Reunion Photographs

Hard to believe it's been one month since the reunion. A big thank you to everyone who attended and made the event such a success! We hope everyone has recovered from all the fun and games.

We've received the photographs taken during the reunion - from Steve Mendoza, who took the family photos on Friday night, and from Maren Luekenga, who captured numerous candid shots throughout the rest of the reunion. We plan to compile all these images onto one DVD and mail them out to everyone in the next few weeks. If you have images that you would like to add, please contact Karen and I about how best to send your photos (either via mail, email, or Facebook). But please be quick, as we need your additional images by August 10th. Look for your DVD in the mail by the middle of the month.

Many people wondered when the next reunion will be. It looks like the next reunion will be the summer of 2013, likely again around the 4th of July holiday. More details to follow. . .

Its Nearly Showtime!

A few random thoughts and information before next week's family gathering:

Check-in at Campus Grove is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 2nd. Driving directions can be found here. At check-in, your family will be given their reunion t-shirts, reunion schedule, and directions to their assigned room. Family heads will also need to complete and sign a waiver from Campus Grove.
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For those making the food preparations, the final registration numbers are 82 people - 45 adults and 37 children (10 high school/junior high school age, 13 elementary school age, and 14 pre-school age and younger). Remember that the paper plates and bowls, cups, plastic utensils, and napkins will be provided. It is expected that the family assigned to each meal will provide food and drink, and cleanup after the meal service.

Times for the meals are as follows:

Friday
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Dinner: Catered

Saturday

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., Breakfast: Continental
Noon - 1:00 p.m., Lunch: Kim McDonald Family
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Dinner: Scott and Nan McDonald Family

Sunday
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., Breakfast: Continental
Noon - 1:00 p.m., Lunch: Jay and Darla McDonald Family
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Dinner: Brent and Nancy McDonald Family

Monday

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., Breakfast: Continental
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For those that signed up to go waterskiing on Saturday, details about this excursion will be available on Friday night. Bart and Brian McDonald, who are in charge of the fun, are each bringing their boats. This event will require carpooling to the reservoir, about an hour drive each way.
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The family photographs taken on Friday night will include one large group photo along with photos of each individual family. TJ and Maren Luekenga will be assisting the photographer with making sure that this rather large task runs smoothly; please follow their directions. The photo session will begin at 7:00 p.m. These photographs will be taken in our reunion t-shirts. The t-shirt colors are as follows:

Jay and Darla McDonald Family - Sandstone
Kim McDonald Family - Dark Smoke
Brent and Nancy McDonald Family - Scotland Blue
Scott and Nan McDonald Family - Olive
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Items not to forget:

Bedding and towels
Personal hygiene items
Sunscreen
Bicycles and sports equipment
Games to play
Camera

See you all next week!

Sleeping Accommodations

We've worked hard to meet everyone's request for sleeping accommodations. The whole family will fit into the 15 rooms snuggly, but comfortably. It is important to remember that everyone will need to bring bed linens (except for those assigned to the queen beds, as the bedding is provided) - please bring pillows, sheets, blankets or sleeping bags that will fit the type bed assigned to each member of your family.

Below is the list of the room assignments and the type of bed to bring linens for. The sleeping arrangements within the room are suggestions. Please review the Miller Hall floorplan for a detailed layout of the rooms. We have been asked to not move any of the furniture, particularly from one room to another. The single foam pads can be found on the third floor (game room) in the storage area; cribs are not provided and must be brought from home. You will find your family's name on the door to your room upon check-in.

First Floor

Room 1
Queen Bed - Brent & Nancy McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Cade McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Cadee McDonald
Full Air Mattress - Dylan & Karen McDonald

Room 2
Queen Bed - Kim McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Nikki McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Ashley Lorraine
Foam Pad - Aaron Hepner

Room 3
Queen Bed - Jay & Darla McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Janae Copeland
Singe Bunk Bed (top) - Sierra Copeland
Foam Pad - Shelby Copeland

Room 4
Queen Bed - Scott & Nan McDonald
Futon - Open

Room 5
Queen Bed - Brian, Shala, & Landon McDonald
Crib - Jarom McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Mark McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Kyler McDonald
Foam Pad - Aiden McDonald

Second Floor

Room 6
Queen Bed - Garett & Melissa McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Maggie McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Grace McDonald
Foam Pad - Matthew McDonald

Room 7
Queen Bed - Ryan & Lauren Tingey
Crib - Brynn Tingey
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Aiden Tingey
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Jayde Shackett

Room 8
Full Bunk Bed (bottom) - John & Shelley Thomas
Full Bunk Bed (top) - Carter Thomas
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Joaquin Thomas
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Aurelia Thomas

Room 9
Full Bunk Bed (bottom) - Tom & Brooke Allen
Full Bunk Bed (top) - Open
Crib - Olivia Allen
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Simon Allen
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Max Allen

Room 10
Queen Bed - Randy & Julie Winslow
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Stormie Winslow
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Skye Winslow

Room 11
Full Bunk Bed (bottom) - TJ & Maren Luekenga
Full Bunk Bed (top) - Ella Luekenga
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Luke Luekenga
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Taylor Hamilton
Full Air Mattress - Troy & Stacy Hamilton

Room 12
Queen Bed - Brady & Mindy McDonald
Crib - Cooper McDonald
Crib - foster baby
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Open
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Open

