Barbara Jo, Mark, Susan, Paul, Nina, Karen, Rebecca and Ashlee. Brian is the one missing on the front. See the colorful shirts. We always have a 'stairstep' picture and years ago it actually looked like steps, but as you can see with time we have our 'ups and downs.'

We had our every-two-year reunion on June 25-27. It was held at a huge cabin above Otter Creek in south central Utah. Forty memeber of our family were there. Got there on Thursday, and before everyone arrived, the men killed a huge rattlesnake that was in the garage. Creepy.

Nina planned the reunion, food and location, and she pulled Rebecca and Jeff, and Ashlee in to help with it. Jeff had planned the games for our Olympics, and we only got to play two of them as it poured rain on Friday afternoon. Friday morning Ashlee spearheaded tie-dying tee shirts. What a colorful group we made. The theme of the reunion was 70's/80's and the shirts fit right in with that. It was amazing to see the outfits the adults came up with that they had worn in the 80's.

We played fun games: "Deal or No Deal", "What if...?", fishing, "Pass it along", had a white elephant exchange. And the food was great. Two meals a day, and snacks if you needed them, but we really didn't. There were three dogs there, Max (the Eck's male ShitzZu sp?), Maggie, Nina's Yorkie, and CiCi, Grandma and Grandpa's poodle. They all got along well. Actually, CiCi spent a lot of time under the bed.

We missed Brian and Laura's family this year. Also Dakota Jordan (Nina's son), Elder James Eck, serving in Lima Peru, and Dan Eck who was at EFY in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Those attending were Vern and Barbara Jo Taylor (Jordan, Jackson, Jacob, Allie Jo and Brooke)

Mark and Heather Ekins (Carly, Lacy, Aubrey and Elijah)

Art and Susan Eck (Nathan, Christie, Sophie, Kami and Aaron)

Paul and Kristin Ekins (Kelson and Cole)

Nina Jordan

Tony and Karen Pedersen (Molly, Grace, Olivia, Lyndie)

Jeff and Rebecca Anderton (ShyAnn, Denver, Charlie, BrookLyn)

Ashlee Ekins

Grandpa and Grandma Ekins (Alton and Nancy)

A great time was had by all. Our next reunion is in the hands of Brian and Laura's family. It will be in two years.