Childers Reunion and Rash Update

Rash Update-- Almost entirely gone except for on his little arms. Hopefully that will be gone by tomorrow! Poor baby!

Today was the annual Childers Reunion. When I was a kid, I remember going on the third Sunday of July to the Avoca Fish Hatchery for the reunion. As a kid, I remember it seemed like hundreds and hundreds of people were there (of course this is a bit fuzzy...) I remember lawn chairs and mom packing special "picnic utensils" and plates to eat with. I remember tables and tables of food. I remember walking the trails behind the fish hatchery and trying to find the old graveyard. I remember the outhouse that smelled like, well, an outhouse in July. I remember my Dad standing on a picnic table and making announcements about things and giving prizes for the youngest, the oldest, the farthest traveled, etc.

Over the years things have changed quite a bit, as things as naturally inclined to do. The Reunion was moved to Saturday to accommodate out of town travelers who didn't want to miss church. The location has changed several times over the past years trying to find a place that accommodates peoples need for shade and a/c and the need to find a place for kiddos to play. Today it was at the D&M shelter house next to PRD in Bedford. This year none of the oldest generation were present. My great grandpa and his brothers and sisters are gone. I honestly don't know if any of them are still living. My dad would know. It is remarkable to look at the family tree and see our family grow. I took a pencil and proudly wrote in Robert Mason Leahy 9/2/08 branching out from our line.

This year things were really different for me because Robbie and I (Sam was at work) were the ONLY ONES from my immediate family there. I really missed Dad & Mom, Nancy & her boys, and Jim with his family. I spent a lot of time making sure Robbie didn't eat gravel, but otherwise he did great with everybody. He spent time bebopping between family members and showing off his new skills at walking. He was in a really good mood, too, and chatted a lot. He won the "Youngest Childers" prize edging out the competition by about 17 days to win a fun toy that he went bonkers for. He played with it almost all night when we got home.

After the reunion, we went by Sam's parents house to say hi -- also so I could go to the bathroom as I was not about to try out the outhouse!