45th Class of '65 High School Reunion and More!!

We have been playing a lot of golf since leaving the Rease family reunion.  If I can brag on Pat's golf game just a little...she has been doing great!  She hit a 150 yard shot into the cup for an eagle, she has hit two chip ins from about 20 yards off the green for birdies on the same 18 hole game, and her drives are always straight and very long!  I think I will start caddying for her on the tour as soon as she gets better at putting - "she hates to putt"!  I guess that is why she is starting to hit them in from off the green.  We have had the pleasure of playing several courses in Ohio and enjoyed playing with George's brothers, old high school friends, and extended family members and even just the two of us!  The weather has cooperated with us here in Ohio, although we do get to the courses very early and beat the heat of the day.

Pat teeing off  Kenton Veterans Memorial Golf Course

Pat and George arriving at the Reunion and Dance

We attended George's 45th high school reunion and renewed friendships with many of his old classmates.  Since we were in town early, George had a chance to visit with many of his high school friends before the reunion and was invited to attend one of the last planning meetings.  You can not image all the hard work and planning that goes into putting on his high school reunion.  They had a dinner on the Thursday, a pig roast on Friday, a golf outing, the  reunion and dance on Saturday and a breakfast on Sunday! 

Pat and several classmates at Sunday Breakfast

The  organizers have been working for months putting this all together and about 140 of his classmates, spouses, former teachers, and friends of the class attended from as far away as Austria, and of course many states.  George said it was one of the best reunions he has attended and his class really knows how to put on a show.  We can't think of any high school reunion that goes all out to welcome their old classmates back and celebrate friendships like his Class of '65.  They said they don't turn back the clock - they rewind the clock!  His class also started a new tradition and voted to have a scholarship fund set up from donations from his class and classmates - they are really some special people.  George's high school classmates epitomize the hard working and generous people of this country, they know how to have fun, enjoy life and give back to their community - we are proud to be a part of this rich tradition!   

George's classmates enjoying the evening!  The young lady at the table is his cousin, Peggy!

Even one of the bartenders got into the spirit of the evening.  He was "conned" into performing a tribal dance for the classmates

Classmates waiting for the next dance!

Pat and Jan Sorgen enjoying a drink!

We say goodbye to the 45th Class of 1965 Reunion!

We don't know how many of you attend your high school reunions.   Maybe you don't for one reason or another, but we have found that reunions are a way for us to reconnect, to reach back and discover new things about old friends, to learn from the past, and to remember the good things about growing up!  We want to thank the organizers of the Kenton High School Class of 65 reunion for making this another memorable backyard adventure for us - one that we will cherish for a long time!

Kasey Update from Grandpa and Grandma!

Kasey is Flying!

It has been awhile since we mentioned our little buddy so we thought we would give our friends and family a peek at our grandson!  Kris and Amy has sent us a few pictures and we really liked this one.  We skype them or they have skyped us on a regular basis so we have managed to keep up with Kasey.  He is getting so big now that he is almost seven months old.  He is eating his veggies and from what we hear he really likes them.

                                                                                                                        

Amy talking, Kasey smiling somethings never change!

On July 16th Kasey becomes an official member of the Cannode clan.  We are sure the kids will have a big blog news event with pictures of the judge and Kasey on this important event in his young life.  There was never a doubt in our minds that he became of a member of our family on December 23, 2009 (the day he was born).  But making it official with the government has taken a few months.  So with very open arms and loving heart we will also "officially" welcome Mr. Kasey Cannode into our family and wish him the very best.  Also, we want to extend to everyone involved in the adoption process a big thank you for all the efforts  they took to bring this Kasey into our lives.

So we encourage you to check out Kris and Amy's blog after July 16th and see Kasey's final adoption process.

THE REASE REUNION

The Eunice (Rease) Lawrence Family Photo

(can you pick out Pat and George)

We made it to the Rease reunion in Columbia, South Carolina.  As always the party starts a couple days before the reunion and this year was no exception.  Most of the out of towners arrived on Friday and the party started upon arrival.  Pat's brothers Charlie and Cloyd pulled their 5th wheels down from Ohio and we drove in on Thursday from Augusta, Georgia.  We all pulled into  their cousin Arthur Wells Rease's 5 acre yard and it looked like a campground sprung up overnight.

Poolside accommodations at Arthur Wells

David accompanied us from Augusta and we drove to Atlanta to pick up Nikki on Friday so the Cannode's were well represented at the gathering of the clans.

Nikki, David, and Pat at Atlanta Airport

The party really starts on Friday night as all the out of towners and most of the 2nd/3rd generation Rease's get together to renew the family bonds over a few drinks and a lot of food.  Melanie and Arthur Wells have been are our gracious hosts for at least the last 10 reunions and this one was the best ever.

 

Party started at Arthur Wells house

Pictured are Pat's nieces - Kendra White (facing camera)and Tami Harris (across table), Nikki (back to camera), Ruby Rease (sitting -Pat's aunt), Charlie, Pam (standing) and Arthur Wells (standing with drink), Pat's aunt Toots in the wheelchair. 

The elder Reases - l to r

Toots, Marie (leaning over), Wilbur, and Betty

(not pictured is Ruby, Arthur's wife and the real hostess of the reunion)

One of many mini get togethers at the reunion

l-r  Tony Harris, "Too Tall" Laura Rease with baby, David (side shot),  Evan Rease (with sunglasses and too tall's husband),

The official reunion was Sunday, June 27th and it was a very hot and muggy day, but we did get a few minutes of respite when a rainstorm passed over the the reunion.  It was immediately followed by hot and humid weather though.  We think it was the best reunion with cousins Wayne Rease cooking pig and chicken, Melanie and Tracy cooking the sides and everyone chipping in to put up the bouncy gym and tent for the enjoyment of all.  These people know how to throw a party --- a great big thank you to Ruby Rease's family, who continue to plan, organized, and put on a wonderful reunion every other year.

After the reunion, we decided to stay an extra couple of days to visit and relax before heading to Atlanta to take David and Nikki to the airport for their flight back to Colorado and for us to drive north to Ohio.   The Ohio trip has some surprises for us but that is the story for the next blog. 

We hope you all are enjoying friends and family this summer.  Our next blog will be posted in a few days because we need to rest from the little bit of work we discovered in Ohio!  Live life to the fullest and than add a little extra to make it special....