Wirig Roundup 2008

(Note: You can click on any of these photos for a larger view)

As it turned out, the same day we had our Carpenter Cousins reunion at Murray Park on August 2nd, the Wirig Family were having their Wirig Roundup 2008 ™. From all accounts it looks like they had a great time together.

The Wirig's will be having their gathering on the first Weekend of August, every other year. So in order to not conflict with the Wirig Roundup, the Carpenter Cousins reunion will meet on the last Saturday of July of each year. For 2009, our reunion will be held on July 25th, in Evanston, Wyoming.

The Wirig Roundup coincided with Aunt Bessie's birthday. So a birthday celebration was a part of their activities.



Quite a creative birthday cake! It looks like it might have come from the pages of a Dr. Seuss book.


It looks like it worked out really well. I love the look of anticipation on the children's faces as they wait for grandma to blow out the candles.


There were many great activities at the Wirig Roundup, including horseback rides. Even grandma and grandpa got a chance to ride!

Sunday Morning, of that weekend included a devotional and testimony meeting at the American Fork Amphitheater.



It looked like it was a choice time to gather as a family.









I think Aunt Bessie summed it up best when she said:

"This past week-end has been glorious. Our souls have been lifted to rejoicing and thanksgiving to God for the blessings he has poured out upon us. Surely the blessings of Abraham are real. It is gratifying to see our Father's Plan in operation; the realization of the promised joy in posterity, the confidence that we are all in the covenant, and through the Atonement have firm faith and hope in the resurrection. We expect exaltation and association as a family together in the Celestial Kingdom just as the Lord has promised. . . .

Love always,

Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Grandma Great and Grandpa Great (as the fourth generation children call us)"

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 4)"

It looks like the Wirig Roundup 2008 ™ was a complete success!


There were literally hundreds of photos taken of the Wirig Roundup. They have been posted by Vaughn, and you can see them here.

Happy Birthday Lila and Harvey!

Last month there was a birthday celebration for Lila and Harvey. Sam and his family, joined with Lorraine and their family in the Seattle area little family reunion of their own.

The Occasion was Lila's 75th Birthday an Harvey's 80th Birthday.




It was good for Eubanks cousins to get together. It looks like they had a great time together.

You can see more photos from the birthday celebration here.

Carpenter Cousins Reuinion

On Saturday August 2nd, we held our first Carpenter Cousins reunion (AKA the "Wet Bum" Reunion) at Murray Park, in the Salt Lake City area.

There were nearly 50 people in attendance. We met to visit and to play together. It was wonderful to see everyone.

The highlight of the reunion was ice blocking down the grassy hills in the park. The kids loved it, and after some coaxing, many of the adults slid down the hill too.

Mark demonstrating his ice blocking technique
(Note: You can click on these photos to see a larger view)

Everyone wanted to know if there would be ice blocking again for next year's reunion.

We had a great time ice blocking. Everyone was being a good sport.

Even Nancy!

It was great to have Mike and Barbara join with us. They came all the way from Oregon to be here. They introduced the game of Padunk, which was enjoyed by several of us.



For some, all the ice blocking action was just too intense.


Who could blame him? This was a call for a little R&R. Not a bad idea really: a nice park, a babbling brook nearby, a little Harry Potter, some lemonade, and a chance to catch 40 winks!



Finally, after the ice blocking was over, the question came -- What to do with the left over ice blocks? Answer: Why have an ice block sitting contest, of course! So we Did!

This six brave souls are all sitting on ice blocks. They remained there for about 15 minutes, or so. It was decided to call a truce, and an end to the contest after all of the participants experienced the uncomfortable side effect know as "Numb Bum".


We are in the process of gathering photos from our adventure. Many of us were taking pictures, and we would love to have them. We will publish them on a web site, and will provide a link here at this blog, as well as in an upcoming email where you may view the photos.

Please email the photos you would like to share to our email address (below). We would love to see your photos too.

carpenterconnections@gmail.com

You Can View all of the photos that we have uploaded to the internet so far here. You can click on the thumbnails of each photo to see a larger view.

We have already planned that next Year's Carpenter Cousins Reunion will be held in Evanston, Wyoming on Saturday, July 25, 2009. It will likely be at Hamblin Park, near the rodeo grounds.

And Yes -- We will try to find a hill for ice blocking again!