Redneck slip and slide

The redneck slip and slide is a gas well liner...It doesn't get more redneck then that. Well I guess it does when you had baby shampoo, baby lotion, blow up pools, inner tubes, water, and a bunch of Uphold kids wearing bathing suits.

Priceless!!

Okay on to the money.......You may be thinking to yourself 'I sure thought the family reunion was a great party....I wonder what it costs to have a party so great?'



Well here's a breakdown:

Meat by Coon $300.00

Outhouse $80.00

Paper Product, Pop, and water $140.00

Kids game prizes $50.00

D.J. Mat the Cat $130.00

Mailings $25.00

Firewoks $285.00

Beer Wagon $40.00

Beer on tap $85.00

Razamataz $60.00

Memorial Plaque for gravesite $100.00

Grand total: $1295.00

That's Life by Michael Buble

The following pictures are brought to you today by Sam. Thanks Sam you were the first to respond again this year...I wish I had a prize for you...or a button.

This was a really great idea. Thanks Harmony.

The memorial balloons were for James Uphold Sr., and Dave Humberson. While they were flying away we did our drink on Jim. This year it was a bottle of Jim Beam donated by Butch.

This is the song we had played while the balloons were lit and sent off.

(This wasn't our first, second, third, fourth, or fifth song choice, but it was what we had, and I think it fits just fine.)

'That's Life' by Michael Buble
(Don't let it get you, don't let it get you downFor this world keeps on spinning 'round)
That's life
That's what all the people say
You're riding high in April
You're shot down in May
I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top in June
I say that's life& as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks
Stompin' on your dreams
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'Cause this fine ol' world keeps spinning 'round
I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate,A poet, a pawn & a king
I've been up & down & over & out
But I know one thing
Each time I find myself, flat on this face
I pick myself up & get back in the race
That's lifeI can't deny it
I thought of quitting, baby
This heart wasn't gonna buy it
And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
I'd jump right on a big bird & then I'd fly
I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate,A poet, a pawn & a king
I've been up & down & over & out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up & get back in the race
That's life
That's life & I can't deny it
Many times I thought of cutting out
But my heart won't buy it
But if there's nothing shakin' come this here July
I'm gonna roll
I'm gonna roll
I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball & die
Can't deny it
That's life

July 25, 2009

What a great reunion y'all. There is so much to write about this year. I think everyone had a really good time. I am going to try to update this more often this year. Alot has happened and there hasn't been any posts.

The reunion wasn't until Saturday afternoon, but we went to the Pavilion Friday night to set up. You might be asking yourselves who are those magical elves that get all the stuff ready for everyone. Well today is your lucky day because I shall share all the details with you..Hee Hee

Harmony, Becky, and Echo (with kids in tough) went to the pavilion to clean up and set up what we could. You know the essential stuff like tables, chairs, redneck slip and slide, ect.... To our surprise Timmy, and Stevie were putting in horseshoe pits...Yeah baby! not only one set but the next morning they came and set up a second...Yeah baby! Thanks boys. You know what this means....The 1st annual Uphold Horseshoe tournament. (more about that later)

The pavilion wasn't to bad this year, just needed a good cleaning. However, out of the 9 tables and 18 chairs there was only 5 tables left. This was a bit of a problem, but in the end all was found. Disclaimer: When you borrow something please make sure to bring it back when you are finished with it. Thanks! So when we were done we ate and headed back to the pavilion to socialize. We will call this the pre reunion party. In attendance was Harmony, Becky, Echo, Frank, Butch, Chickie, Greg, Tim, Terri, Timmy, Stevie, you get the picture....

Thanks to the following: (this of course isn't everyone, I mean I didn't have a pen and paper out keeping score, so if you can think of anyone I have missed please leave a comment)

Judy, and Greggie for bringing such a wonderful covered dish(firewood)

Cindy and Sandy for leading off the dancing when the D.J. started, and kept the kids moving.

Rich for taking over the horseshoe tournament organization when the committee was busy.

Amy (Dave's daughter) for going around and collecting addresses, and history this year.

Brandy for walking the memorial plaque, and good luck horseshoe around.

