Hi guys, this is Mom, because Jarom is here and I don't know how to get on Blogger, but he has a password. We sat around and talked about this last night, but everyone is wishy washy about saying anything negative about Ben's latest plans, so I will risk it. Anyway, I don''t understand this whole airshow thing. I don't want to travel to Arco and sit around in the hot sun with things booming overhead. I would like to visit with my kids and grandkids. Arco sounds too far away from everything. I can't imagine hanging around Arco or even Idaho Falls as a group, even though Angie is there and for her sake we could hang around in a hotel there, I guess. Still, I think Ben's original plan seemed to be working for most of us and it has worked out fine before to have this house serve as home base and have you guys in nearby hotels. Lagoon was a good place to have our main event. Lots of families and big companies have meetings there and there is endless entertainment if you get tired of just sitting around visiting. It works for both seeing each other and fun because it it has a place to sit in the shade, tables to eat on, and rides for the kids, etc. You don't have to pay to ride rides if you can't or don't want to and yet you can see all the shops and free shows. It would also be possible to see everyone without even going to Lagoon. I hope to see all who can come. I guess I just can't imagine the logistics of holding a reunion at a field in the middle of nowhere, unless we are all planning to camp in the desert or something. I haven't seen any info on this. Ben, what is the deal? Can you explain this at all except that you love airplanes? I appreciate your efforts to organize something, and will back you no matter what just because I love you. Can you please send details of this new plan? Love, Mom

That reunion would be a ton of fun. But it does not look like Andy is going to get toleave town this month at all. He has a project at work that he needs to be here for. But we wish we could be there. We will probubly come to Utah sometime this fall when we get the chance.

Mom that was very inspirational. I love talking to people about our family. It is really quite amazing what you and dad have accomplished as parents. I hope that somehow I manage to instill some of what you taught into my children.

Angie, I sent you a present it shipped today so I hope you get it before your shower. I appreciate your invite. One car makes it pretty impossible to leave town with out my husband though! We are working on that and maybe by next year we will have a second vehicle and I can visit who I please. Plus being pregnant I have to drive 4 hours to my OB so any other trips are going to be tough to swing.

Well I whish we could go but I hope you all have fun! We will try and see some of you this year!
Love Polly

Oh thanks guys, we leave Idaho and you decide to all come visit!!! That sounds like alot of fun, we heard about it before we left. It is going to be pretty huge I guess.

Angie, how are you feeling? I got the invite to your shower, wish I could come!!!

Mom, that was a beautiful e-mail! I have to laugh when you say you can't talk about us or you would feel like you were bragging. :D I feel sad that grandma is not doing so well, I wish we could go see her.

We are doing well, we are going up to Lake tahoe to see fireworks tonight, and then just stay in town for the ones tomorrow. Happy 4th everyone!!!

Airshow! Need I say more?
Love.

From MOM, since many of you probably didn't get it:

Hi everyone! I just got back from visiting grandma Lula in Salmon. She is pretty chipper for a very old lady, but is weaker than I've seen her and she cannot walk very well. Valisa came with me, and Quinn and Analyse, and we made a lovely quilt to raffle off at the reunion. I have told some of you about this, but decided to send an all points bulletin! You can buy a ticket to win the quilt and take it home from the reunion for $5. You can buy as many tickets as you want to. The money will go to Joey's mission fund.If you cannot come to Salt Lake for the Reunion this month, you can still buy a ticket for the quilt, just let me know. I will reserve your tickets if you send the money. You need not be present to win, but it would be fun to see you! I look forward to seeing all the little grand kids. I hope they have a lot of fun together, too. I sit here in my very quiet apartment and think about how many years I wished for this kind of quiet and time to meditate. I feel so grateful for wonderful children and grandchildren. It is almost overwhelming to contemplate. Sometimes a person will tell me about their family, and I will just keep quiet about you guys, because it would seem like bragging and make the poor person feel bad. At Grandma Lula's a gal came to take care of Grandma. She was Jane Tolman, one of Beth Tolman's daughters. She had nine children, she told us. She was married in the temple, and after 24 years her husband left her. He also left the church. Her children are almost all "having nothing to do with the church." She feels sad, but of course she loves them. She asked me about my family. I did not say that all of you are married in the temple, tell Joey and Jacob's missions, out of deference to her sad story. I just said I had 29 nine grandchildren, and you are all doing well in your lives and professions. Anyway, when I can do it in all modesty, I do brag a little. You really are such a fine group of people and I am proud of you. If you will always live up to your covenants in the temple, you will not be letting Satan into your lives and letting him get his foot in the door. Love each other with total commitment. Please don't ever let selfishness or worldliness make you forget the importance of the Gospel in your lives. If you find yourselves becoming complacent or negative about your spouse or the Church, REPENT! as Dad would say. Please remember always the example of your mom and dad who were totally committed first to the Gospel, then to each other no matter what, even though we were imperfect people. Well, I guess its my job as mom to give you a little lecture now and then. I do love you all.

