The Simpson Family Reunion 2001. The kieki and I flew back to America for a family reunion hosted by my Uncle John. I got to visit with some relatives that I haven't seen in about 30 years or more (and many that I had never met at all).
Also got to spend some time out on my dad's new boat, a 39' Sea Ray Express, out on Lake Lanier. I want a boat too!
We also spent some time up in Tennessee after the reunion with my mom. My best friend, Kelly and his brood, came down for a few days. We had a great time in the Smokies and at Norris Days on the Fourth of July.
| Daisy's Fault |
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Daisy taking it easy onboard Daisy's Fault |
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Waverunners love to see a big boat cruising through the lake! |
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Lake Lanier is a big lake - plenty of room for power and sail boats |
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Melissa and Matthew hanging out on the bow |
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Matthew tries his hand at piloting the big boat while Grandpa Bill and Melissa help navigate |
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Another Waverunner blasts across the wake |
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A quiet cove for swimming and rowing about in the inflatable raft |
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Melissa trying to catch a whopper for dinner |
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Matthew ventures out to explore the shore in the inflatable boat |
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Ma and Pa Duck stopped by to see if we had any spare bread |
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Grandpa Bill comes to assist Melissa in landing the "monster" catfish she hooked at the dock |
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Melissa and her first catfish |
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I think I may have caught the same catfish that Melissa did |
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Daisy's Fault (formerly known as Big Deal) coming around the corner and heading for open water |
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Daisy's Fault as she's about to clear the last dock |
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Full Steam Ahead! |
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Daisy's Fault riding high in the water |
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Dad's pontoon boat (it's for sale!) is so tiny next to the big boat |
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Matthew and me trying the best we can to keep up with the big boat |
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Taking a break on a isolated beach in Lake Lanier |
| Six Flags Over Georgia Amusement Park |
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One of the
"spooky" dragons on the first ride |
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A huge wall of water is about to cover everyone in the "floating log" (and most of the people on the bridge over the top!) |
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Melissa and Matthew are wet and happy now! |
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The bridge is in the direct line of fire from the cascading water |
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Matthew and Melissa - soaked to the bone! |
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Those people on the bridge thought it would be neat to watch the splash - how did they think the bridge got all wet in the first place?!?!? |
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Melissa takes us for a little drive around the park - she says that now she's ready for her drivers license (HA!) |
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Matthew's got it floored and we're flying along at "break wind" speed! |
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Here's our prize for the "softball in the milk can" toss - I guess all those years of softball helped! |
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Matthew and Melissa and their new friend |
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After driving the Hansen Cars, the keiki want the keys to this beauty |
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Matthew practices his "leap tall buildings with a single bound" |
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While
Matthew is enjoying the air time, I'm wondering just how strong
the cords are! |
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FINALLY! Melissa is ready to set a new land speed record in a car with some POWER! |
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Matthew ready for the start of the race - unfortunately, the sky opened up while waiting for the start and they didn't get to race (bummer!) |
| Atlanta Braves versus New York Mets |
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Top of the first inning at Turner Field |
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Chipper Jones waiting for the first pitch |
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Matthew enjoying the game with Grandma Teri |
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Benny Agbayani takes a hit to right field for his first at-bat |
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Welcome to Turner Field, Home of the Atlanta Braves |
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Even Melissa was enjoying the game |
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Budweiser is the preferred beverage on Turner Beach |
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Brogna fouls one off with a mighty swing |
| Simpson Family Reunion 2001 |
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My brother Sam - the late arrival |
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A handful of Simpsons, sitting on the deck, getting reacquainted |
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Grandma Edith with Matthew and Melissa |
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A few of the family mingling about while we try to get a few group pictures organized |
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The whole clan trying to stand still, smile, and squint into the sun at the same time |
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Mark stopping for a picture with his mom, Margaret |
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Grandma and all of her kids (Alberta and Donna couldn't make it) |
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Grandma and some of her grandkids |
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Grandma and some of her GREAT-grandkids |
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Joyce takes charge! |
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Mark doing his best (?) Elvis impersonation |
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The male grandchildren (David, Mark, Sam, and Bill) responsible for carrying on the family name - three out of four ain't bad (Sam's still a batchelor) |
| Cades Cove, Tennessee |
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The cabin of John Oliver, the first permanent settler in Cades Cove |
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The kids hanging out on the back porch |
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A stone marker at The Primitive Baptist Church |
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The grave marker of Russell Gregory, in the Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery |
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The Primitive Baptist Church from across the cemetery |
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The grave marker of John Oliver, in the Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery |
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A resident of Cades Cove enjoying his midday repast |
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A couple of deer meandering through the field near the visitor's center |
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A restored cantilever barn from a Cades Cove
settler |
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The water sluice that diverts part of the creek water to the griss mill |
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The Tant's (Kelly, Sue, Rachel, and Ryan) |
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Us! |
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Here's where the water came to the griss mill to drive the gears and grind the corn and wheat |
| Norris Days 2001 |
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Grandma Higdon and Grandma Human discussing the events of the day |
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Kelly, Sue, and Rachel Tant off to experience a little slice of Americana |
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Grandma Higdon enjoying the day (She's 91!) |
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Kevin launches a softball at the dunk tank to drench his sister, Kylie, 'cause she's taunting him from the bench |
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I dunked Melissa on the first toss! |
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And they're off! Matthew had two ducks in this race - #4 and #11... |
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...and they both tied for the win! He won a watermelon! |
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My mom, Judy, with a couple of her old Norris High School classmates |
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Melissa, Kylie, Matthew and Ryan prepared to compete in the three-legged sack race |
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The boys displaying the blue ribbons from their first place finish in the three-legged sack race |
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George and Kevin getting ready to take on Kelly and Rachel and the other competitors in the mixed three-legged sack races |
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Leigh and George eyeing the competition in the adult three-legged sack races |
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Sue and Kelly, the duffus, waiting for the start of the three-legged sack race |
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And they're off! How many pulled muscles and bruises do you think this race caused? |
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Kevin looks a little anxious before the start of the sack race, while Rachel puts on her race face |
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And they're off! |
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Melissa gives Kylie racing tips while Matthew considers whether he's going to challenge Ryan in the race. |
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Matthew was "forced" into the first heat of the sack race and came away victorious! |
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Kylie jumps off to an early lead and totally blew away the competition in her heat (you should see her run!) |
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The Simpson's and the Tant's take a break from the festivities to enjoy a barbecue lunch |
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Sisters Judy (my mom), Carol Sue, and Manya gossiping about how old everyone else from their high school is! |
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The Fire Department provided an exciting version of battle ball |
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George watches as his nozzle man tries to push the ball to the far end of the cable |
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After all that water, George and his gang were defeated (and taunted) by a bunch of (cheating) girls |
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The gang checks out the flow of the Clinch River beneath Norris Dam - the first dam constructed by the Tennessee Valley Authority |
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Norris Dam |
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Me and the kieki at the upper lookout over Norris Dam and Norris Lake |
| Dollywood Amusement Park |
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We decided to take a break when we saw my favorite car of all times - a 1957 Chevy! |
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Grandma Judy and Melissa decided to take a T-Bird for a spin around the park |
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Matthew and I tried to catch'em, but Melissa had the petal to the medal |
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Melissa and Grandma Judy flying high |
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Step away from the duck! |
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Here's part of what I liked the best. This metal smith was making iron tools in the same technique as the mountain settlers |
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The metal smith banging away on the hot steel |
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