Hammer Family Reunion

This year the Wray's were in charge and did a fabulous job.  It was held in Burley at Camp Oakley. 
Joel had a business trip to England and was unable to go with us the first day.  He did drive up the next day to join us. 
It was up to me to get the kids and trailer to Camp Oakley.
 Unfortunately my first mate had to work, he is trying very hard to earn enough money to pay his books and tuition this fall at BYU-I.  He's had some tough decisions to make this summer, and has missed out on a few things, but that's those hard life lessons for ya.
So my second mate stepped forward and helped me get the trailer to Burley safe and sound. 

Joel's parents were in Glenns Ferry at Three Island State Park for their annual Boys Cousin Campout.  They had 7 little boys this year.  Jason drove Logan down and ended up staying with their new trailer and Ethan. 
Stephanie came over to the house at 7a.m. and we loaded all of her stuff and 3 remaining kids into the car.  We drove to meet the Hammer's in Glenns Ferry by 9am.  We actually beat them there and waited in the high school parking lot for a few minutes before they came.  We arranged everyone where they wanted to ride and hit the road to Burly.  I followed Jason and Mom and Dad Hammer followed me.

I called my Dad to see if he was driving spuds to Jerome and sure enough he was, we calculated when and where we would pass eachother.  He calmed my nerves about driving the trailer and gave me a few pointers.  It started to rain and the semi trucks were going awfully fast and I was getting a bit stressed.  I was looking for the exit; Jason had gotten ahead of me and I couldn't see him anymore.  I was trying to call him and my Dad was calling me at the same time.  Amongst all the comotion, we passed eachother and I didn't even see him. 
I got off the exit fine and saw Jason ahead waiting for me.  My phone rang and it was Mom Hammer telling me that I missed the exit.  I told her I took the same exit Jason did.  She said, "You took the exit?"  I told her I did, and she said "Well, who are we following then."   I had a good laugh at that.
So, we headed to Camp Oakley, which was about 30 minutes from the exit.  I was feeling pretty good that I had made it that far without anything major happening.  Suddenly the road became gravel, then it became one lane and then it became very steep, washed out and lots of big boulders!  I noticed Jason stopped, he came walking back to my car and said he couldn't get his trailer up the hill.  He was driving a Toyota Tundra!  I figured we were done for.  He told me to BACK IT DOWN as far as I could.  Ya right...drop off with creek on one side and tall mountain on the other.   I tried and got it backed up a bit.  He got a run for it, this time in 4 wheel drive, but still couldn't make it up.  The camp wasn't too far ahead and Andrew had driven down in his pick-up (chevy) and chained up to Jason's truck and pulled him up.  I was shaking and very nervous to drive my outfit up this mountain.  My brother in law, Vince showed up and I gladly handed him my keys.  He put it in 4-low and up the hill we crept.   Yeah!!
Later on we figured out that Jason's truck never went into 4-wheel drive.  (just a little plug there for the Tundra : ) 
I figured that I have been officially inducted into the "Pioneer Hall of Fame".  I may not have driven Ox and a wagon, but a Suburban hauling a 24" trailer going 70 MPH on I-84 is about the same thing right?

After FINALLY arriving at the camp, I was in charge of feeding everyone lunch!  We threw it all in the back of the car and drove BACK DOWN the mountain to the neatest place in Burley...Harris Pond.
This place was a little piece of heaven.  It was so hot, and we drove into the Garden of Eden.  There was grass all around this beautiful pond that was equipped with a slide, zip line, diving board, 2 swings, several paddle boats and canoes, a bridge, a fishing area, and lots of gold fish and big fish too...oh, and water snakes which the Jordan Hammer boys tried to take home ; )  The owner also gave train rides to all the little kids...and big kids. 
                                   
                                       Caden hanging onto Jace on the zip-line

Caden letting go and dropping into the pond

Hailey

Hailey walking her zip line stuff back

Chloe and I also did the zipline together, no pictures of us though.   Chloe had her life jacket on and did everything there was to do.  She has no fear. 

Caden and Jace on the rope swing

Uncle Jason helping Chloe

Hannah and Chloe

There was also a nice area for toddlers with little swimming pools and the play houses and toys.  There was a nice shelter with tables and chairs that I was able to make lunch in.  You reserve the pond, and then just pay a donation.  Everything they made goes back into the pond.

