2017 Hunt Sibling Adventure

I am creating this to serve as a record of our adventure and a way to share it with Linda, who had to miss it all.  We missed her and she at least ought to get in on it if only after the fact.

This may not have been the ideal time for a family gathering.  With Linda and Myrleen having had such serious surgeries and complications it was a real challenge for the both of them. Then Linda was taken to the hospital the day before we arrived with bleeding ulcers because she hasn't had nearly enough trouble as of late.  Jeff assured us he was up to the task of hosting our gathering.  By the time Frank and I arrived at Jeff and Linda's home Thursday afternoon, Norm and Myrleen were already there. Wanda called in a bit and needed direction. They'd had trouble following their GPS. Jeff explained calmly and quietly just how to find their way to the house. Ronnie and Janet soon called. They had met up with Huntley to have dinner with him as he's been serving his mission in San Diego and was heading home the next Tuesday. (Awesome) We heard a replay of the instructions. It reminded me a bit of something from Laurel and Hardy.  In any case, we were soon seated about the kitchen with heaping plates of tamales, ribs, rice and potato salad.  We were very well fed. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the spread. It was impressive.

Myrleen presented Jeff with a beautiful quilt. She called it a quilt of valor. It was to honor his service in the military.  It's a gorgeous quilt with the details of his service shown in one of the blocks. There were 21 stripes as a salute to their service. Everything on the quilt is meaningful. I'm so sorry the picture is so dark.  If someone has a better one I'll post it. She made one for Ronnie as well.

Jeff enrobed in his quilt

 Then we headed out with our GPSs to find our rented home that was about 20 minutes away.  That was another Laurel and Hardy sort of adventure, but we all did show up at the house eventually.

The house we rented.

The living room - or Wanda and Janelle's 2nd bedroom

We were happy to find a home with sufficient bedrooms for everyone, but perhaps just as importantly there was room for those who wandered in the night in search of something more to their liking. Wanda and Janelle were found sleeping on the sofas in the morning.

 Friday morning we got up and had a super breakfast.  Jeff outdid himself with a bacon, eggs and pancake breakfast.  There was a family debate on the texture of the pancakes but we ate them anyway.  We ate our fill and headed to the Midway for a tour. Another GPS challenge, but ultimately we all made our way successfully.

Jeff's squad was the Fleet Angels

Only the love of a devoted sister would get Wanda in the flight simulator with Janelle.  As you can tell from the expressions on their faces, Janelle was having a blast and Wanda was doing her best to keep it together. What a good sister!

We were in the front of Jeff's helicopter that's on display on the deck of the Midway

the tour was particularly meaningful having someone who had actually served aboard the Midway with us.  Jeff lived on the Midway for 18 months. 

After our tour we headed to the hospital to visit Linda. Had I known it would be our only visit I would have taken pictures.  I was sure that she would either be coming home or we would be going back for another visit.  Sorry not have gotten a photo with her.

After our tour we thoughtfully reviewed the experience in our own ways.  

Norm says they look like a couple of mummies.  :)

I can't believe I have no photos of the banana on a rope game. Jeff can give a demo of that to Linda.

After another lovely breakfast on Saturday morning we headed to Old Town.  We strolled about and ended with a walk through the Mormon Battalion visitor's center.

Offer up your own caption for this one.  

 And then - lunch.  More Laurel and Hardy moments in our efforts to find a restaurant, but we ended up having a very fine meal.

Afterwards the ladies gathered about to do a craft that Janet had brought down with her. Thank you Janet!! We are now all a little more prepared for Christmas.  Jeff was nice enough to remove the cushions on the chairs so we wouldn't worry about getting paint or glue on them.  😉  Thanks Jeff!

The gentlemen found ways to keep themselves busy as well.

That evening Wanda read a letter from Aunt Norene to Nelda and from Nelda to Aunt Lois. We played more family games that Wanda created.  We learned a lot about our family.  Wish I could remember all I learned. Thanks, Wanda, for taking the time to put them together.

Jeff outdid himself once again by having home made ice cream for us.  He seriously was a super host.

We were all up and out of our house by about 8 in the morning.  Some headed to the airport, some headed home and some headed to Jeff's to pick up their cell phone.  It was a very fine time. Big thanks to Jeff.  Lots of love to Linda. (And we're quite sure a lot of thanks goes to her as well. After all, who trained Jeff?) And a lot of gratitude that we had this opportunity.  

Until next year.........