updates

Okay, I went through and put every slide show in perfect order, AND wrote names on them...

Enjoy!

If you have stories and pictures you'd like to add let me know and I'll add you as an author so you TOO can post here!

And if you have group pictures from previous summits, like the one on the side, please send it to me, so I can (hopfully) have them from all 6 (7) summits.

Adult meeting recap

Grandpa started the meeting off with a thoughtful, heartfelt message about family and how much he loves us all. Steve started the discussion with a bare bones fund report, sharing some concerns he's heard about and asking some questions to get us started. Then after the discussion we ended with a message from Steve, a song and a prayer. So here are some things discussed in at the meeting for those who missed it:

*We'll keep going round robin through the siblings for turns in charge, meaning that Mike and Andi are next.
*Monthly fund payments stay the same ($50 for siblings, undisclosed/on your honor for the next generation).
*Goal is 100% attendance and we are all committed to helping those who might be having difficulties making it, BUT are understanding and loving when it just doesn't work out.
*Next time is East instead of West.
*Next time is Warm instead of Cold.
*Next time is Summer instead of Holiday (send Mike and Andi your school Schedule when you know it. Like: out June 6th, back in Aug 13th).
*Next time is 3 1/2 years (summer 2011).

All the "Next time" items discussed could still change, it's up to Andi and Mike and depends on timing and money. Some ideas they had already thought about and brought up were (again, no promises, just thoughts): Navuoo, Beach, Disney World. The favorite seemed to be Beach, with Disney in second and Navuoo considered maybe a bit too old for our 3rd generation for now. It was mentioned that another laid back reunion (like Oklahoma, Oregon Coast) would be fun for every age and demographic.
Thanks again for the thoughtfulness in which everyone spoke, and the respect of all the listeners. It was definitely the most mature and calm "family fight" I've attended (and I've been to almost all). If there was something else or I got something wrong please let me know.

Dancing Dorks

Last day together

Most of the family went to the Temple today to participate in Katie's endowments, and the teens did baptisms.  Since I have young kids I was in the group that wasn't able to go, so hopefully one of the family members who went not only took pictures, but can also write about it here for us.

After that we all met up at Kathy's church for lunch, playing and dinner.  Linda, Dave, Hollie and Brandon were in charge of Weenie Mania and did a great Job, Scarlett and Callie were our mascots.  We had 4 teams (Go Zouts!) and created names, posters and songs.  Then we went through the rounds of games.  In the end the score was neck and neck and it came down to the mini weiner eating contest.  Scott, Kelsie, Ashlee (me) and Chase were representing their respective teams.  In the end Chase won (2nd isn't so bad, right) with 25 in 2 mins!  His team won the trophy (I'm not sure which team mate ended up with it.  After that we had a presentation from Shawn telling the story of how he earned/stole the "You Da Man" award, and presented it to....... Erin.  You Da WO-Man.

Then we had the dance, Thank you Mike for the wonderful Music.  I was humbled AGAIN as I realized what a dorky dancer I've become since I've become a mother.  It was great fun.  Then dinner and now it's time for the Friday Adult Meeting.

Thanksgiving and magic show

The day started with the Turkey Bowl that Shawn organized. Bill said it was awesome, and that Claire knocked out Chase! Hollie and Andi braved the cold and sat outside Chuck A Rama in line holding a place for the rest of us. So we "enjoyed?" lunch there. After that we had a special adult gathering where Karen (via web cam) and Glen gave us the special gift they have been working on for the last few years with Kathy.  They are books full of patriarchal blessings from Grandma's family.  It also includes pictures and more.  I'm excite for the chance to sit back and enjoy it.  Then we had afternoon free time/nap time/game time. Then dinner... We pulled out the subway sandwiches for the "fridge" and they were FROZEN. Then we couldn't find the beans! The leftover beans were lost... Until we found them in a box in a room (NOT refrigerated), so there went dinner. So we brought out the extra 40 lbs of potato salad, the rest of the bread and ham and good old peanut butter and jelly. After dinner was the magic show. It was quite a variety of kids, simple, extreme, and shocking! The biggest shock was when Shawn "magically" produced the missing "You Da Man" trophy!!! I've been frantically searching for it for the last 2 1/2 years (since our move from Arizona to Utah). I'm glad it finally showed up though... Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad and Happy Thanksgiving to the rest of you.

Square dancing

Here is a sampling of the Square dancing night... Notice my dad, it's easy to see where I get my "Mad Skillz" from.

Temple Square and square dancing

Today was t-shirt day.  Thanks to Karen, they are amazing.  Just wait until you get yours!  Everyone Loved them.  In the morning we went to Temples Square to see the new Church video.  It was the first time I've gotten to see it.  The sister who played Lucy Mack Smith was in our old Provo Stake and spoke to us at an event and shared her testimony and talked about all the amazing things that happened while filming.  So I was excited to finally see it.  In the afternoon we lost 2 more family members when Steve and Lynne overshot their exit and ended up near Provo!  In fact we still haven't seen them.  I believe something happened to car, but I'm not sure.  After lunch we got to learn some basic square dancing from a professional "shouter".  At least I think that's what she was called.  She was great, we all lost 10 lbs and had a lot of fun.  Mike and Cole earned the Golden Cowboy hats for their fancy footwork.  Now we have some down time before dinner, where we're hoping to video conference with Karen.  Maybe we'll see the rest of you online too!

Game Day

So today we were at the Huish Family Center up at Sundance.  For ping pong, pool and air hockey tournaments.  The day started off a bit slow, as the kids were enjoying the new playgrounds and some people were setting up while others were working on lunch.  But after lunch the games began.  Some of up played a rousing 2 rounds of Scum which started with Grandpa as president, but Kelsie won both rounds.  After the first round the kids came in and told us it was snowing, low and behold, fluffy flakes were indeed floating slowly down.  While Jonathan thought it was beautiful it wasn't enough snow to do much good for the rest of us.  Throughout the morning the power kept turning off, so we were a bit worried about the effect on Grandma's beans.  So we moved dinner back a bit and finished the tournaments.  While I am happy to report I made it to the semi finals of pool I can't really say how everyone else fared.  But I can tell you the big winners. Lynne was the master of ping pong while David won both air hockey and Pool.  Go DAD!  The other fun thing of the day was the old family video's the Mike set up and was playing in the downstairs room.  Overall it was a fun day for all.  The babies got passed around, the bigger kids got to play together outside and the REALLY big games got to enjoy games and conversation.  Kudos to Kathy for spending quite a bit of time in the kitchen, and thanks to those who helped with the meals.  In the end the beans were great, and you wish you were here.

Opening ceremonies?

Where did the opening ceremonies go this year?  Instead of the traditional beginning of the Houghtaling World Summit those of us already checked in to the Homewood suites meet for dinner in the lobby and then headed up to Wood Cross High School's production of "Joseph and his technicolor dream coat" that our cousin was starring in as the narrator!  Everyone else meet us up there and we enjoyed talking, hugging, kissing and catching up as we waited for the doors to open and sit down.  

It was great to see everyone again, and we missed those who missed it.  

The play was great, this high school can put on quite a show.  If your ever in town for one of their fall musicals check it out.  The director is amazing.  I enjoyed "Aida" last year, and they out did them selves on this epic production.  She put a lot of her own flare into it.  

Houghtaling Summit November 2007 is hit with terrible news

Karen Faucette underwent eye surgery (yes, again, don't ask...) Tuesday the 13.  Because of this terrible ordeal she will not be able to make it to this years Summit (in Salt Lake City, UT).  Thankfully Craig, Andrew and Brooks will be representing our Dallas Delegation this year.