The Steele Family Reunion

We had the Steele Family Reunion at the Iona Park again this year.  (August 14, 2010)  It was really lots of fun.  Food, chatting, getting to know relatives you don't know and catching up with ones you never see except at the reunion.

Chad Stanger's family was in charge and did a great job.  Our family is in charge next year and we could see how much work it was, but we are looking forward to it anyway.  Sadly, it's getting to the point that everyone is talking about not having the Reunions anymore.   This is a family tradition that goes back many years so I hope it doesn't stop.

                                       Chad Stanger busy taking care of details.
                                                         THANKS CHAD!

Doesn't Maurine look great--she never changes!

 We used to go to the Brunt Family Reunion, too, but the Steele's aren't really invited to that one anymore (so sad).  I haven't been to one of those since the year I was married (August 1974).

Family is so important.  It's important to stay connected even if it's just once a year.  It makes me sad that the older generations are almost gone now and I've become the older generation.  It also makes me happy that some of the older generation are still around and were at the reunion!!  It's somehow comforting to me.

Dad's cousin, Glen Clark.  One of the older generation that I love to talk to.

Keith Steele and his daughter.

                                                  Jim and Alex and Keith

Linda, Patty, Jim and Alex

Mary Perry, Gail and Ron Clark, Ev and Alan Perry

Bye, bye  Alex and Jim.  Going home early, are you?

Uncle George

We went to the Steele Family Reunion in Iona, Idaho last week.  While we were there my sisters and cousins went to visit our Dad's only living sibling,  Uncle George.  He is 91 yrs. old and still very sharp and sweet just our Dad was.  He said several things that just sounded like Dad.  Like when we asked him how the care center was that he lives in, he said:  "Oh, they take pretty good care of me."  That's just like what Dad would have said.  He was very appreciative that we would come visit him and the nice thing is that he'll probably remember it for a while, too.  He has back trouble that makes it very hard for him to get around.  It was good to visit with him.

Cousin Mary, Patty, Me, Pam, Uncle George and Linda kneeling.

Me, Uncle George in background, Patty and cousin Pam.

Thinking of Dad

I was doing a little family history today and ran across this article out of the Idaho Falls Post Register way back when???  Anyway, I scanned it into my computer and then decided to do a blog on it today.

Mom would have loved to have this computer and figured out how to do scans and posts and all.  She was way ahead of me when it comes to this stuff, so I'm sure she'd be way ahead now if she had had the chance to continue on in this life (without that stupid dementia!!)

And for anyone who wonders about the economy today.  I remember that Mom and Dad went with George and Tress and I think another couple to Yellowstone on this trip that's talked about in the article.  But when they got there, they didn't have enough money to pay the park fee so had to turn around and go home.  About the only thing they owned was the new car Dad bought when he got home from the war.  And it was a real luxury and he was really proud of it. 

Thought you might enjoy reading this.  I've seen it before but don't remember really sitting and reading it.  So here it is:

           

Memorial Day 2010

On Memorial Day we went to the Mesa Cemetery to put flowers on Mom and Dad's grave.  We also put a flag there since Dad was a POW during WWII and was at Hickam Field when Pearl Harbor was bombed and was a pilot in the Air Force.  Certainly he deserved a flag!!!!!

Sam & me.

It was also Sam's Birthday today!!!

  It looks like it says ISRAEL or something, but it says STEELE!!

                                                               Kristie, Patty and Jim.

The Long Road Home

I haven't written a post for a long time!  I didn't even read a post for a long time!!  We went on a long road trip.  

We went to St. George, then to Provo (and saw Alex), then to Idaho Falls for a few days.  Then to Boise, then to Vancouver, WA,  then to Bellingham, WA, then to Vancouver, BC, then took the ferry to Victoria, then took the ferry to St. Angeles, WA and stayed in Seaside, WA, then to Medford, Oregon, then to Jackson, CA (to see Aunt Brownie), then to Santa Cruz, CA (to see Sam & Jenn and our grandkids).  THEN HOME!  

About 4 hours after we left Santa Cruz, we called Chad to see if he and Meagen and Emily were going home from their week at the beach in Oxnard, CA.  Yep, they were already on the road.  We calculated and figured we would both be on the I-10 at about the same time.  So we met near Indio at the "In & Out Burger"  for lunch.  We got there about 8 minutes after they did. 

It was really a great trip.  When we got to BC, was when I started to feel ready to be home but of course we had a long way to go before we would get home!!  And there wasn't any short cuts at that point.  But there were the grandkids to look forward to seeing and that helped!!  We even got to see little Emily, too!

We put about 4400 miles on our car and were gone just over 2 weeks.  We really enjoyed ourselves and saw lots of beautiful places I'd never been to before (Washington, Oregon and British Columbia).

  

Oops!!

OK Since I know only a few people read my blog, I'll post this.  I was feeling a little blue this morning.  You know the gig--gained 20 lbs. and now an extra 3 just put me over the top.  Yuck!!   I was feeling it.   I took a shower, got dressed and was just about to go to Bashas to get bananas (for my Isalean Shake--to start losing weight, right?) when I (thank goodness) looked down.  

I absolutely cracked up!!  Made me laugh hard- and I was here all by myself, too.  And suddenly I felt happy again.  I also went in and changed my clothes.  I need a full length mirror, that's for sure!!

Mother's Day 2010

Just a couple of pictures of the flowers Chad and Meagen and Emi brought to me today for Mothers' Day.  Thanks!!  We had dinner and Kristie and Patty came over too.  Alex cleaned his room (spic and span) for me for Mother's Day and Tom called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day also.  Earlier in the day, Sam and Jenn and the kids called as they were driving home from the beach, where they had spent a few days enjoying the sand and sun and water.  Jim treated me to so many things on Friday, Saturday and today that I'm not even going to attempt to name them all.  He was so sweet to me.  Thanks to every one for being so nice.  I love you all.  Who needs a corsage when you get so much more!!!