WFFD - Waite Family Fun Days 2025 Island Park

We gathered from 4 states and 1 province at a cabin in Island Park for Waite Family Fun Days with 33 people, We could check into our cabin at 4 pm - guess what time my mom and dad got there: 3:15 pm and they text the group chat - the cleaning lady is still here (surprisngly since it wasn't 4 pm yet). Then 7 out of 10 cars of family arrived between 3:50 and 4:00. Waites arrive on time.

After dinner, we divided into teams of 3 and made boats out of tinfoil, sticks and leaves and then took them to the river to have a boat race at Big Springs. Rob, Hazel and Grandma had the boat that was first place.

On Monday morning, we had the first annual Tyce John Memorial Wiffle Ball Baseball game. We played two innings before we got kicked off the corner of grass where we were playing because it was part of the golf course. Jill pointed out that it was fitting for the game in honor of Tyce because Tyce often defied authority.

Then it was time to float the river. We floated this river often in my childhood. You start at Big Springs and end at Mack's Inn. Getting 30 people all set in kayaks, canoes, tubes was quite the task, but we did it. The river was really busy, but it was the perfect weather day and so much fun. Paisley slept the whole time. Charlotte hate, hate double hated her life jacket. Then she was okay but then cried for a few minutes until Larsen got her to sleep. Will loved it and changed back and forth between all the boats, squirted people with his little water gun. 

A funny quote to remember: Will was eating a bag of Cheerios that Hanna had brought for Paisley. He said, "Hanna, Paisley's fruit loops aren't good. You need to get new ones for her."

Some of us rented kayaks from a local company. They worked great, plus they delivered and picked them up. We did use my Dad's two canoes. Jeanette and Julie brought blow up kayaks - they didn't work as great. Jeanette bailed water the entire time and said she was throwing it away at the end of the river. Julie's was brand new, but Tristan said he was taking it back. The Whipples had blow up tubes from a box. Rachelle and Brylee ended up getting towed by the kayaks. But that turned out really fun for those people - they talked and laughed more than they would have without getting towed.

The river was a success!

When it was time to load the canoes back onto my dad's truck, Hanna said, I can help. My dad said to her, no you can't do it. You will scratch my truck. Little does he know Hanna...don't tell her she can't lift something. I am sure she will bring that up for the next 2 decades.

On Monday night after dinner, we had an early surprise birthday party for my mom who turns 75 in December. Rachelle brought us all 75 paper glasses to wear. Then we played a game where Rachelle asked a question about Mom/Grandma and we all wrote down an answer to the question to see if matched my mom's answer (Favorite food, sibling, song, year she got married, etc). Then we played a game where Grandma turned around and we each said hi or happy birthday and she had to guess our voice. We gave her a tree picture that we all had put our thumbprints on and ate cupcakes.

Then we had an instant talent show. I handed out papers of a talent to perform in groups of 3...line dance, magic trick, whistling, mime, etc. It was funny and everyone was a good sport to participate (well, almost everyone).

Tuesday morning we just cleaned up and headed out. We went to leave and couldn't find the keys to our car. Yesterday I had moved the car and realized it had a flat tire, and then I didn't know where I put the keys. We searched and searched. Then we stopped and said a prayer. Then Rachelle said she stopped for a minute to listen for an answer, and it was to look in the garbage. On their 3rd garbage bag, she found them. Then I remembered I had cleaned some garbage out of the car right then and obviously forgot I had keys in my hand and must have thrown them away. I was so thankful we found them.

We stopped on our way home to get our tire fixed, but we did have to wait 2.5 hours because the tire guys had to go to lunch first.

I was so thankful for everyone that made the sacrifice to come. It was a fun time. I'm thankful for great family!!!