Hardister Reunion Weekend

Saturday, May 23, 2008

The day could not get started early enough for our families. Agenda: Pictures, Eubanks Lake and Hamburger Barn, oh and somewhere in there rest and naps for all!

After some much needed fuel during breakfast we finally were able to get our group of nearly 50 people gathered for pictures at Ouachita Baptist University for group and individual family shots. We all showed up by 9:30-9:45 and the photographer had all of us done by 10:45, Lori you ROCKED!! There are not enough Thank You's that can be said for your hard work with our large family. Lori got some amazing photos, I got to see a ‘small’ selected few, the next 3 are from Lori, I am anxious to see the rest.

The families!!

Our family! From left, Zach, Daddy David, Abigail, Momma Tina, Madelynne and Nathanael.

Our Sweet Kiddos!!

Pictures: DONE!

Back to the hotel for changing out of picture clothes and into swimming suits and shorts, gathering of food, for some water fun! We arrive at the private lake a little after 11 and while family had fun on paddle boats, canoes, kayaks and swimming; some of us were preparing the edibles for lunch. Nothing like family and enough food to feed an army, no pun intended Kurt. On the menu:

Hamburgers, hot dogs & chicken
Baked beans, corn on the cob, potato salad, fruit, cookies and chips.
AND ALL The fixings to go with it all.

One of our cooks!!

We could not have asked for better weather for Saturday, although the forecast predicted 40-60 percent scattered showers it did sprinkle there for oh about 20 minutes and that was about it. We joked that all of us had to do was blow real hard and the clouds and the rain would go away. The sun was shining and the kids’ skin proves it too. Several, although using sunscreen still came out of the day with sunburns, praise the person who invented putting aloe in a bottle.

David caught that ball, I think Grant was tryikng to get him off balance.

Shannon taking a picture of me.

Me taking a picture of Shannon.

Madelynne and Meg Kayaking.

Preparing to kayak.

Kayaking and paddleboating.

Preparing to fish.

Lake: DONE!

We had the lake and food area cleaned and packed back up by 4 and then we were back to the hotel around 4:30-5 for a short nap before dinner.

So now we're back at the hotel after making trips to the store to replace a few things that we used at the lake. Straightened up a bit and I lay down in David's parent's room with his brother, sister-in-law and parents and I ended up taking a 20 min power nap before we had to head over to the Hamburger Barn for dinner.

Oh goodness, dinner! Why do family get together always require eating so much food?? The food and the service were fantastic, the gals that waited on us and the cooks who did the food did a FANTASTIC job with our huge family party. If we still lived in Arkadelphia I would hire those gals to babysit.

We passed around photo albumns, told some stories, filled out genealogy information and just had an overall great time. Some of us got to meet each other for the first time ever, and now we can't wait to do it again soon!! Although the person in charge for the next one hasn't been selected.

Madelynne made this cake, looks alot like him doesn't it? A fantastic day to celebrate a 75th birthday!

Nate, Madelynne and Graydon (the birthday boy).

Dinner: DONE!

So after dinner we all went back to the hotel to visit some more. Sitting in the grass next to the pool telling more stories and looking through many pictures. It was after midnight before all of us were in bed.

Saurday: DONE!!

Onto Sunday!