Amanda Lankford (Margie's daughter) for taking some really great pictures at the reunion. I am most thankful.

Margie for bringing the large basket that we raffled off.

George did such a good job on the fireworks

Katlyn for making sure the port a potty got to the right location

Echo brought some old photos, and made Volume 2 for the heritage books.

Food to remember: (if you liked something else, or brought something please leave a comment)

Coon did the meat, and brought the apple pie (and it ain't the kind you eat with a fork or can buy in a store)

Butch brought the Jim Beam for the drink on Jim, and the buttershots. I know Amanda (Margie's daughter) would like to say a big thanks since she drank all the buttershots, and Katlyn would like to say Hey that's not fair I didn't get enough.....hee hee (just kidding girls)

Margie brought a cheesecake, a (freshly squeezed) key lime cheese cake, a warming oven with lasagna, and scalloped potatoes.

Terri brought pigs in a blanket, and potato salad, and an extra pool for the kids

Rosa brought taco salad...I was so excited..I had really wanted this stuff and I didn't think I was going to get it since Sam is dating some guy who makes the 'best' potato salad ever...whatever. (the potato salad was good)

I don't know who brought the chocolate oatmeal no bake cookies, but they were great. Thanks and please bring them again next year.

Michelle made two pans of you famous broccoli rice cheese casserole (that is the stuff)

Someone brought a great big thing of really yummy looking cupcakes. I didn't eat them but my kids fought over them.

Someone brought a great big dessert pizza with fruit on it. I didn't get to eat that either but it sure looked good.

All that was missing was Grandma Betty's tapioca.

On to the 1st Annual Uphold Horseshoe Tournament. We will be doing this again next year. Everyone signed up and partners were picked. Everyone threw in $1.00, and the winner took it all. We had 36 people sign up. Congrats to Tim Uphold, and David Lytle. Runner up George Mitchell, and Jay Jay. (Steph's Son) (sorry Jay Jay your last name escapes me.) I think Cindy and Sandy wanted to win real bad, but there's always next year ladies!

The auction was great fun. We didn't make as much money has we have in the past. We can blame it on two things: 1) the economy 2) the rain. Some of the interesting things in the auction were Moon Sand, a stuffed Dog, Vansformers, ect. At the beginning Dianne Lytle passed around a Prada (okay Frada but it still looked good) and everyone put money in it, and then we sold it at the auction. Grandma Betty won the bid for $165.00. There was only $75.00 in the purse, but she felt like it was a good cause and she had a good time.

Last year we had volume one of the heritage books and took donations, this year Echo made volume two but we only had one person donate. Thanks Ashely for the donation. We will keep the volumes coming. I am going to keep the heritage books going like fine wine, they will just keep getting better with age. For those who didn't get Vol. 2 and wanted one please contact the committee. Inside Vol. 2 were newspaper articles, some good, some very bad, but all were about family.

The kids had alot of fun on the giant slip and slide. They just can never get enough of it.

At 6:00 the D.J. Mat the Cat started playing, and Cindy and Sandy and the kids started dancing. What fun. Some of our other adult solid gold dancers included Michelle, Trisha, Becky, and Echo.

After the D.J. played for awhile it was time for the annual photo. Well the committee just didn't fell right asking everyone to sit on that hill since it had rained. So, the asked everyone to pull a chair down below the fire ring, and Harmony pulled Butch's truck over so they could stand in the bed to get the best angle. I love the way this picture turned out. I think we should use this spot again.

At dusk the children started getting out the light up gear they brought. I saw Becky and Harmony had on light up devil horns. I think it suited them to a tee. I didn't have any light up stuff for myself, but next year I will not be out done...Hee Hee. For the kids that didn't bring their light up toys the committee handed out glow in the dark neon necklaces...Great fun, maybe not as great as a flashing wand, or flashing sunglasses, but great fun non the less. Disclaimer: Moms, Dads, and Grandparents please try to remember the light up stuff for next year.

At dark Georgie put on the fireworks display. It was really cool. They had a little mishap with a tube blowing up. It was a little dangerous....but he did a good job. Disclaimer: Teens should not be hanging around where they are letting the fireworks off, and they should not be lighting them.

