`Hello Family!
Contrary to popular belief- I
have been thinking about the family reunion! Here is some of the information you have all been asking about. Please email me at whitneydupree@gmail.com if you have questions. Or you can post comments here, so everyone can see them.
Family Reunion: July 17-23, 2011
Arrival Times:
Mom and Dad: Utah: July 15? Cabin: July 17, Sunday
Aerwyn and Jared: Utah: Always Cabin: July 17, Sunday
Gretchen and Jack: Utah: July 16, Saturday Cabin: July 17, Sunday
Whitney and Brett: Utah: July 16, Saturday Cabin: July 17, Sunday
Carrie and Darrin: Utah: July 11, Monday Cabin: July 17, Sunday
It looks like everyone will be arriving at the cabin on Sunday, July 17 Plan on arriving around 2:30 or 3pm. Brett and I will be there to open the gate.
General Information:
The cabin is in the Uintas. It gets cool in the evening and can be warm in the day. The cabin is in a gated "cabin community" and it is closer to Evanston than to Salt Lake. Limited cell phone coverage. One cabin with two bathrooms, one shower/bath. Kitchen. Living/Dining Area. Upstairs with two bedrooms. Deck on front and back. Front deck is high, with no rail-please be aware of your children. Larger outdoor fire pit. Small swing. Space to roam, rocks, trees, dust and bugs. Shooting range. Stream for fishing (children only). Uintas short drive- hiking, fishing.
There are two ceiling fans upstairs - one on the north side and one on the south side. You probably won't need more than that. You turn them on and off with a cord than hangs down from them.
There is a washer and dryer. It is a stack unit in the back bathroom. Directions are posted on it.
The radio is an antique one in a console in the master bedroom. It still works really well. It also has an old fashioned record player, but we haven't been able to find needles for it.
Weather: High 80's and low 90's in the day, 40's and 50's at night (low humidity)
Meals: There are 30 people, including babies. We are planning on everyone cooking 2 meals (one breakfast/brunch, and one dinner). Eeach family also needs to provide a lunch for everyone, but these are not necessarily going to be eaten together- more of a come and go when you are ready- type thing. Everyone is also responsible for some small, easily prepared breakfast items that anyone can easily make. You don't need to bring a ton of this, as we have breakfasts planned as one of the cooked meals. There will be lunch items that you can prepare for your family at your leisure. Also, snacks and breakfast items will be available at any time so that you do not have to wait on someone to cook their meal. (ie, you get early, they get up late). However, we would like to have meals together as much as possible, especially the dinner meal. Please be aware there is limited fridge and freezer space. If you cook, you are in charge of cleanup of that meal. Each family must wash their own place settings. You may use paper, but you will have to haul out the trash. The dumpsters are about a 5 minute drive away. I will bring dish soap, dishcloths, and scrubbies to wash dishes.
For families with special dietary needs/concerns: You are in charge of your needs. Please bring your own special milk, almond butter, whatever. I don't know of any life-threatening allergies (ie, peanut, etc) but let me know if there are any. We should have the meals plans posted, so if one of your family cannot eat that, please come prepared with something else for that meal.
Sunday:
Lunch on your own
Dinner (Carrie and Darrin:Pasta Salad, Breadsticks),
Activities: Rylan’s Birthday Party, Family Pictures
Note on Family Pictures: Please dress both top and bottom in white, tan, or black solids. You may coordinate as a family if you wish, but it is not necessary.
