Randy & Carol's 50th Anniversary

 My parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on June 4, 2021. But we made plans to celebrate in July when we could all be together in Utah. First, we went out to dinner at Sundance up the canyon with my parents, the 7 kids and the spouses that were here. During our planning, my parents were worried it would cost too much (some things never change:) but we assured them we were all okay with it and that we wouldn't make them pay for everyone's dinner. But it turned out great  - the location was fun and the food was delicious. My dad said it was the best restaurant meal he had ever had.

The out of town kids all stayed at Jeanette's house. It was a party. The next day after breakfast, we went up Provo Canyon to a park to shoot off rockets. These are the things you do at family reunions when your dad is a physics teacher. We headed back to Jeanette's house for lunch and then we spent the afternoon at a little pond by Jeanette's house with lots of paddle boards and swimming toys that Jeanette had gathered up.

After a catered dinner that Jeanette had ordered, we had an anniversary program. Jeanette had made a game of questions about Mom & Dad. Rachelle had changed the words to the song "Sweet Caroline" that the grandkids sang about Grandpa & Grandma. Then each of the 7 kids shared a memory. I told about all of the rides in the backseat of Mom & Dad's car: trips to the Tetons, Yellowstone, California, New York; the ride to Logan the day they dropped me off at Utah State University; and the ride to the temple the day I got married. 

We ended the day swimming at Jeanette's neighbor's pool. This is where the brother-in-laws are super fun and get all of the kids jumping off the rock cliff.

My family hadn't been together since Nathan's wedding in December 2019 - a lot because of covid. So it was great to be together. But if you want to know how to ruin the mood at a family reunion, have one sister announce to another sister in front of everyone that her kid was bugging the crap out of everyone. I know there is background to the story and two sides to every story, but it was awful.

The lyrics to the grandkid Anniversary song:

Where it began, clear back in California,

That’s where their love was growing strong

Was in the spring

And spring became the summer

Who'd have believed they’d come along

Hands, touching hands

Reaching out, touching me, touching you

Sweet Grandma Carol

Good times never seemed so good

They got married,

Everyone believed they would

But now we

Looking at them and they seem so happy

They started out with only two

And when they laugh

We all laugh with them.

How can we love them anymore.

One, becoming two

Then there were 9, now there’s 38!

Sweet Grandpa,

Good times never seemed so good

We all knew

To believe they always would

Oh yes, yes,

Sweet 50th,

Good times never seemed so good

Sweet 50th,

We believed they always would

Sweet 50th!

Good times never seemed so good