Dropbox for Family Reunion Photos?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm already missing everyone after the reunion! Mike and I got a few photos, and I know that a few other people were really good about taking pictures. I'd love to see what everyone got - would anyone else be interested in a dropbox folder so we can all share? (If you have a preference other than dropbox, that'll work too!)

Updated schedule Family Reunion

All right, so how about these apples?

Friday night: Fire, S'mores, deliciousness

Saturday

8:00-9:00 a.m. - Breakfast

9:00-10:00 a.m. - Post-breakfast chaos - Get ready and take photographs

10:00-11:30 a.m. - Grandpa's bingo

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Free time/guess amounts in candy jars

12:00-12:30 p.m. - Lunch

12:30-1:30 p.m. - Right after lunch - Candy/goodie jars

1:30-2:45 - Free time/scavenger hunt

2:45-3:30 p.m. - Grandma's tea party

3:30-5:00 p.m. - Free time/water fight

5:00-5:30 p.m. - Dinner

5:30-7:30 p.m. - Free time (some other structured activity with the kids?)

7:30-8:30 - Wind down, put kids in bed

8:30-whenever - Adult social hour (without adult beverages)

As far as the talent show goes, while we may have time for it after dinner, I see that the time may be better spent on interactive activities with the cousins.  I think Stephani makes a good point that this is literally the only time some cousins will see each other in the year, so it makes more sense for them to be playing and having fun together rather than sitting and watching (plus, I don't know about your kids, but my kids get bored really easily and trying to keep them sitting and watching for half-hour plus may be a monstrous task).  Michael, we still would love to see your woodwork, however (you know my kids would love it ....  SHAPES!!!!!).

So what about the above schedule?  Any ideas for an evening activity? Anyone have a movie projector that we could all watch an outdoor movie together and eat snacks?  If there are no ideas, I will come up with a fantastic idea (or at least one that I think is fantastic).  Thanks!!!!!!

Family Reunion Update

This post is long, so here are the highlights if you don't have time to read it all:

- I propose we forego the talent show due to a lack of time
- Below is the proposed schedule
- My idea of what the candy jar rules should be is below

Talent Show

So here's the rub: Logistically, I just don't see how we can do all of the things I listed in the previous post.  There just isn't time enough to pack it all in on Saturday, especially because I fell there should be plenty of free time for the cousins to play, talk, and interact without structured activity. So ... I am thinking we forego the talent show.  It sounds like Alisha was the only one that had some real concrete plans as to what her children were going to do, so maybe it won't be that big a deal?  Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Proposed schedule

So this is how I am thinking things will happen:

Friday:  Because people coming at all times, I don't there is any need to plan any activity for the night, as people will want to chat and hug and what not.  Those that are going to be there on Friday during the day can plan something together if they so please (or I can plan something, but I don't really know who all will be there so I am not sure if that will be effective).

Saturday:  I know that lighting for pictures is important, and from what Hayley told me, the best time for photographs is either just after dawn or just before dusk.  Neither of those times seems terribly practical, however, as it is either too early or too late.  So, I suggest the following schedule:

Wake up (whenever)

8:00-9:00 a.m. - Breakfast

9:00-10:00 a.m. - Post-breakfast chaos - Get ready and take photographs

10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. - Free time/guess amounts in candy jars/etc. etc.

12:00-12:30 p.m. - Lunch

12:30-1:30 p.m. - Right after lunch - Candy jars

1:30-2:30 - Free time

2:30-3:15 p.m. - Grandma's tea party

3:15-5:00 p.m. - Free time

5:00-6:00 p.m. - Dinner

6:00-7:30 p.m. - Grandpa's bingo

7:30-8:30 - Wind down, put kids in bed

8:30-whenever - Adult social hour (without adult beverages)

What do you all think?  Of course, times don't have to be rigid.

Candy jars

Additionally, from what I recall, candy jars can really take a significant chunk of time.  I propose that (if we haven't already done this in the past), we be prepared prior to starting with a list of each jar and who got the closest to that jar.  Also, I propose the following rules, if no simpler rules have been previously established:

1) If you have no jar and you guess the closest on the current jar up for bid, you get that jar
2) If you already have a jar and you guess the closest on the current jar up for bid, you can either keep your current jar or relinquish control of your previously won jar
3)  If you keep your current jar, the person who guessed the next-closest on the current jar up for bid wins; if that person already has a jar, he has the same two choices as the original winner
4) If the original winner chooses to relinquish control of the previously won jar and take the current jar up for bid, the relinquished jar goes to the next-closest on the current jar up for bid; if that person already has a jar, he has the same two choices as the original winner
5) So on until the current jar up for bid lands in the hands of someone who didn't previously have a jar

I haven't done this for a couple of years, so you will have to let me know if I am way off.  I would like to be prepared prior to the reunion so that everything can run smoothly and with minimal effort.  Thanks!!!!

Family Reunion Details

Only two weeks away! Time flies!

This is a long post, but please respond answering the following questions, as detailed below:

1)  Who in your family is going to present a live talent, and what will the talent be?
2)  Would any part of your family like to/be willing to camp in the yard for Friday and Saturday night?
3)  What questions does anyone have about logistics?  Any pitfalls we are overlooking?

We wanted to make sure we answered everyone's questions and gave everyone an idea of the planned schedule, sleeping arrangements, etc.  So, as far as the schedule goes, these are the activities we are definitely planning on:

1) Candy jars
2) Grandpa's Bingo
3) Grandma's tea party
4) Family talent show
5) Family pictures

Unfortunately, I was not there last year, so I don't have a great idea of how long each of these things will take.  Additionally, I am not sure who is going to present what at the talent show, so I don't know how long to plan for that.  Could each of you give me some idea of who in your family is going to present a live talent as opposed to a stationary talent so I can kind of guestimate how long the talent show will take?

I hope that doing all of the above activities won't pack the day so much that we don't have free time to just chat, let the kids play, etc.  Any input would be appreciated.

As far as sleeping arrangements, we have six bedrooms and five families that need sleeping places (Jenny, Stephani, Jeff, Greg, and Mike, right? I am of course assuming that Brian is not planning on staying over night, but please chime in, Brian if I am wrong).  That would leave one family with two rooms.  Naturally, Jenny, she being the eldest and having the most children, would get first dibs.  However, I have no preference as to who occupies the "extra" bedroom.

Alternatively, I thought it would be fun for whoever wanted to camp outside.  We could have a fire and tents out in the circle and have a pseudo campout.  This would free up some space inside the house and let everyone spread out a little bit.  If you would like to camp out please let me know.



Thanks! Can't wait to see everyone!

Service Dog

Neat article on Service Dogs that can smell diabetic changes!  Who knew!

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/feature/smb-heroes/2014/07/training-dogs-to-save-lives-by-sniffing-out.html?page=all