Idaho Trip #2. . . The Beutler Reunion

After a memorable ride up, we were glad to arrive in Dayton on Thursday night and set up our "camp" (which is just our tent in Grandma and Grandpa's back yard).  The weather was much cooler there and it makes it easy to sleep outside.  Since Austin and Cody were already there, there wasn't a lot to unpack and set up so it went quickly.  It was really nice to see Austin again (even though he had just been home the week before) and to have us all together for a few days.  Most of this post is going to be in pictures because once we hit the farm the kids scatter and all do something different while the adults fix food and visit.  That is the what the Beutler Reunion is all about!!

This is a new activity for the kids.  With Austin living and working on the farm, he has gotten to do some of the things Doug and I used to do as kids, and that includes "fluming".  A flume is when the canal has to cross a road and they build a metal canal to take it across.  The metal canal has bars across and is a little bit steeper than the normal canal.  When the water is high it can be dangerous, but this day it wasn't very high and the kids had fun floating down the flume, then pulling themselves back up against the current.  The older kids went twice during the reunion.  It is so much fun to hang out with our cousins!!

As usual the kids loaded the bikes up and took a ride up the canyon to the basin, west of Dayton.  It is an easy ride on a dirt road the whole way and the more skilled riders usually take detours to make it interesting.  This is Tanner getting ready to unload his three wheeler, and the rest of the group already suiting up behind.

Here are my kids!  Austin (right)  Mady (furthest away on the four wheeler)
Cody (driving the four-wheeler in the middle) and my brothers youngest daughter
Afton riding behind Cody.  Cody invited Afton to come  ride with them for the
day.  The other cousins from Doug's side couldn't figure out how she was Cody's
cousin, and not theirs.  When they finally figured it out, they started to flirt with her.
It was really funny to watch.

 

Here the boys are having wheelie contests down the road.  I'm not sure if anyone actually
won, but it was a great competition!!

 

The little kids put their heads together and created a parade for everyone, including
the throwing of candy.  They used Grandpa's four-wheeler and pulled the carts behind
while everyone waved and smiled.  Some of the other cousins decorated bikes and rode
behind the carts.  They worked on their "floats" for most of the day Saturday and the parade
was in the afternoon. 

Kerry and Joylynn were in charge of this reunion and Kerry had made
little games that he positioned throughout the back yard for us to
play whenever.  This is a monkey game that you alternately pull each rope
and the monkey walks up.  There were two so we could race.  Doug and Cody
are racing and it looks like it is a tie. 

Years ago when Grandma was still having babies, presumably the twins (Kerry and Katie) the workout rage was a contraption similar to this that would supposedly shake the fat off you.  Grandpa, in his ingenious way, made Grandma  one so they didn't have to buy one.  It has a small motor on it that moves the belt back and forth, jiggling whatever is leaned against it.  Uncle Mike dug it out of the basement and plugged it in and IT WORKED!!  All of us had a turn at it, and it felt like a zumba routine that you didn't have to put a lot of effort into.  It kept us occupied for most of the afternoon!

Dalyon didn't have much to jiggle, but tried it anyway.  It was a fun walk down memory lane for all the family! 

 During the evening we all gather inside and visit or watch TV.  There is plenty of laughter
and teasing as well as reminiscing of the "good ol' days".

The teenage cousins love to play cards and Grandma keeps them supplied with candy.  They play Golf,
Thump Thump, Slap Jack, and other fun and quirky card games.  When things get heated they get loud,
but are having such a good time we don't shush them. . . . very often.   (Left to right:  Chandler, Brody, Hailey,
Tanner, Mady, McKenzie, Bracken, Cody)

The kids play cards whenever there is down time.  You can see that Mady
is the ringleader.  From left to right, Chandler, Bracken, Tanner, Mady, and Brody.

This is Olivia, Sammy, Hailey, Dalyon and Cami playing on the overly loved
hammock.  The little girls love to swing, ride bikes and play with the dolls they brought as well as
watch TV and play games.


The reunion lasts until Sunday when slowly we all clean up and go travel home.  It is always a great time at the reunion and we are always well fed.  Already we are looking forward to next year!