The Second Bi-Annual Haima Family Reunion

As many of you know, Jeromy's family is, well, huge. Compared to mine (twenty members at best), Jeromy can credit nearly 100 immediate-family on both sides of his family tree. This past weekend, we were lucky enough to visit and reunite with more than sixty of them at the Second Bi-Annual Haima Family Reunion, held at the Hallmark Inn in Newport, Oregon.

This is a must-attend event, if only to witness Grandparents playing beach volleyball, Larry Haima trying his hand at backwards auctioneering ("whaddya think we outta start this out at?... Fifty Bucks?... Forty?... Thirty?...) or waiting for the Top Ten List of Things you Don't Want to hear at a Haima Family Reunion (number seven: "um... did you get the memo? Grandma isn't paying this year. Number five: Go Ducks! Number Three: hey, look at my plumber's crack. Number One: Grandma's got a new boyfriend and she's bringing him to next year's event)

Grandma and Grandpa had six children, those children had children, and now those children have children. We lost grandpa in '02, and the first Family Reunion was held a year after his passing and included a touching Memorial Service for him the Sunday morning we all departed. This year, everyone was present but one of Jeromy's cousins and his young family, citing conflicts and travel from Oklahoma. With an eight-month-old. We can relate and empathize entirely. While Charlie, Melissa, Charlie III and baby Julia were missed, the rest of us visited and laughed enough for all of them. Friday night's events opened with a delicious dinner (Grandma joked that she slaved away all day in the kitchen...) and was followed immediately by a giant family picture (kudos to Nicole Roth for wrangling 60+ family members onto a staircase in the lobby) and then the famous family auction, the proceeds from which will go to '07's celebration.

Saturday kicked off with breakfast at Georgie's, the embarassing Beaver game in Louisville Kentucky, a walk on the beach for Cameron and I while Jeromy and Grandpa Gail traumatized themselves by watching above-mentioned game, then a nap for Cam and I while Jeromy journed to Lincoln City with his siblings. We were rustled to the beach volleyball court for a family tournament organized by Sara Haima, where Larry's family beat up on one another (Lance accidentally toppled his mother in law Sandy, Lance unintentionally creamed his little guy Brady, and Chad unknowingly kicked a fair amount of sand in his sister Sara's face) and the blue team eventually won. After that, we made our way to an outdoor Texas BBQ with a live band playing in the background (the sons of the beaches), then had smores around a bonfire. By then, night was setting in so we made our way inside for Texas Hold'em for the guys and crafts for the girls while all the kids screamed, hollered and ran around the other side of the convention room with the hired-gun babysitter watching over them. We finally made our way to bed at around 10:30. Cameron was so overtired he couldn't fall asleep; I finally drifted off at 11:30 listening to him rattling off the names of all his new friends and second cousins that he met: Alex, Maddie, Easton, Landon, Grace, Emma, Brady....

Sunday started with a light breakfast before a family gathering: singing of hymns, sharing of stories and bonding of family. After that, everyone eventually made their way out of their rooms and some of us went down to Mo's in Newport for some clam chowder and more visiting. We spent some time on the pier next to Mo's, then joined Donnie, Misty and their three kids (Easton, Landon and Olivia) on another pier to watch the sea lions. Ever my curious kiddo, Cameron ventured off for just a second and when we turned around, he was peering over the end of the pier, with little seperating him from his footing and the water twenty feet below. A small heart attack and an announcement from Donnie ("I think that's our cue to leave") later, we headed back to the truck and home to Central Oregon for an oyster and steak feed at Gail and Jean's.

Every time Jeromy and I get together with the Haima clan, we have a delightful time. Our paths don't cross enough, but maybe in the coming years we can hook up with more of them during our Beaver games and other trips to the valley during the year. With such a large group, it's hard for us to keep up with our immediate family members (parents, siblings, nieces and nephews) let alone cousins and second cousins, aunts and uncles. But this weekend's gathering really reminded us that, even if the opportunities are few and far between, we should really make an effort to spend time with the extended family. We feel blessed to be a part of their clan.