We played there until the rain clouds rolled in and it started to thunder and lightning. (around 5pm)
We made it back up to the camp and our trailer.  I was finally able to walk around and see the camp.  It was also very nice.  New clean bathrooms and showers.  A lodge to eat and cook in.  A lovely creek that ran through the camp, and a couple of swings and an area for tents.  The best part was the beautiful view into the valley.  It looked like a patch work quilt with all the fields of crops below.  The sunsets were amazing too.

The Reunion was filled with fun activities.  Thursday evening we had a night to honor Dad Hammer who had just turned 75 years old.  Donald made a fun video of him that we watched.  The families acted out skits that were about memories of "growing up" with their Dad.  Joel told me of the time they were in NYC on a family vacation.  The cab driver told him how much it cost, and he wouldn't pay him the full price.  The cab driver got really mad and he finally just payed him the full fare.  hahaha.
So We acted this out in a skit.

Part of Donald's video- Grandpa is Lord of the Dance!

On Friday morning Joel drove over and arrived in time to go to the City of Rocks.  I had always wanted to go there and am so glad we did.  It was very hot, but fascinating.  Andrew had a Geocashing type activity planned where we followed coordinates with a GPS and found letters tied to trees.  We had to unscramble the letters to discover Grandpa Hammer's favorite TV show...which is WALKER TEXAS RANGER.

Our group searching for the letters

  We had our niece Chantelle and her husband Adam and their little girl, Brinley there...all the way from St. George.   Also our nephew Andrew and his wife Ashley and thier 2 daughters, Riley and Reece.  They live in Burley and helped put on the reunion.  We have 2 other nephews who are married too, but couldn't make the reuinion.  Chris and his wife Mandee have a little boy, Hudson,  and live in St. George.    Josh and his wife Dina live in Oklahoma while Josh is going to podiatry school.   Donald's son Jeremy and his wife just had a baby boy and are going to BYU-I.   

Austin, Caden, Cade, Connor and Bryson

The Brothers in order of age: Jeff, Jarin, Joel, Jordan and Jason

Joel, me and Hailey got brave and decided to climb this huge rock-more like a mountain.  Caden and his tribe did it and it looked fun.  Uncle Jeff and Aunt Julie were also going to do it with us.  It was scary in some places, but really fun. 
                                                              Caden at the top

making our way up

Cliff Hanger!

At the top~ We did it!

Who invited him?  Uncle Donald, crashing the party.

When we got back to camp, the men, boys and kids played games that Grandpa Hammer used to play when he was a kid. 
The women got together and shared 5 of our favorite things.  It was really fun to see the great ideas and things that they all liked or inspired them.  Everyone gave a sample of one thing.  I shared my Nike Plus, my blog book, I shared the carmel apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory, Dave Ramsey, and my "God's hand in my life" journal.   Others shared their favorite web sites, books, story, recipe, cleaning tip, pastime and treat.  Very fun...probably the highlight of the reunion for me.

                                         The 3 sisters and GRANDMA'S~  Jan, Jill and Julie

That night we played MINUTE TO WIN IT.  This was really a good time.  We were divided into teams and each person had to perform a task in one minute.  The team with the least time after all the tasks were done won.   My team came in SECOND. 
The first task was to empty an entire kleenex box.  Chloe had to do this one. 

The second task was to fill a bowl with cotton balls.  You put vaseline on your nose and picked up the cotton balls with your nose and drop them into the bowl...without using your hands.  Caden and Hailey had to do this task. 

The third task was to holding a spaghetti noodle in your mouth you had to scoop up 6 long noodles onto your noodle without dropping one.  I did this task.

The fourth task was to hold a pizza pan and make several bolts stand on top of eachother using a stick.
Joel did this one.

On the last task they taped an empty kleenex box to your waist with the box in back of you filled with small balls.  You had to shake the box, using your hips or anything that would move, and shake all the balls out-no using hands! 
                                                      Grandma and Mel (cheating)

One other task that I didn't get a picture of was the contestant had to eat several saltine crackers in a minute.  It was also Grandma Hammer's birthday!  Isabelle and Riley help Grandma blow out her candles.

On Saturday we ate breakfast and had a family home evening and drove home.   The kids loved seeing cousins and we all enjoyed being together...that's what a family reunion is all about. We are so happy to have Jordan and Melissa back in the area.   It was very successful. 

                                     The little kids, J.T., Brinly, Landon, Ethan and Reece

Chloe, Hannah and Riley

The girls playing scum with the big boys, Austin, Connor, Taylor, Tayson and Caleb