our condo and keep the boat in a wet slip just a small walk down to the lake. While the accomodations were pretty snug, they were way, way, way, way better than sleeping in a tent with no air. I used to love camping when we lived in Oregon and went to Prineville, but here it is almost impossible with the heat. We played lots of cards, watched lots of videos (including the 2008 Lost finale), ate lots of great food, had lots of laughter and most of all, lots of love to go around!

Well ... it been awfully quiet since Trevor, Colette and Tayson went back to their home in Provo. In two days, Reggie will be leaving for Utah for a job at APX (working with Trevor) for the summer. In three months Katie and Reg will be in Idaho at BYUI. And then Trace and I will have 8 "quiet" months to anxiously wait for another reunion in 2009. (Now I know exactly how much Mom Riley looked forward to the Richard Riley Reunions.) Who knows what 2009 will bring? Whatever comes, I'm confident that when we get back together again next summer, the hours will be filled with many happy moments of catching up!