Room 13
Queen Bed - Bart & Anna McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (bottom) - Morgan McDonald
Single Bunk Bed (top) - Ryan McDonald
Foam Pad - Jacob McDonald

Room 14
Queen Bed - Rob & Rebecca McDonald
Full Bunk Bed (bottom) - Aubrey & Rachel McDonald
Full Bunk Bed (top) - Jordan McDonald
Foam Pad - Parker McDonald

Room 15
Queen Bed - Charlie & Kim Shackett
Full Bunk Bed (bottom) - Ryan & Ashley Johnson
Full Bunk Bed (top) - Hayden Shackett

Third Flood (Game Room)

Hide-a-Bed - Brock and Cole Shackett
Futon - Logan Shackett
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Every room has at least a sink in it, while most share a toilet and a shower. There are no public laundry facilities at Campus Grove. Please bring your own shampoo and personal hygiene items. Also, bring your own bath and beach towels.

Last Minute Preparations

Can you believe we are only 32 days away from the McDonald Family Reunion?

Karen and I have received registrations for 84 people - 47 adults and 37 children (10 high school/junior high school age, 13 elementary school age, and 14 pre-school age and younger). The turn-out has been fantastic and we are looking forward to spending time together with everyone.

Just a few reminders in this posting. First, we are putting together the sleeping arrangements and will be contacting you shortly about them. Please plan to bring linens and pillows for your entire family, along with bath/beach towels, shampoo, soap, and other needed personal hygiene items. Second, those who indicated on the registration form an interest in having additional professional family photographs will also be contacted about costs. Third, please remember the family food assignments. And finally, when your family arrives on the 2nd there is a waiver required by Campus Grove that each family needs to fill out. We will have a copy available for you to complete when you check in.

P.S. I know there are some soccer fans out there, and in order to not miss the quarterfinal matches of the World Cup from South Africa, we are working to have an internet connection available to watch the competition. The matches on Saturday, July 3rd start at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Go USA!

Registration forms due on May 15th!

Just a friendly reminder that the registration forms and fee is due on MAY 15th. It is critical that these be sent in on time as deposits and payments are coming due. Please don't make us track you down and go all medieval.

There are a couple of changes to announce. First, the company we had originally contracted with to provide Friday's catered meal has gone out of business. No worries though, as we have a new recommended chef to step in, this time with a Dutch oven menu currently being finalized. Second, there will be an adult-sized bounce house, complete with a water slide. So, parents don't be afraid to bring your swim suits and jump in there with the kiddies. Third, the scheduled waterskiing trip on Saturday is being coordinated with Bart and Brian. They will need some help in transporting folks who want to go. Final plans will be made on Friday night.

Directions to Campus Grove in Albion, Idaho can be found here.

Please plan to arrive on Friday, July 2nd at no earlier than 4:00 p.m. Karen and I, along with Brady and Mindy McDonald, will be there to check you in, hand out the reunion t-shirts, and direct you to your rooms. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and family pictures will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Time is short, hope you are all as excited as we are about this reunion!

The Registration Packet is in the Mail!

No, its not an April Fool's joke - the registration packet is in the mail. Be sure to check your mailboxes in the coming days. Included in the mailing is the Registration Form, a tentative Schedule, and details about the facilities at Campus Grove. Please review all the information, as there are several deadlines to be aware of.

First, and this will be the last time we bug you about this, we've extended the deadline for the family history project. The absolute drop dead date to get us 10 to 15 of your family photographs is April 20th! Review the March 2009 and August 2009 entries for more details. Please don't miss out on participating in this project.

Second, the deadline to return the Registration Form is May 15th. It is critical that we have the registration forms back on time in order to finalize the reunion plans. The total cost per family is $355.00, which covers the rental of Miller Hall and its amenities; reunion t-shirts; group photographs; planned reunion activities; meals; family history and photo collection DVDs; and postage and mailings.

Scrapbooks, Home Movies, and Vacation Photos, Oh My!

Miller Hall's second floor Sitting Room will offer everyone a chance to share their home movies, scrapbooks, and family photos. Uncle Brent will be bringing a TV, DVD and VHS player to allow the entire family to share their own family histories. Sure, we'd love to see that stake road show you starred in. Yes, everyone would get a kick out of seeing those photographs of those awkward teenage years. Anyone else remember that Thanksgiving in 1991 at Brent and Nancy's in Nampa, where nearly the entire family gathered for the holiday? Well, be sure to stop by the Sitting Room, as Brent will be showing the two-hour video during the reunion. Please plan to bring your family memories to share with the rest of us - just follow the sounds of the laughter coming from the second floor.

Waterskiing on Saturday, July 3rd!

Bart and Brian have each graciously offered to bring their boats and take the family waterskiing at either Lake Walcott ($4.00 a day, per vehicle) or the Oakley Reservoir (also known as the Lower Goose Creek Reservoir). Both are about an hour's drive from Albion. Each boat can comfortably seat 6 to 8 people, and has life preservers. Those planning on going waterskiing will need to bring their swim suits/trunks, sun block, and towels. The reunion registration form will have a place to indicate for those wishing to go; further details will be released at a later date.

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Reminder that the deadline to submit your family's digital photographs is March 1, 2010. Please read the August 1, 2009 entry for further information about this important project.