A Hopkins Family Reunion

One of the things that kept me so busy last year was the Hopkins Family Reunion that we had in Utah in August of 2012.  I took the lead on the planning and it was quite an affair.  We had 60+ family members join us from four countries and it was awesome.

On Day 1, we all gathered in Saratoga Springs for the baptism of several boys that had recently turned out.  It was lovely to all be together and to celebrate that moment as a larger family.  We then adjourned for a late lunch and chatted it up.  For some, it was the first time they had seen each other in years.

 Grandma Hopkins holding Woof and Blanket

 Mom and Bug - Bug putting on his best, "I'm not hating this" face

 Piper and Tabs eyeing the cupcakes and cake pops - but very obediently not touching

 Hyatt being a tough guy

After lunch, we rearranged things and held a family talent show.  I was a bit skeptical about how it would go, but it was hilarious and it was so nice to see everyone share their talents and be cheered on.

 Grady and Daxton in costume for their "Once their was a Snowman" performance

 Piper and Tabitha had planned a dance performance.  Tildy just couldn't sit idly by without joining them (see previous post)

 The JJ Clawson Family with their "Despicable Me" performance

 The Hopkins clan, cheering everyone on

 Maggie and her dance partner with a dance performance dedicated to my Grandparents, in celebration of their 60th Anniversary

 Tildy and Jen - once again, Tildy couldn't let someone dance without being a part of it

After the talent show we moved onto the park for a color fight, in memory of my Dad.  For those of you that aren't familiar, the color fight is part of an Indian tradition.  Bags of color are distributed to the participants (I believe the color is dyed cornstarch), and at the go, you throw your color onto as many people as you can.  It was a blast - for all but Tildy.  She didn't see the fun in it, which the rest of us thought was pretty funny :)

My pictures die off from there, but on Day 2 we did family photos and a 60th Anniversary celebration for my Grandparents.  The party was a great time.  My uncle had put together a game that quizzed us on the favorites and preferences of us as a family, the music included the number one hits on my Grandparent's Anniversary for the last 60 years, and my sister made a beautiful wedding cake.  It was lovely.

On Day 3 we all attended Sacrament Meeting at my Church and then gathered for a family Testimony Meeting and dinner.  We also got a lesson in who's who in terms of 2nd cousins, third cousins, relatives removed, etc. from my Aunt Kim.  Needless to say, I didn't get it, but I think I had a variety of all of them there at the reunion.  Later that evening we had a teenager movie at my Aunt and Uncles and a kids movie in my backyard.

Day 4 was a free day and BBQ dinner at my house in the evening.

Because we are so far flung, we don't get the opportunity to all be together very often.  It was wonderful to convene in one place and celebrate.  It was also an amazing chance to celebrate my Grandparent's 60th Anniversary.