Arkansas!

We just got back from the Poss family reunion to celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. My parents, all four of their kids, our four spouses, and all 12 grandkids (yes, that's 22 people!) made the trip to beautiful (and gigantic!) Beaver Lake, Arkansas. It was four days of fun, laughter, good food, togetherness and, for the cliff jumpers (more on that later), a bit of terror too. 

Here are the Harrison kids with Grandma and Grandpa Poss in Dallas.  My parents flew there from California and we flew there from both Boston (John) and New York (Brad, Peter, Mary, and I).  All seven of us managed to get on the same flight from Dallas to Arkansas so we traveled the rest of the way together.

We rented two houses that were a short walk from each other, so this and another golf cart were a big help to shuttle back and forth between them.  Here's John, my sister Kathy Kidd, Brad, and Peter taking one of the first rides.

Leave it to Mom to bring us all presents when we were celebrating her and Dad's anniversary.  She made clothes pin aprons and they are beautiful.  Above is my sister-in-law Amy Poss, sister Kathy, Mom, me, and my sister Kelle Reckinger.

There was a lot of grilling going on at this party!  On the first night, my brother Steve and his wife Amy treated us to some amazing venison brats and filets, as well as stuffed (homegrown) jalapenos.   You can see that John, Steve, my dad, and brother-in-law Don Kidd are keeping a close eye on the grill.

One of the houses had a dock so we enjoyed many hours on and around the water.  Steve brought his power boat and we also had the use of a pontoon boat.  Although the weather was super hot, we managed to get Mom and Dad down for a bit of waterside time.  Above are Dad, Mom, me, Peter, and Brad.

More dockside time with Peter, his uncle Bob Reckinger, and cousins Connor and Nick Poss.

Did I mention the fishing at the dock was good?  Jack Reckinger got the prize for the biggest catch with this enormous carp, which was clearly a surprise as he was only able to get it out of the water thanks to Connor paddling over in the kayak and pulling the fish out with this t-shirt due to the fact that no one had a net!  

 

Bob, Steve, Brad, Peter, and John have huge smiles after jumping off a 30-ish foot cliff/overhang.  All the young dads and most of the grandkids did the jump.  (I for one was happy to just sit on the boat and take videos.)  And speaking of videos, I have uploaded the jump videos (also kneeboarding videos) to Youtube.  If you click here it will take you to my Youtube page where you can watch the videos.  The kneeboarding videos will give you an idea of how beautiful the lake is.  Also, I have posted 200 (gulp) pictures on Facebook, so for anyone who wants to see more, here's the link.

 

Steve's boat, which provided for lots of fun and which, I just realized, doesn't have a name.  Perhaps it should be christened  . . . . The California Kid . . . . .?

 

What cute cousins!  Annie Poss with Erin and Emily Reckinger. 

Mary and her cousin Sarah Reckinger.

Annie with her brother Nick and Grandpa.

Peter, Grandma, Jack, and Brian Kidd.

Talk about togetherness!  Sarah and cousin Lauren Kidd have a uni-braid. 

Mary and her Uncle Bob made a formidable pool team. 

I wonder if 50 years ago Mom and Dad would have imagined all these grandkids!  It's hard to believe that beginning this month five of them will be in college, six in high school, and one will be in middle school.  (Not to be outdone, come Saturday Grandpa will have a new hip too.) 

Congratulations on 50 years, Mom and Dad!!! 

P.S.  After so much togetherness, I wonder if this is how Grandma and Grandpa felt as their plane touched down in San Diego . . . . . ?! (Thanks for the picture, Kathy.)