The Times of the Signs

What a wonderful time we had with the whole Signs clan at our family reunion.  It was a really wonderful thing for all of us because my father only has one living brother, and for reasons I don't quite understand, our two families have hardly ever gotten together before.  I barely remember visiting them once when we were very small, and then again when I was about 10, I dropped by with my dad when he had to go to a scout camp in New Mexico.  That was it really.

On my mom's side, only my aunt had children, but they were adults by the time we were around, so we never ever had cousins our age growing up.  My dad would assure us that we had cousins, but we never saw them or knew who they were.  Turns out, the other Signs cousins were in the same situation.  They grew up without any cousins around as well.

Well, whatever kept us all apart is now completely in the past!  When my Aunt Sherry and Uncle Jack came down for a visit last spring, we were invited to come up to Colorado to meet the whole gang.  Natalee and I were the only two of the five of us that were able to make it, but it was wonderful!  Five out of six of Uncle Jack's kids and their families were there too, so we had a lot of people to get to know - and how much fun it was, too!

The boy cousins all decided to sleep in the giant tent together.  The girls cousins were all off somewhere too - in the house, no doubt.
The next morning there was ANOTHER parade, this time in the next town over, Manassa.  Here we are saluting the flag that starts the parade.

The big tractors were a hit with my children of Suburbia.

The horses too!

More candies and goodies were flung into the crowd creating quite a commotion!

The parade was definitely a bit bigger and more commercialized that the one in Sanford the day before.

But there were still the sweet floats put on by the churches and primaries and such, with great little churchy messages on them.  The revolving carousel was neat.

Still, I enjoyed the Sanford parade much better.  It's smallness is what gave it its' charm.  Besides, the Manassa Pioneer Day parade didn't have any pioneers.  What's a Pioneer Day parade without pioneers?

Later we hung around. I love this picture of my brother-in-law Gary playing a video game, Plants vs. Zombies.  The kids were enthralled.  Look at Lauren.

I mentioned the Sanford Museum in my last post. Our visit there was fascinating, because it was a visit to our own families' past as well.  So much of our family history was to be found inside.  On the walls are all the senior class pictures from every year of Sanford High School.  My great-grandma's picture is in many of them because she was the superintendent of schools there in Sanford for many years.  Many people know of her and she was well respected and loved by all the students she has helped through the years.

This is the old stone LDS church in Sanford , and I am assured that my ancestors are among the people gathered in front and participated to erecting this church.  This church is long gone, but they still have the "1907" keystone and some other stones from that old church.  My great, great grandfather, Erastus Beck, is in the front row, right side, wearing a black suit.  This was taken in front of the church when he was in the bishopric, so I am guessing this is a picture of the ward leaders at the time.

I was fascinated by the old silver Sacrament Service from that old church.  Only two cups would be passed around.  We were told that everyone got to church early to make sure they sat in front, and hopefully receive the sacrament before the old guys with the long mustaches drank from them.  Eew!

Gary Bailey, who runs the Museum, and happens to be the cousin of our good friend Jeff Bailey, opened the museum especially for us, and gave my parents, my sister, and me a very special detailed  tour of the museum.  What a treat!  Gary was delightful, and so full of knowledge of the history of the area.  He really should write a book!  He has a passion for this stuff, and has worked very hard to start the museum and to keep adding to it.  We are so grateful for his inspiration!  On the wall behind my mom and Natalee there is a pedigree chart the has my ancestors on the bottom, and Adam at the very top.  it is very much like the one my Grandmother Signs helped put together that is hanging in my house.  Cool.

Then as a special treat, Gary brought us up, behind the scenes, up into the tower that was up on top of the museum.  He explained that during World War II, the US government had it build on top of the then fire house and paid the residents to be on a constant lookout for enemy airplanes.  Now it serves as a pigeon roost, but it gave us a great view of the valley, and of the small log cabin that had been relocated next door.

The old cabin is significant to our family history as well.  My great grandmother lived in it for a time.  In fact, my dad remembers staying with her there as a kid.  

Gary was kind enough to bring us inside.  Right now it is piled with old church pews and the like (to DIE for!) but Gary hopes to restore and furnish the inside with period pieces as part of the museum soon.  I would gladly take one of those church pews off his hands if he needs to clear that cabin out!

My Aunt and Uncle happen to have one of those church pews from the old stone church.  She painted it blue.  It makes my mouth water!   Really.

My parents and Jack and Sherry also went through a bunch of stuff that belonged to my grandmother, which was  quite fascinating.  She was also an artist, and there are framed pictures for us, one for my parents and each of my siblings.  What a treasure!

More pictures of Lukie and Brynn.  Those two sure had a blast together!!!  Here they a playing with a stick.

My darling nephew Ethan showing off his new shades.

Gary Bailey was also kind enough to hunt down our family handcart that we saw in the parade and bring it over to the house for us to see close up.  It is a tiny little thing, not much bigger than a big piece of rolling luggage.  Can you imagine?  Apparently our ancestor, Charles W. Pinkert was quite young when he pushed it from Nauvoo, Ill. to Salt Lake, then later to Colorado, which explains it's small size.

Of course it was time for a photo op.  Everybody got there turn with the handcart.

Dad was fascinated by it and its construction.  It is quite sturdy still, and has held up well through the years in somebody's garage.  Now it is on display at the museum, of course.

A few more pics of the little ones with the cart.  I couldn't resist.

Cute little pioneer girl!

Since the other Signs family got us hooked on the thrilling sport of bean bag tossing, we couldn't leave without returning the favor and introducing them to the exciting world of geocaching!

We made quite a team caravaning down quiet country roads with our walkie talkies and GPSs, climbing trees, running around hayfields, and exploring dry stream beds.  We had a great time, and think we got them hooked!

I thought this was so cute.  Luke had a rock and a stick that he imagined was his own walkie talkie.

He was apparently talking to Superman, but in hushed tones, as I'm sure it was all top secret stuff.

What a joy it was to get to know and reconnect with these wonderful people, and to get to know my cousins after all this time.  Yay!  I have cousins!  We all agreed that it was better late than never, and that we are going to have to make these get togethers a regular event so that our kids will get to know and have each other.  We have already agreed to get together in two years, but this time at a beach house in California.  Yeah baby!  It was their idea.  See, these people know how to have a good time!

They were ALL such wonderful, warm, fun people, every one of them.  Good, good souls.  And I am proud to be related to them, and to show my children what stuff we Signs (even though my children are VanBuskirks, they are just as much Signs, you know!) are made of!