Joel Flake Family Reunion 2022

We had our Joel Flake Family Reunion in Atlanta, Idaho at the beginning of June.

We were originally supposed to go to Atlanta in 2020... but it got pushed back and rescheduled until finally 2022.

We had a lot of fun at the large lodge and huge ranch.

The only damper was that somebody unknowingly came to the reunion with Covid, and somebody else (maybe us?) came with some kind of rotavirus (stomach bug). So towards the end of the reunion we found out that Bethany's entire family and part of Sarah's family got Covid, and then about 80% of the kids and some adults ending up getting the rotavirus and several were throwing up by the last day. Our family was somehow spared from most of it, and so I only have fond memories of this magical place!!

My siblings and I went on a 'sibling hike.' Sarah was sick, Justin and Cassidy weren't there, so it was just the 8 of us

I am obviously ready for the hike!!

We went on this cool tour of the property and town of Atlanta put on by the foreman's wife. This is the "H house," it's in the shape of an H and was built by the man who originally owned the property

A one-room cabin in Atlanta

The one room schoolhouse (it was seriously so cute and quaint!) that they used as recently as 2016.

The only slide in Atlanta, population 37. I think there are only like 7 kids in the whole town. It is very very remote, two or three hours from Boise.

The old jail

A natural hot springs

Since we went at the beginning of June it was still quite chilly in the mornings. Greg built a fire.

I went on an early morning walk with this early morning riser, Marty.

Fun field games and relays by Uncle Austin.

Delaney all dolled up. My niece Norah is quite gifted with hair!

Hard to see in this picture, but this is the owner of the ranch FLYING in from Salt Lake City where he lives.

There was a bit of a walk to where we were getting pictures taken, so Uncle Joel loaded up as many kids as he could in the back of his pickup

This is the kind of load intended for pickups, right?

Whitney's family

Derek's

Eden lived with my parents for her senior year of high school so now they have a special relationship

Oldest grandchild youngest grandchild. My sister Cassidy couldn't come because she is due with my parents' 50th grandchild in a few weeks!

Bethany's family

Haley's

My Uncle Lawrence, who was actually born on the property, came up a little early for his reunion so I got to see him for the first time in years since I've moved away from Utah. His family was having a reunion there right after ours.

In the house that my grandparents (and Uncle Lawrence) used to live in

My nephew Preston brought his girlfriend up to the reunion and these girls all loved her and decided they were going to be her "bridesmaids" 😝

Always a baby to hold!!

Poor sickies with their coughs. Eating honey. Poor Bethany was so sick the entire reunion

Fun pool time. The pool was naturally heated by hot springs and was so nice and warm. My kids LOVED it, especially Frank, and could have just stayed in the pool the entire time.

So many people, so many cups

Dad's awesome family history presentation

In-law suffrage!