The 2011 Phosie-Gertie Picnic

Preparations began early for the big family gathering .  Thirty-two cousins and aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas are expected.  Gotta' get the corn shucked.

Time out for the annual cabin meeting for the Foster/Reeder part of the clan, descendants of Gramma Gertie. We had some missing members this year, but we welcomed Jill and family as new dues paying members of the owners and users group of the cabin. We voted to maintain status quo, feeling good to have met expenses for another year.

And about 2:00 our numbers swelled as the descendants of Phosie and guests arrived from up the hill and across the bay.


It was time for the raising of the Phosie-Gertie flag, embellished this year by a new tradition,

 ...the singing of the Phosie-Gertie anthem.

And then we corralled all the kids for the taking of the "formal" group portrait.

Next there was a water balloon toss, but since my partner and I were third last to go out, I didn't get photos of this traditional event.


Then on to the sand castle contest.  No tools allowed, use only what you find on the beach, and the theme this year is 'The Shipping Channel'.  So what do we see out in the main channel?

 Cruise ships, cargo ships, air craft carriers, whales!

 Time is up.  tell us about your creation.

 My co-judges, two fine young lads, awarded first prize the the whale team and their 'whale of a tale', 

 but they liked the air craft carrier too, and named them runners-up.

Quickly we grabbed the attention of the young set so Jill could send them off to the candy scramble, each equipped with their own name bag for holding the goodies she had scattered in the shade around the two cabins.

Tom, like his father before him, manned the grill.  Hot dogs, brats and hamburgers, corn on the cob, salads and fruit were served up.

 And of course there was dessert!

 The Awards section of the program came next.  There was only one presentation this year, the Annual Saddle shoe Award.  Why it's called that is a family secret, sorry.  But Jake, last year's recipient, presented it this year to his sister Jill, and her family, for moving back to the Pacific Northwest.

While Jill has been to many Phosie-Gertie Picnics, this was a first for Isaac and Irene.  They loved it.  Now we just have to get Corey out here.  Got a job to offer, anyone?