Ross Reunion '11

Each summer for the last several years, my parents, all of my siblings, and their families gather for a Ross Reunion. This year is the first that Theo will miss as he is busy matriculating in Lubbock. We were also missing my youngest sibling this year, but that is a whole other post.

The kids take turns hosting this blessed event, and this year it fell to John and Michelle Gilleland in Durango, CO. In a previous post, I mentioned the soggy adventure we had with baseball All-Stars. Given the fact that I felt too guilty to bail any sooner, our family arrived halfway through the first day of merry-making.

On Thursday, the gang had set off to tour Mesa Verde while we made our way east, just beyond the Four Corners. Man, I am logging the miles these days, just one more reason I miss my husband! We timed our arrival really well as we got to the Gilly's house just before they returned from their anthropologically enlightening outing. On the menu for dinner was the ever popular fare, Navajo tacos. Unfortunately, none of us have any actual Navajo blood in us, and this is a seemingly critical element. My dad likes to play the Wampenog card, but I don't think they know about Bluebird flour or that recipe with the handfuls. Michelle made a brave effort to produce some edible bread dough using her Bosch mixer and a recipe off of the internet. Those of you in the know don't need me to tell you about those sorry lumps of half cured concrete that ended up in the trash. As I am the closest thing we have in the family to a Navajo relative, even though it is only by marriage, and even though I haven't actually made frybead in like five years, I agreed to give it a whirl. Hey, I could only go up from where we were. It turned out decent. I'm not sayin I'm gonna head off to the Tuba City Fair to open a stand or anything, but it got us by. Thankfully, Michelle made some rockin chili, not the semi-edible canned stuff you usually get with Navajo tacos, that more than compensated for my mediocre dough making.

That night, Michelle had a drawing (which we repeated each night) for prizes going to the kids who had done good deeds during the day. I have to say, that was a fun idea. The kids were assigned to watch out for people helping others and being generally nice. They would then write it down and put it in a jar for drawing. The kids were delighted to hear their own names read along with the good turn that they had performed. Check for the positive reinforcement. Loved it!

Friday, we got to go out to Navajo lake to go boating. Big kids got to wakeboard and wake-surf. Littles got to paddle around on inflatables and dig in the sand on the beach. All were happy. First thing the next day was family picture time. Now this can be a challenge as we have grown to a group of well over 30 people, many of them not the least bit interested in posing for a group shot for posterity. Michelle had purchased M&M t-shirts (which have turned out to be surprisingly popular) in various colors to go with our theme of "Making Memories". See the photographic genius below.

Next, we headed into the hills to Durango Mt. Resort (formerly known as Purgatory) to ride the Alpine slides. The monsoons seemed to have arrived a little early this year, and the sky was threatening to give a shower. We all waited in the long lime to ride the ski-lift, and almost everyone at least got to the top. I rode down with Rex on a somewhat sluggish little car, but it seemed to be just the right pace for a first timer. Just as we were coming down, the first drops were starting to fall. Behind us were Drake and Ty. We were watching for them to come down, and watching, and watching, the rain falling at a steady pace now. Then, here they come walking down the mountain, Ty carrying their two sleds. Apparently when the track gets wet, the brakes don't work. From their description of the events, there were some nailbiting moments, some butt sliding, and ultimately a rescue. Ty it seems, saved Drake from certain death by alpine slide by jumping off his own track and halting Drake's careening sled in the nick of time. Poor Skip and Jack were the last to not make it to the top before the rain, although a large chunk of our group was stuck at the top waiting for it to stop as well. They were eventually bused down to the base. Fortunately, the rain let up and all who wanted to were able to slide down the mountain.

That afternoon, lots of the kids went for a trail riding adventure in the Gillelands' 6-wheel wonder, the Pintzgour (sp?). This military vehicle seats like 348 people or something, and the sides can be left open to get the full effect of the outdoors. What a grand time.

Our last day was spent going to church together. It was a great cap to a fantastic few days. John and Michelle are always the most gracious hosts. Our kids never get enough of the fun activities they plan, or the endless things to do in between. I love watching the cousins renew their friendships. I love being able to see how they change and grow with each passing year. As we left to go home, I couldn't help but feel melancholy. I love this bunch of people more than anyone in the world. Knowing that we will be in Texas in a couple of short weeks makes me long for the get-togethers we will have on a less-frequent basis. What a great time Making Memories!