Kilstrom Reunion 2009

My parents wanted to take ALL of their kids to Silverwood for a family reunion this year. This planning has been in the works for over a year and now it is time to actually carry it out (July 20th-23rd).

While driving over there, it was kind of like a caravan. At some points I was texting Julie, Heather, and SherRae with their whereabouts. We all arrived at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel within 1 hour of each other. It was pretty impressive, although SherRae and Aaron were trying to pull fast ones by saying there was a HGUE wreck up ahead so watch out and I would get the text as we were passing the mile marker. Nice try guys.

So the first night we gathered together in a meeting room. Upon entering the room late (as I ran to Albertsons with Boni) I had to run up and grab my camera, as well as a quick potty break.

First off, there were WAY TOO many people sitting in the circle and then I realized it was all my family. Not to mention they were playing one of our silly games that we always play when we would ever have to sit and wait.

My mom got up and did her speech, as well as my dad making a family history chart for EACH grandchild about where they came from. Brev and Megan really found this interesting.

Darien and Tyson were goofing off for Keith to take their picture.

Then for the family pictures (Thanks to Julie's suggestion, as always. She is always on top of this kind of stuff).

MOM & DAD

Ryan, Derek, Roger, Dad, Mom, Boni, SherRae, and I.

Now adding the spouses.

(Jenn, Ryan, Heather, Derek, Julie, Roger, Mom, Dad, Boni, Barry, Aaron, SherRae, me, and Keith)

Then grandma and grandpa with all of the grandkids...

And the whole fam damily. Talk about chaos.

After the pictures, it was time for a little charades. Can I just say that the grandkids played this game for quite a few weeks after this reunion.

Keith snugglin' Brookies.




Brandon, Julie, Rog, Justin, and Tyson figuring out how to act out their clue.

...and they did it.

Courtney, Barry, Boni, and Hallie with their turn.

Heather, Derek, Kaylee, Kannen, Darien, and Karsyn's turn.

Ryan, Trent, Jenn, and Rachel's turn. Not quite sure where Travis was.

Brynn wanting to join Ryan's family for the night.

Then the bowling tournament with the big kids and men folk. I can't remember who won, but there was a rematch later on in the week.

Ty and Kannen patiently waiting their turn.

The littler BIG kids bowling.









SILVERWOOD!!!!

Brooks patiently waiting for everyone to come down, so we could leave.

Brev knocking on Boni's door to see if they are up and going yet. SherRae's door was the other door. The kids LOVED being so close together.

More of our made up games...okay not really made up. They were playing duck, duck, goose.

There was this crazy, loud, out-of-control group hanging out in front of the area that you pay FOREVER....oh wait, that was us.

More time waiting for our birthday packages.

Bonding time with Keith and Megan. (Love this pic)

Picture moment with Garfield. (Brynn, Dilan, Brev, Megan, Atwood, SherRae, and Kendall) Brooks was having no part of it. She was screaming from her stroller next to me.





After finally finding Keith, which took forever. The little kids went on rides with Grandma, Barry, and SherRae and Aaron while Boni, Keith, and I went on the BIG rides. I never thought Boni was a rollercoaster kind of gal, but she shocked the whole family that day. Way to go Bones!

Brev and Brynn on the helicopter, which Brev used to call "caca-burrs".

LOVE this picture of Lexi and Brooks riding the helicopter!

Atwood, Barry, and Brev going on the ferris wheel.








Then onto the water part.

Brooks fell asleep for a good couple of hours, so I got to hang out at the cabana (thanks Deke) with her while the others enjoyed the water.

Me ringing out Brandon's t-shirt that he threw up to me from the wave pool.

Since I was up there with a sleeping kid, I was kind of the in-between person, i.e. kids not wanting to go do things would stay with me, kids that were waiting for the other parent would hang out with me.



TRIPLE PLAY

At the hotel there was a package deal that my parents chose to do, which included 3 hours of unlimited playing (go karts, bowling, laser tag, miniature golf, bumper boats, arcade, etc.) Then we were able to have a 2-hour time slot of unlimited pizza and pop with a gathering room. Once again GOOD TIMES!!!

Kids waiting for more wristbands.

More kids waiting.

We started out miniature golfing outside (when the weather was WAY too hot). Then I found out there was a miniature golf in-doors. I guess that is what happens when you have not been there before.

At least Boni and Barry were with us on the outdoor golf idea.

We pretty much ran through the course, as Brev was the only one taking it seriously.

Nice form Brooks.

Then onto the bumper boats. These were great, especially with the hot weater. BUT you better be ready to get WET on these things.

Brev and Kannen LOVED doing these.

Kannen and Brevin again.

Grandpa trying to find those boys. (Love how dad has his legs)

Then the GO-KARTS.

I didn't realize how competitive my family was....until we were all at the go-karts. NO MERCY! We kept that spot hoppin'. I think at least one person from our family was on a go-kart practically the whole time.

Brynn and Grandpa going for a ride.

Barry taking Cole for a ride.

Boni and Hallie

Keith and Trent

Courtney even got to drive and Brynn. She was a good conservative driver....too bad Uncle Roger was out for blood. At least he only picked on the adults.

Me and Roger taking our turn.

Brooklyn trying Dance Revolution while Grandma hogged the Deal or No Deal game.

Brooks and Kendall going on a mini-merry-go-round.

The pizza banquet.

Brynn and Megan.

Brev and Kannen.

Ty's cheesy grin for Keith.

Boni and Julie.

Mom and Dad getting their hugs and kisses from all of the grandkids.

Thanks for memories that will last a LIFETIME! A family that plays together...stays together.

Brev, Atwood, and Dilan who can't take a normal picture anymore.

A spontaneous moment of love caught on camera.

The swimming area/wave pool.

The kiddie playing area that would just dump water all over us. The little girls (Brooks, Kendall, and Lexi were not fans to say the least).

The kiddie area without water being dumped everywhere.

The "toilet bowl" where we all had a great time on. Then there is the Falling Waters where Brev and Trent fell off the innertube inside the slide and then the tube went on top of Karsyn and Kayle.

The tube-less waterslide that Brynn finally went down at the end and then wouldn't stop going down it.

The slides from a window view...blue is toilet bowl, yellow is the tubeless slide, and the red is the Falling Waters.

On the way home from Silverwood, mom and dad (who rode with us) wanted to stop by Boulder Dam. It is a dam that my dad helped work on. Since he is a retired Seattle City Light Employee, we actually got to go inside the dam and see how it actually works.

Here is a view from the outside.

It is a pretty steep slope.

Mom, Brynn, Keith, Brooks, Brev, and I think his name was Bob all with our hard hats on to go down to the dam area control.

Brev pretty excited to wear a hard hat.

Brev outside of the dam.

The dam tour wore mom and Brynn out, obviously. I had to take this picture, as mom sat in the back with Brynn and Brev on either side and would sometimes get the kids to hyper back there, by being her goofy self. Love ya mom!





Gamma Radyl, as Brooks says it, and Brooks chillin' on the bed at the Grand Coulee Dam hotel.

Dad finally taking a break from driving the entire trip and getting some shut eye with Brynn.

The wrist bands that Keith and Brev collected for the whole trip. Keith took his off, but yes Brev still has his on. I'm still not sure when he is goingto take them off.