Barrus Family Reunion

I’ve been doing lots of planning of big summer events, and the Barrus Family Reunion was the last one. David and Sharon and Kent and I were in charge of this year’s biennial reunion. We opted to meet in Lava Hot Springs where there are many things we could do as a family. We have been planning planning and saw the fruits of our labors this weekend.

On Thursday, we drove to Lava which is only three hours from home. Lava isn’t a huge place; there are only just over 400 permanent residents. We were the first ones there, and after grabbing some lunch at the taco bus, we went to the South Bannock County Historical Center and Museum. They have an eclectic collection of stuff, from Native American artifacts to old hospital equipment to a taxidermied baby liger. There was a scavenger hunt to find interesting things, and displays about the city and surrounding communities. Lava has been a resort spot since 1925, though Native Americans enjoyed the hot springs well before then. Having completed the scavenger hunt, we were each given a penny and got to have our “Wate and Fate” read by an old machine. We each received a fortune based on the month we were born. The man at the museum assured us that the scale hadn’t been calibrated in decades, so was not at all accurate. I’m going to believe that.

  

Blythe                                                                      Brandt

 

Kent                                                              Katherine 

These seats were out of the old Lava movie theater.

 

As other family members began gathering, we began visiting. It is so good to be with loved ones, especially when we don’t get to see them very often. We miss them! We had plans for a sibling/spouse dinner at Greystone Manor, a converted church turned restaurant/event venue, but children were not invited. We did that purposefully so that we could visit without being interrupted. It was fantastic. Dinner was delicious, but the company was even better. We talked and talked, sharing what we are anticipating in the coming year. It was so super nice to be together and the walk to and from in the cool of the evening was delightful.

 

While we were eating, Brandt and Blythe, the Brinkerhoffs, and Micah went for some dinner and then to the Lava Hot Go-Karts, a venue recommended by Guy (the Johnsens were in Lava from Tuesday to Thursday). For a very reasonable fee, you can drive go-karts around a track that had several muddy spots. Brandt drove, Blythe rode with Annie. Everyone got muddy. Brandt LOVED it and begged to return on “Muddy Saturday” when they wet the whole track, not just a spot or two. It sounded fun.

Friday we had reserved the local church for use for the day. We needed a large enough space for all of us to gather, and the church was about the only place in Lava that fit the bill. We had a tasty breakfast and then spent the morning playing fun games together. Sharon brought a getting to know you bingo-type game where you had to find someone who drove a minivan, was under ten, had a pet, had played in the band, etc. We all mingled around the room, talking, asking, laughing. Those who completed the bingo card got fruit snacks as a prize. 

Then we played Who’s That Baby, a slideshow of baby/toddler pictures I put together of all of George and Merlynn’s family members, including in-laws. There are 111 of us and I had pictures of 110 (missing Nate’s Kim). I gave everyone a list of all members of the larger family, broken down by smaller families. It was a tricky game which Sharon won, accurately identifying 58 people. Kent didn’t identify me, Blythe, or himself correctly, which made us laugh. Because it was so tricky, I gave hints, saying, "This is a grandchild," or my favorite, "This is a much hairier in-law" for someone now sporting a beard. Towards the end, Emily said, "I'm out of hairy in-laws," which I found super funny.

 

We played “Poop the Potato,” a relay game where we had to run the length of the gym with a potato between our legs, then drop (poop) it into a bucket. Much hilarity ensued! Then we played “Scream” (or Eye Contact) as a group, and then “Do You Love Your Neighbor.”

Lee disliked his neighbors so much, he didn't even play.

We discovered we were all wearing the same color and took a picture.

Then we walked into the building and saw that Alisa was wearing the same color too!

We should have taken another picture.

We had lunch and then most of us went to tube the river that runs through Lava. There are numerous companies that rent tubes (1-4 person) and will shuttle you from the exit point and the start. We spent two hours on the river, floating down five times. The water wasn’t too cold because it wasn’t really deep and hot springs ran into it at several spots. There were rapid sections and little drops and we all had a great time.

While most of us tubed, James and Alisa with Jordan and Cory and families went swimming. They felt it was safer and easier on Jordan who is seven and a half months pregnant. They sent me these cute pictures.

We met back at the church for dinner and a group picture. We waited until we had the most people in attendance, 55 total. That’s half of everyone that could have possibly attended which is terrific. The picture will be the cover of this year’s family photobook. Looking at all those people, I was overwhelmed with love for all of them. Those Barri are good people; we are blessed to be linked together eternally. We made a call to Craig and Monica who couldn’t join us because of Craig’s health. They were the only ones of Kent’s siblings who didn’t come and we missed them.

Talking to Craig

I'm fairly disappointed that I didn't get a picture of Brent and Brenda with Michelle and her family,

or a picture of us as a family. 

Blythe spent much of the reunion across the street at the city part, swinging.

After cleaning up, some of us took a dip in the hot springs from which Lava gets its name. They were like giant hot tubs; large pools filled with naturally very hot water. None of us could stay in very long, but we soaked a bit and it felt good. We visited until late, enjoying the beautiful evening and excellent company.

 

Saturday morning we had breakfast, cleared out our room, and then Brandt and I went for a swim at the outdoor pool while Kent and Blythe went to the park. Brandt and I swam with Steve, Sunny, Ruby, and Jack, with Brandt and Jack running around together, going down slides, off the rope swing, and jumping off the diving boards. I was glad that Brandt had someone other than just me to swim with. When we were done swimming, Kent and Blythe picked us up and we went for some lunch. Brandt had been begging to go back to the go-kart place, and as I thought it sounded fun, we went.

 

Picture was taken in the morning.

I shared a bed with Brandt, and he is a bed hog.

This is how he slept most of the night with me next to him on six inches of mattress.

Matt and Cindy and their cute family having square ice cream at Sweet Stuff.

While we were eating our lunch, it rained. This didn’t impact our activity as we had finished swimming and hadn’t gone go-karting yet, but it did impact the condition of the track. When we arrived, the track was incredibly muddy all over, which mud holes blocked off so the go-karts didn’t get stuck. The seats, floor, roll bars, and safety straps of the go-kart were already covered with mud before we even got in, and I knew we were going to be a mess by the time we finished.

 

I wasn’t wrong.

 

Brandt drove and I shrieked with laughter. I couldn’t help myself. It was so incredibly messy. Mud would fly up into our faces, all over our bodies, all around the track. Said Brandt as he was driving, “I’m trying to hit all the muddy spots.” Said I in response, “You’re doing a fine job.” I couldn’t believe how covered in mud we were when we finished. We went around four times, then went to hose off. As we were just finishing spraying ourselves clean-ish, the heavens opened and it began to pour rain. Brandt and I ran to the car and as we were almost there, Brandt slipped and fell hard on his back, knocking the wind out of himself. He jumped up, but he couldn’t really breathe. We stood for a moment to allow him to catch his breath, then had him take off his shirt before we both climbed in, very wet and fairly muddy.

 

We listened to an audiobook on the way home, Beyond the Bright Sea, and arrived home, happy to have been with the Barri. Blythe declared she was never leaving home again, but I think we all had a good time. I’m already looking forward to our 2023 reunion.