Monday:
Breakfast: (Yogurt, Danish)
Lunch: (Mom, Dad and Brannan: Taco Salad),
Dinner (Gretchen:Cowboy Spuds Potato Bar),
Activities: Drywall, baseboards, housework, chopping wood, cleaning windows
Evening Program: Mom, Dad and Brannan: FHE- Egg Drop, Art Project Introduction
Crafts: Roasting Sticks, Nature Art Projects
Bathroom Cleanup:Carrie and Darrin
Tuesday:
Breakfast (Carrie: Pancakes (DP) maple syrup and Sausage)
Dinner (Whitney: Hot Dog Roast)
Activities: Hike in the Uintas, Night Bug Catching
Evening Program: Aerwyn: Literal History- (This will be filmed, please dress for posterity:)
Crafts: Bug Boxes, bandana bags
Bathroom Cleanup: Gretchen and Jack
Wednesday:
Breakfast (Gretchen: Muffins and Scrambled Eggs)
Dinner (Aerwyn: Lime Steak)
Activities: Shooting Range, Star Gazing
Evening Program: Carrie-Nature Scavenger Hunt
Crafts: Paper Lanterns, Stick Horses
Bathroom Cleanup: Whitney and Brett
Thursday:
Breakfast (Whitney: Breakfast Burritos)
Dinner (Mom, Dad and Brannan: Something Tasty- TBD)
Activities: Fishing
Evening Program: Gretchen- Family Game Night
Crafts:Stick Horses, Flower Clips
Bathroom Cleanup: Aerwyn and Jared
Friday:
Breakfast(Aerwyn: Biscuits and Gravy)
Dinner (Whitney:Hawaiian Haystacks, Dutch Oven Dessert )
Activities: Dinosaur Egg Hunt
Evening Program:Whitney:Pioneer Activities
Crafts:Trivets, Quilt Squares
Bathroom Cleanup: Mom and Dad/Brannan
Saturday:
Breakfast,(everyone, leftovers)
Activities: Cleanup, leave
For Lunches and General Snacking each family brings:
Lunch for one day for everyone (easily prepped, w/out help ie, sandwiches, quickly cooked frozen items, mac and cheese, etc ) Be ready to help with whatever you bring.
Carrie: Supplies for quesadillas (shredded cheese, tortillas, salsa, sour cream, canned chicken)
Whitney: Macaroni and Cheese with Tuna and Peas
Mom/Dad, Brannan: Taco Salad
Snacks:
Whitney: Cheese Sticks and Granola Bars
Fruit
Breakfast items (easily prepped, w/out help, cereal, muffins, cereal bars, bagels, etc)
Carrie: 2 Large Boxes of Cheerios
Whitney: Bagels and Cream Cheese
Mom, Dad and Brannan: Yogurt and Danish
Other Items to Bring:
-cups/ plates/ silverware-everyone brings their own. You can do paper, but you will have to haul out the trash. I would recommend bringing up a set of plastic ones you can wash each day, but it is your choice!
-cooler
-ice (I am planning on having one cooler with dry ice)
-Any specialty cooking items for your meals
-bedding or sleeping bags, pillows (Downstairs bed- queen, Upstairs beds- 1 queen, 2-3 full, 3 twin, 1 crib)
-flashlights
-toilet paper- septic safe- several rolls per family
-.22 rifle, shotgun (if you want)
-First Aid Kit - Mom and Dad in charge of large comprehensive- everyone else bring your own small kit (lots of bandaids!)
-shoes/ footwear to accommodate western mountain forest camping (dirt rocks sticks)
-Mom and Dad solar shower
-water bottles and water (there is potable water, just bring something to put it in)
-whistle for each one of your children
-tripod (Mom or Aerwyn, will you bring one of these?)
-camera
-insect repellent
- if any of you have a small window air conditioner, we could put it in the front room or bedrooms, if it is hot. (and if you want to drive it across the country!!)
-small handheld fan
-jackets/ sweatshirts for cool nights
- 1 or 2 propane lanterns for outside (we have one WD)
-1 or 2 small fans for inside the cabin
- dutch ovens ( I have 2, but will need more for Friday dinner)
-fishing poles and gear
-bug nets
-telescope
-griddle (Aerwyn)
- large spotlight type flashlight
-air mattresses
-camp chairs as many as you can fit for your family
Games:
Whitney: Kubb, Sorry Revenge (card), Things, Whoonu, Apples to Apples Jr.,
Crafts: Crafts can be led by you, or they can be left out for everyone to do on their own.
Mom, Dad and Brannan:Trivets, Stick Horses, Basketry, Fimo Beads, Rock People
Aerwyn and Jared: hair flower pins
Gretchen and Jack:
Whitney: Bug Boxes, Paper Lanterns, Family Quilt or Flag Squares, Roasting Sticks
Carrie and Darrin: Nature Placemats, Bandana Bags
Things to think about and plan:
- Your meals
- 2 cabin games/ activities/crafts (try to make them multi-age) Please post these ideas so we do not end up with 12 days worth of pine cone people, we can paint outdoors
- One program/ event/family togetherness idea- I am thinking things like talent show, skit night, class on something you love, book night, Family Olympics, anything... Each Family is in charge of one night. (or day, whatever you want) On Friday, I will be planning something pioneer-ish.
- Things you would like to do in the day as a family or small groups.
- 6 copies of your 10 favorite recipes
- one story to tell/ read
Thank you everyone! I will keep posting, adding, changing. I love you all and am excited to see everyone in two weeks!