Harmony, Becky, and Michelle sat in chairs and let people throw water balloons at them for $1. If the balloon didn't break they would throw it back. It was alot of fun to watch. Morgan (Brandy's daughter) thought it was great fun too until she accidentally got hit with one of the water balloons. Sorry, Morgan. We only had 15 balloons, but we did sell them all.

Then Echo made an announcement that Harmony and Katlyn would be lighting memorial balloons for James Uphold, and Dave Humberson while the D.J. played 'That's Life' by Michael Buble. The balloons were a little more tricky then we thought and Katlyn almost caught Harmony on fire instead of the balloon. While we were watching the balloons float away Echo passed around the Jim Beam bottle for a drink on Jim. It was a really nice moment that we have not pictures of. Well we just can't do everything.

There are just so many people to thank, and I know I have forgot someone. To everyone who came Thanks. If you would like to be more involved please contact a committee member. You may be asking yourself how does one contact a committee member? Well leave a comment, email, visit, or make a phone call to: Harmony, Echo, Becky, or Katlyn. We are not elected or anything we are sort of self appointed....hee hee The pay sucks, I guess the benefits suck to, but it is totally worth it.....

Congrats to the newly appointed members of the committee: Amanda Lankford (Magie's daughter), Amanda Lytle (Dianne's Daughter-In-Law), and Amy Sanners(Dave Humberson's daughter). Ladies for more information (to find out what is required of you) please call one of the original committee members...hee hee

the end for now.......Keep checking back because there is so much more like time capsules, secret meetings, and pictures...tons of pictures

Did I forget something? Do you have a great story? Do you want to write a disclaimer? Do you have a suggestion? If you are thinking any of these things please leave a comment or email me at echoeve@yahoo.com

Have a drink on Jim Uphold Sr.

While Harmony, and Becky were busy doing the kids games the three of us decided to play a game with the adults. The game was called 'Pass the bottle'. Jim Uphold Sr. had a bottle of apple cider that was fremented. He didn't really know who made it or where it came from but, he said we should take it and drink it at the reunion. So, we put in the beer wagon all day to get nice and cold. Then Echo, George, and Brandy took it around and everyone took a drink. George, and Brandy talked everyone into drinking, and Echo took the pictures.

Here's to you Pap!

Echo, Brandy, and George

George was first.

Brandy was second.

Echo was third. This is when we decided it would be a great idea to play 'Pass the bottle'.

We all know that Greg is a connoisseur of the finer things is life. So, Greg stops to smell the bouquet.

He takes a moment to sip.

And then the greatness hits him. Yum.

Yes Tim I am recording this.

Tim loves it.


Frank Plisko (Becky's husband)

Chickie (long time friend of the family)

Becky took a break from the kids to play with the adults. Happy Birthday Becky.

Yum. Julie thinks this is so funny.

Worley is some of our long lost family on the Parnell side.

This is George's not wife Courtney. Bottoms up.

Michelle wanted to play.

Judy who is almost family thought that this was a totally fun game.

Greggie is always game for a good game of 'Pass the bottle'

Timmy wasn't so sure that he wanted to play but, in the end he did.

Jeff didn't need any directions. His brother Ronnie didn't want to play.

Steve had a great time playing this game.

Steph got the last of the bottle. I also want to point out the fact that she was looking at one of the wonderful albums of old pictures the committee put together.

All in all I thought this was a great game. We are totally going to play again next year!

Thanks Jim Uphold Sr. (Pap) what greatness do you think you can send next year?

More family fun (Thanks Sam)

The following pictures are brought to you today by Sam. (Thanks Sam)


This is one of the pictures we had fun with at the reunion. It was like an Uphold version of Who's Who. I must say those are some of the cutest kids I ever did see. hee hee

This is Jim Uphold going in the fun.

This is Aunt Sandy showing the children how to get down like a Funky Chicken.

Barry and Margie sharing a moment.

Dance lessons.

The children loved the D.J.

Terri, Dianne, George, and Sandy showing them how it is done.

Echo never learned that it wasn't polite to point. Barry wanting to know what she is pointing at.

Barry and Sharon.

The Uphold Light Parade.