The fun began on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, when Jaime Lassman came to Willow Valley with Jack and Reed about 3 PM for a swim, having arrived at Nancy’s from Lexington, KY on Monday. I did not get any photos because I was too busy swimming with Jack while Jaime and Reed watched. Rachel Lassman arrived a little later with Henry and Dillon, and Henry joined our swim.

On Thursday July 4 David and Janet Best from Rochester, NY joined us for dinner at the Double Tree Resort. We had a good chance to catch up on the news, and then they spent the night with her sister’s family in Leola.

Friday July 5 began with a swim at the Cultural Center about 10:30 with the Michael and Jaime Lassman’s families.

Henry swims very well and is a little water dog with his head under water as much as above. Dillon is not far behind, but needs a little more confidence to be on his own. Jack prefers to keep his head above water, but swims with support. They were a joy for Jaime and Reed and me to watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suzy and Fran Talarowski arrived about 1:30 and we visited awhile before we joined the rest of the family at Nancy and Gary Bennett’s home for a wonderful afternoon of talk, good food, and the joy of being together.

Janet and David learned about Suzy’s recent rotator cuff operation.

 

 

 

 

 

Elly introduced her law school friend, Jon Thomson, to Becky and Dan Shirer.

 

 

 

 

Our two Mikes helped Dillon start his picnic dinner while Gary barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone.

 

 

Rachel Lassman, Ryan Himes, Jack and Henry Lassman, Dan and Evy Shirer, and Cayle joined Dillon for the great pot luck picnic. Nancy, Barby, and Al preferred to eat inside, where it was much cooler.

Becky Shirer and Anna Himes joined them later for conversation.

It was a tremendous pleasure for me to watch eight of our ten great-grandchildren interact with each other. Reed was a center of attention wherever he was.

 

Here he is with Leela and Molly Himes, Jack and Henry Lassman

 

 

 

 

 

Geoff and Amanda, Suzy and Rachel watch.

 

 

 

We took portraits of two of the families:

Barby and Paul Ruskin’s family

and Nancy and Gary Bennett’s family. Amy Lassman was missing because she was saving her time off for the Lassman cruise to Disney World later in July.

It was a truly memorable family occasion, and we spent the rest of the evening enjoying each others company. We look forward to the next family event, Geoff and Amanda’s wedding on Sunday, September 1, in Ambler, PA