A German Family Reunion

The Hoddaps

Well after 21 years we finally were able to re-connect with a old family Friend. I found Gregor online, it has been 20 years since we last seen him. He had finished Law school and Married Utta. They then planned a Vacation to the US to come see us this year. Gregor was our German Exchange student which is usually for one year, but he must have liked us because he came back year after year. He was even with our family at a time of great sorrow when we lost our mother. His last trip to see us was in 1989. It was so nice to catch up on old times and on what everyone is doing now. It is hard to believe that we let 21 years slip by without much contact. Gregor was and still is a part of our family. So I thought I would post the photos of our trip to Craters of the moon and the family dinner that followed. I know we will not let time fly by us again.

Gregor and Utta The first trail

Clayton wanted to explore every hole "CAVE"

Strange trees

Good views

Everyone was smiling at the beginning of the hike

The famous tree on top of the cinder butte

I do not believe they will make it to become butterfly's

I think Utta enjoyed Idaho

Cinder cones from a good view point.

Gregor enjoying Idaho

This snow stays in the cinder cone all year

Lots of blistering hot trails

How would you like to walk across that!

We did not get a lot of flower pics so Jen was a little upset at the camera crew.

Clayton waiting for us to go into the cave

Hailey laughing at everyone slipping on the ice.

Do they think that rope is going to stop us!

Group photo inside the cave

This cave was the hardest yet a lot of fun

This cave has more head room

Hailey enjoying the sun

Wonder if a park visiter was under that when it fell.

Clayton's lava war wounds

Dad must have been telling a good one

The girls learning about Germany

Everyone

The Boys plus one

The girls

The end of a very good day

Clay's First year of Football

2009 was Clayton's first year playing football. It was fun to watch how much his team and him progress into such a great team and he became the MVP.

Big # 60

At first he was mad that league rules did not allow him to be quarter back or carry the ball due to his size. ( for the saftey of the littler kids) He soon learn how fun it was to take out the ball carriers and quarter backs. So he felt justified in the end

He also loved the hard work.

Yes mom plenty of fluids

First game

Second to last game. If I remember right they only lost two games.

2009 Family food storage

As a family that lives in rural Idaho We keep the tradition of hunting for the majority of our meat for the year. With the exception of some lost photo's of Jennifer's and Hailey's deer, and no Elk meat for the first time in 9 years this is how our 2009 hunt turned out.

We spend the summer keeping our shooting skills up to par.

Cassidy's First deer

Better photo after unloading the deer

The girls are very competitive..here they compare the size of each others deer

Even though we only live 15-30 minutes away from hunting In three years I don't think we have ever returned home before dark.

Yes my deer was the smallest of the year..but in my defence I took the young buck with a bow at 56 yards.

We really need to put up a real meat pole this year!

Heading down the trail

Finally enough horses for the entire Family!
Cassidy has to ride the tallest horse..or so she says

Clays first time on my Mule

Hailey seems to like Cork

But I do not think Jen likes this ground pounder though

Time to turn around

Enjoying the sun

Earlier that month