Haley & Doug: Lindhardt reunion 2012

I must say that attending a reunion was much more enjoyable than planning and being responsible for a reunion! It had been two years since we hosted Doug's family reunion in Estes Park and this year, it was his sister's turn. And, conveniently, it was Doug's parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

It was incredibly special to spend the weekend watching Spencer run and play (without a shirt on and sporting some sweet scars, I might add). It was incredibly amazing to listen to him tell his story through each scar and top it off by showing me the picture of his heart donor. I loved watching he and Cooper compare scars on their chests. It was equally amazing to watch his mom put on a reunion for 40+ people and not skip a beat in giving him his daily medicine all while having her house overtaken. You are one amazing woman, Nancy!

We did have a minor mishap (OK, a major mishap) on the 2nd day of the reunion. Kinley apparently decided that she wanted some of the attention Kaiya had been getting for her broken leg and she smacked her face on the giant slip and slide and knocked out a permanent front tooth.

Kaiya and I had been up at Utah State visiting Lori at work and getting some free physical therapy (so fun to see her in action at work and to be in the training room with all the athletes) and we were headed to the slip and slide party. The pictures tell the story, but this is no ordinary slip and slide. It goes down a huge hill and continues on for almost a hundred yards into a corn field.

Kinley was going down the slide with several of her cousins in a train on their bellies and when the train came apart and reconvened, Kinley went flying and landed on her face. Out came the front tooth, root and all, just as Kaiya and I were arriving. I pulled up to the field in time to have Doug tell me he was on the phone with an oral surgeon and Kinley's front tooth was out.

I don't think I have ever run as fast as I did from my car to where Kinley was sitting. By the grace of God, one of my sweet nieces found the tooth on the slide (even after a couple more kids had come down) and put it in a cup. Being an ER nurse also came in pretty handy and I was able to get the tooth back in the socket before we rushed off to the oral surgeon who was able to splint it back into place. Who knew that a permanent tooth if inserted back into place quickly will regrow new ligaments and reattach itself. There is a very good chance the tooth will not only survive, but continue to be fine for the rest of her life.

Other than the giant slip and slide, we enjoyed a family kick ball game, an outdoor movie on a giant screen (the side of the house!) and a wonderful luncheon to celebrate the anniversary. What a great week!