Love, Mom

Also keep in mind that it is only 2 1/2 hours to IF so you really could do both if you wanted to.

I saw the signs for the air-show and was going to let you know Ben but I had not gotten around to it yet. My boss says it is a pretty cool one. You could always get hotels in Idaho Falls, that is where most people who go to Arco commute from then some of the poorer folks could crash on my floor. I only have one guest bedroom.
I was going to let you know that I would probly not be able to go to lagoon because my doctor wont let anyone travel very far after 36 weeks and I will be almost 37. But I don't think it should be planned around me. Just let me know what is up and I will let you know if I will be there. Either way I am trying to find someone who wants to take Missy with them because she will be very sad if she can't attend. Love you!
Angela

Ben, I ran into Shawn Dahle on Sunday in Salmon. He was there with his wife and kids. He gave me his address and phone number. He is a Physical Therapist in Logan and works at Cache kids. Many on my colleagues worked there and we knew a lot of the same people. Anyway he is really into biking and would love to see you and your family when you come. He wants you to call him. Also, we would love to go to see the airshow! That sounds lioke a lot more fun than Lagoon but thats my opinion. I am all for it. I haven't touched base with Dan yet but knowing him I would say the airshow would be a lot more fun. Also Dan's parents live 30 minutes from there and we actually have a lot of family in the area. If people needed a place to stay we could set up a few place really easily. Let me know what you decide since you are in charge.

Okay, another change of plans (because I'm in charge). There just so happens to be an airshow in, get this, ARCO, Idaho, on July 26th featuring the Blue Angels and several other attractions. It looks to be a very cool airshow, and in Arco of all places. Anyhoo, several people I've talked with said they would be interested in going to this.

Airshows can be a load of fun if you bring a few things for every person, a chair, a gallon of water, and a hat. Oh, and 1000 spf sunscreen. Then, you're set. I don't know how many people are interested in doing this. We could change Lagoon to Friday, or just blow it off entirely. The airshow would be a lot cheaper, especially if you get your tickets online before hand. The web site is arco air show. and it has a link to buying tickets.

So, give me your feedback. We have the Lagoon tickets, and we don't have to cancel them or anything. But, if we went to the airshow instead, that would be okay by me. I can't stress enough, if you are prepared and early, airshows are some of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences we have had as a family. Being prepared (especially with little kids) is the only thing. Chair, water, hat, sunscreen.

Lisa, as far as our plans are concerned, that's okay. There is another (small) airshow in Cheyenne on the 23rd that we have gone to every year. The Thunderbirds fly over this small community college, they don't even land, but they do their show and it's really cool. We'll probably go to that on Wednesday and then head to Utah.

And, needless to say, this sort of nullifies everything about the hotel arrangements in Draper, if we go to the airshow. I guess we'll need to find lodging, we could even go on to Salmon, for those who dared. Or, we could drive back to Utah, I don't know.