Black Reunion

After our time in Layton with my parents, we headed to Clear Creek Ranch near Zion's National Park for a Black family reunion.  We loved seeing all of Kirk's mom's family and reconnecting with them, since it had been seven years since our last family reunion. 

The Ranch was awesome!  All 43 people were able to stay under one roof with plenty of room  to play.   The older girls loved playing card games with the older cousins.

Clockwise from left: Olivia, Abby, Marissa, Julie, Megan, Elise, Julie and Noelle

There was always some type of game going on outside too. 

Kirk, Kent, Kam and Kade

There was a small lake with canoes that the kids would just take off in.

Egan, Brynn A., Sadie, and Liz

The water in the lake was a little sketchy.  I had told the girls that maybe we shouldn't swim in it to avoid disease, but that didn't stop them from swinging on the rope swing out over the lake, but just not going in.  Guess how long that lasted?  :)  Liz took one swing and couldn't hang on and dropped into the yucky water.  Unfortunately she lost her glasses somewhere out there, so I had to allow and encourage them to then get in the water and try and find them.  Luckily, Noelle found them, and she didn't contract any diseases...yet.   

Once they were in they had fun swimming to the floating pier and playing games out there. 

One day we drove into Zion's National Park to take a small little hike to see the beauty there. 

All the relatives on the bus filled it right up.

It was so pretty!  I loved seeing all the red rock with the green trees.  Unfortunately the trail that we were on closed 1/3 the way up for maintenance, so we only got to see the lower pools.  Still fun though!

Kirk, Nicks, Egan, Ensley, Brynn, Amy, Abby and Liz

There was also a huge slip and slide.  The kids started out a little tentatively, so we made a game of having them run down it as fast as they could, and then yelling suddenly "slide!" and they'd have to drop and slide. 

Once the kids lost interest, the husbands couldn't hold back anymore.  Kirk and his brothers started a slip and slide football game, where they tried to catch a football thrown from the side while sliding and make it all the way to the end without it being intercepted or wrestled away from them.  Pretty entertaining!

On the last night we had a talent show.  Many of the Blacks are very musically talented, in fact Kirk has a few cousins that sing professionally in Nashville.  The Nielson's are definately the least talented of the group, but everybody was very kind and let us show our minimal talents too. 

We had magic shows, gymnastic tricks, piano solos, ukelele songs, and all sorts of great talent. 

Jake and Tess

KC, Jake, Uncle Clark, and Uncle Kerby

 Liz even surprised us and sang a song, "American Dream" that she had made up herself.  It was awesome!  I was so proud of her!

Kirk's uncles always sing a song "Tulip"(one of Grandma Black's favorite songs)  in a three part harmony.  Kirk and his brothers (all fairly musically challenged) graced everybody with their version of the song, harmonizing in their own way.  It was so funny!   

It was so much fun seeing all of our Black Family!  It was great to learn a little more about William Morely Black and the great legacy he left for us to live by!  What wonderful family!