Reunion Details 2009

Where?
It's almost time for the reunion. July 25, 2009 @ Highline State Park. Click here for map and information about the park. Remember there is a $6.00 daily entrance fee and they have just started construction on the east boat ramp and the new visitors center. The east entrance will remain open during construction but a portion of the hiking/biking trail on the east trail head will be closed. The park has fishing, hiking, biking, boating, swimming(no lifeguard), camping, showers, jet ski rental, playground, horseshoes, volleyball, etc.

We will be in the private picnic area at the end of the road on the east entrance. Look for the Nix reunion sign. We have it reserved for 8AM-10PM.


How Many?
Please, email or call me and let me know how many people will be attending from your family. The park charges for the amount of people we have in our group and they are "bugging" me about giving them a number.



Food
The food is potluck so bring whatever you would like to share. Please bring large portions as nothing kills a party faster than not enough food. Please bring items that will not spoil quickly in the heat. BYOC (Bring your own chair). We'll provide tables, paper plates, utensils, and paper cups.


Fun
9:00 AM-Our family has grown since the last reunion and we have a lot of new members so we've planned a couple of activities to help get to know each other and get reacquainted. We're going to play name that cousin and ancestor bingo with M&M's and then we've planned a family baseball game for all ages. We're going to us a wiffle ball and bat so it should be safe for even the little kids. If your old enough to hold a bat come and play. If you have a mitt bring it.

10:30AM-4:00PM- FREE TIME to have fun together and enjoy the park. Don't forget your swim suit and towel. There is a volleyball net and horseshoes in our picnic area we can use all day. We'll try to have lemonade and ice water available all day at our picnic area. Your own your own as far as food is concerned.

4:00 PM- The festivities really begin. Don't be late, we're taking pictures & eating first thing.

*Family Pictures
*Potluck Dinner
*Open the time capsule(1996 reunion)
*Introduction of new family members
*Activities- We have a variety of activities planned. July 24 is pioneer day so we've planned an old fashioned pioneer day party. There will be three leg and sack races, a stick pull, cherry pit spitting contest(repeat that 3 times as fast as you can), horseshoes, and washing clothes on a wash board(this was a favorite with the little kids at last years 24th). We've also planned some activities that will bring back memories of Grandma and Grandpa Nix. You'll have the opportunity to walk on stilts, whittle a whistle, drink homemade bottled root beer, watch the video from the original reunion in 1986, and taste honey candy. We also will have a place for you to record your memories of Grandma and Grandpa in writing or on DVD, which ever you prefer. We'll wrap up the evening roasting marshmallows and making smores around the campfire. If you have an activity that brings back memories of Grandma and Grandpa or you just think would be fun, please let me know and we'll add it to the activities.



Supplies and equipment sign up. Please email, call, or comment here and let me know what you can help with. Then check back to see what you're to bring on the list below. That way we'll end up with exactly what we'll need.

• MARSHMALLOWS-Jill Brundridge, Jayne Hawks,&______
• GRAHAM CRACKERS-Jill Brundridge, Jayne Hawks,&_____
• CHOCOLATE BARS-Jill Brunridge, Jayne Hawks,&______
• WILLOW STICKS FOR ROASTING-Mike Hawks
• STILTS-Vern Howell
• WIFFLE BALL & BATS-Vern Howell
• BINGO CARDS- Shelly Howell
• SWEET CHERRIES FOR PIT SPITTING-Mike/Ronda Hawks
• HONEY CANDY-Kathy Howell
• HOMEMADE BOTTLED ROOT BEER-Pam Snover, Tom Nix
• LEMONADE (5 GALLON COOLER) 9:00AM -Betsy Nix, Ronda Hawks
• ICE WATER (5 GALLON COOLER)-Ronda Hawks, Patsy Nix
• EXTRA PAPER CUPS (to have on hand through out the day)-Kathy Howell, Jenny Nix
• SACKS AND TIES FOR RACES-Shelly Howell
• STICK PULL STICKS-Shelly Howell
• TUB, WASH BOARD, CLOTHES-Shelly Howell
• M&M's PLAIN, DIVIDED INTO SNACK SIZE ZIPLOC BAGS-Jodi Howell, Shelly Howell
• MOSQUITO REPELLENT-Janae Howell

Volunteer sign up
Please email, call, or comment here and let me know what you are willing to do to help.
1. I would be willing to be the photographer. That means I would take the family pictures @4:00 pm.- Tori Howell, Amy Miller
2. I would be willing to make a sign that says NIX REUNION-Paul Snover
3. I would be willing to "run" one of the following activities.
*Whistle Whittling- Paul Nix, Pam Snover
*Stilt walking- Vern Howell
*Races- Shelly Howell
*Recording Memories on DVD- Paul Snover, Amy Snover
*Recording memories in writing- Jodi Howell
*Cherry pit spitting-Mike & Ronda Hawks
*Build the "campfire" and over see the smore making- Joel & Mike Nix
*Tub & wash board-
*Stick pull-Don Howell
*Marbles- Betsy Nix

Be There Or Be Square!

The Reunion Invitation

Make a Smilebox greeting

What You Need To Do Now

1. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.
2. Check this blog once in a while for updates, to give us suggestions, and to volunteer your help.
3. Write a memory for the memory book. (See the post on this blog titled Memory Book-Grandma and Grandpa Nix for details)
4. Share pictures of your immediate family(old and new photos) and any you have of Grandma and Grandpa, so we can add them to the book and/or to this blog.
5. Contact the members of your immediate family that may not have gotten this invitation via email. The family is much bigger now and contrary to what most people think I do have a life and I really don't want to spend all that time, money, and energy stuffing envelopes and licking stamps. Well, stamps don't need licking now a days but you know what I mean.

Memory Book- Grandma and Grandpa Nix

We Need Your Help. We want to compile pictures and memories of Grandma and Grandpa Nix in a book. If you are old enough to remember them, please write down your memory/memories and send it to shellyhowell1@gmail.com or mail it to me. It can be as long as you would like from one line to several pages.

We also need pictures. Email them to me or if you mail them I will scan them and then mail them back to you. If you have any other ideas of things that could be included like one of Grandma's recipes, or anything that would tell about their lives please let me know.

If you would like a copy the finished book will be available to purchase. There are several online companies that will make it it all into a nice hardbound book. Prices depend on the number of pages and the sizes we want. I'll keep you informed. I would like the memories and pictures as soon as you can get them to me. That way I can get started on it and not have to rush last minute. This should make a wonderful keepsake for our families. Thanks for your help.