FINALLY_ really, information is so important when planning the family reunion- right?  SO SO Sorry that I haven't passed on info as well as I should.  I know that I have talked with each of you individually about many things.  In an effort to get all the information in to one spot, here's the plan so far... subject to change. Sort of.  Kind of.  Maybe

FAMILY REUNION DATES

Thursday July 21- Saturday 24

**We know that not everyone can make it on Thursday- it just seems so short to see you Friday night and so I am trying to squeeze the most time out of you as possible**

Location- Chateau d'Piippo   

3858 Marlene, Idaho Falls, ID 83401

We have reserved the ENTIRE bed and breakfast.  This home boasts a "family feel", sure to make you feel like you are coming to your childhood home.   All amenities are provided- clean bedding, towels, etc.  Comes with a fully stocked kitchen and family pets to truly give you that "homey" feel.  Each family will have their own room.  We will have two tents for "child" over flow- one for boys and one for girls.  There is also room in the family room for kids to sleep in, or on the trampoline!

Schedule-- Subject to interpretation, nap times and tornadoes

Thursday-  Visit the beautiful Yellowstone National Park.  We would like to leave Idaho Falls around 9:00, drive to Yellowstone and watch Old Faithful.  Visit the Black Sands geyser basin and other favorites.  We will picnic around Old Faithful, then have a hot dog BBQ in the evening.  Head home around 7:30.  Some families have Park's passes to get in free, so we will try to combine cars to cut down on costs.   

Friday-  Visit as families and let kids play through the day.  Possibly go to Rigby Lake. Wait for everyone else to arrive.   Yard Games and the candy guessing game that night... always a favorite.   

Saturday-  The traditional Grandpa's Bingo will be the first activity of the day, followed by some Family Feud, Let's Make a Deal and other wonderful family games.  Water Slide/Bounce house- Fun for ALL ages.   This will take the place of the make shift slip and slide... and hopefully keep Uncle Mike's teeth intact.  

*Maybe not this exact one.. don't hold me to it*

** WE WILL Be taking family pictures (loud groans from the men and excited hand clapping from the wives).   Not sure on day/time- kind of waiting to hear when everyone will be here and how naps go.  It ALMOST seems like the evening might be better since we will have so many small babies with morning naps to work around?  I would LOVE to do Friday evening, but will keep everyone posted.  If you have thoughts- please share!!  The first thought that all the women had was WHAT DO WE WEAR?   Clothes.  Preferred.  Colors- Navy Blue, Gray, Coral, Mint and Mint Green.  Of course white also is nice.  We won't go with exact shades, it will be nice to have a variety!  I am kind of leaning towards having this more of a "dressy" picture.  Thoughts?  Collared shirts for boys (doesn't have to be button up, but nicer?)  OR is this just TOO MUCH.  Cuz I am okay with what ever.  

Now to all the fine points and what we are hoping you can contribute.  

A) Can we ask each family to do a meal as we have in the past?  Please text me with what meal you would like to do

B) Can everyone look around for stuff to bring for Grandpa's Bingo?  ALSO- if this doesn't break your budget- PLEASE bring 2 gift cards of your choosing.  Preferable one is a $20 card and the other a $5 card.  

C) We didn't rent a house hoping to keep costs down, but we do want to pay for someone to come and take the HUGE family picture (I figure we have enough photographers to handle the smaller family and individual groups).  If everyone can please chip in $50 for the photographer, bounce house, prizes, etc for the weekend that would be great.  We know that budgets and traveling might not allow that.  

This makes our total "input" cost from each family $80 + food...   Hopefully This is okay for everyone.   


D) We would like for everyone to go home with all the pictures taken, so I am hoping that on Saturday night we can steal everyone's camera card and put all pictures on DVD's for everyone.

Anything else I missed that you really wished I had put in here?

Love you all- can't wait to see you!!!

Zelda Fans - Essential Information

I know there are some Zelda Fans in the family. As I was reading through a newly acquired book, Hyrule Historia, I was made aware of the fact that there is a very specific timeline to these games. They are not all the same Link, or Zelda, but they have a chronological order and history that run very closely together. The picture below is a quick illustration, but much more, interesting information, can be found here:

http://zeldawiki.org/Zelda_Timeline

Fascinating eh?