Family Reunion 2012, Oregonia, OH

So, after the drive down from Van Wert Wally World Friday morning, we pulled into my sisters country hollow home in Oregonia, OH.  Where the heck is this place?

From Wiki:  Really?  Wiki has this place in their database?  I'm impressed!  Oregonia is an unincorporated community in northwestern Washington Township, Warren County, on the east shore of the Little Miami River about five miles northeast of Lebanon and six miles south of Waynesville.  Roughly, half way between Cincinnati & Dayton.  My Mother is sitting in the middle in the turquoise slacks.  She'll be 82 on her next birthday. 

Now, the "family" for these reunions include for the most part, members from the Clans of Biggs and Carriers, with the usual amount of marriages and offsprings from other clans.  Members traveled from Tennessee, North Carolina, Lousiana (I think), Wisconsin, Virginia, and perhaps other locations as well.

 And this the Matriarch of the Carrier Clan, Shirley Kilburn, my Mother and below, my Brother Greg sneaking a photo-op with her.

 Seems like each time we come to the reunion, there are more kids, some I don't even know or have seen before.  That's ok though, because that's whats reunions are all about:  Getting aquainted & re-aquainted with new and old friends and family.

 Kacy, my niece thinks she can catch her Uncles' curve ball (with a softball) (HA!).  Check out what happens when you can't get get your glove (Kacy, the glove is what you catch the ball with, not your shin) down quick enough.  Ouch!  A little bump & bruise.  Sorry Kacy.  I'll throw it underhanded from now on.

 There was a lot introducing and socializing going on for the first couple of hours.

 And all that can be tiring, so relaxing and enjoying the shade of the many trees in the huge yard was a welcome event from the sun, hot & humid July afternoon.

 And the kids seem to never run out of energy. 

 Typical female, trying to find the accelerator to get this thing going fast.

Now see, the boys like a much easier, slower pace, even if Pop Pop is supplying the go-power!

 "Big Brother, do we know these people?"

 Cousins Mason & Alexandra (Ali) congratulating each other for going down the slide together, without breaking heads.  Maxwell & Austin are cheering them on.  Max is going down backwards.  Ham!  Look Grandma, aren't we cute?  Take our picture.

 Auntie Brenda, I can go on this ladder. I do it all the time at home.

 Big boys playing cornhole, and little boys playing with a train set in the basement.

 Someone celebrated a birthday during the afternoon's events.  Not sure who, but I think it was Alena.

 I can just taste that cake.

 Natalie, my younger daughter, Austin, and Max, my grandsons, as is Mason, and Ali, the other grand daughter.

 The kids had a ball riding the trykes down the grade of the driveway.  And no one had a tumble.

 Cornhole game...

 And a little "how's it going these days" chat among family...

 Relaxing under the shade of the second floor deck above.

 Birthday party, and some serious refueling for the older folks.

 Below, Nancy, Joe, Debbie, Dawn, Lil' Walt, & Tabitha, barely.  Above, Holly, Mandy, Tabitha (white shorts) Brenda

 Evil Kneivals on their trykes...

 Where are the brakes on this thing?

 Juicing can get one disqualified...:))

 Nancy & Omani discussing how to solve world hunger...and even the girls want to be Evil Kneivals...

 Even Mason needs a little juice on a hot July afternoon...

 Walt, posing in front of Big John", his hemi-powered Farmall.  He takes it to shows & fairs throughout the local country.

So, on that note, I want to personally thank Walt & Debbie for hosting the umpteenth reunion at their beautiful country estate.  Can't remember how many this makes, but I think we have been doing these here since about 1990.  We will be here camped for several weeks, as we await our date at the Ryder Cup Golf Tourney in northwest Chicago, mid-September.  I hope I haven't bored too many folks here, but it really is a big deal, and it means so much the older we get to remenisce and be with family that hardly ever see or visit.  We'll be visiting different parks, museums, monuments and perhaps some small county fairs and old homesteads throughout the surrounding counties over the next few weeks.  So, till the next blog, Joe & Nancy just hangin'.