The Thygersons take Vernal

After the Mitchell gathering and wedding, but before the big move, we squeezed in the Thygerson reunion!  It was hosted this year by Kendra's family in Vernal, UT - someplace new and exciting for us!  The kids have been troopers with everything we've had going on and were happy to come see their Thygerson cousins.  We got settled into a motel on a Friday evening, and spent the time playing at Kendra's while everyone arrived.  The next day, we drive to Dinosaur National Monument, where the kids touched real fossils and earned their junior ranger badges!

 Overlooking the Green River valley

 All the junior rangers!

Dallin, Tegan, Peyton, Ella, Juliana, McKinley, Caleb, Cayden, Lizzy (behind), TJ, Sage, Rachel and Colter

 Stopping to view some rock petroglyphs/pictographs craved into the rock

 And visiting an old homestead complete with a giant tree leading to a secret hiding spot!

Another day we hiked the Jones Hole Trail, which ended at an awesome waterfall for everyone to play in!

More pictographs on the trail (Look where McKinley is pointing...) 

 At the waterfall!  Looking up from the bottom...

 ...and down from the top.

 Ella's having FUN!

 While McKinley and her sandwich are warming up in the sun, like a cute pink lizard in a skirt!

 Water!

 

 On our way out, we saw these handsome fellas on the side of the road:

On Sunday, we all went to church in Vernal, but staggered our times and only attended sacrament meetings so as not to overwhelm the local resources.  We spent the afternoon enjoying good food and good company.  Kristy and Gennie pulled together T-shirts for us this year, which was very cool!

Family photo time!

All together now! (with the exception of Rhett and family, out in Indiana; and some older cousins off working for the summer in New York.)

Back row: Jamie, Ronnie, William, Mikayla, Kate, Gennie, Jody, Zach, Dallin

3rd row: Mike, Caleb, Rachel, Katie, Ella, McKinley, Ryan, Grandpa Gerald, Derek, Addie, Clayton, Tyson, Kendra, Shad

Seated (benches): Tegan, Tonya, Terrisa, Grandma Nedra, Kristy, Lexi, Heidi, Desi, Guage, Gunner, Juliana

Seated (ground): Colter, Peyton, Sage, Lizzy, TJ, Cayden (dogs Midget and Rosie)

It was a good weekend catching up with everyone, and many thanks to Kendra and family for hosting!