Cottam Family Reunion

Oh, It Went Down

2009-06-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

Cottam family Monopoly throwdown 2009: we wanted it to be epic. We hoped it would be epic. And baby. It. Was. EPIC! From about 9pm to 4am it went down!

It all started out on the up and up. Everyone giving the trophy a little love.

Okay, maybe Sam gave it a lot of love.

Mom & Dad were feeling confident.

Adam & Audrey were all smiles.

Megan & Quinn were ready to give it their best shot.

Hmm, this guy looks confident. Not sure why. Starting out, Chris didn't have jack squat in the way of properties. Off to a slow start...

"Stern Sam" showed off his negotiating style. After he helped finance Adam's big pimp'in Boardwalk/Park Place monopoly, it came back to bite him in the form of some a Community Chest card: "Take a walk on the Boardwalk". Ouch! Gotta be careful with the Chest Action, Sam. It can get you into trouble!

Adam seems pretty amused by Sam's final offer: Adam forgives Sam his $2,000 debt and pays him $1,500! Sounds fair to me!

"Miss Priss" isn't willing to help out. She just wants GREEN!

"You'll never get green!" Dad thinks it's pretty funny. (It was!)

I think Mom's expression says it all...

And this went on for hours!

In the end, it was Chris who came back to take it all! Amazing!

We hereby vote for starting the next Monopoly game at 12 noon. We're too old for this, and in fact, have still not recovered.

Until next time, we are displaying the trophy with pride!

Catch A Wave

2009-06-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

Check out the boys on the Boogie Bahn! Nicely done!

{Awesome pics from Ken & Susie. Got something good? Send it to me!}

Apron Extravaganza

2009-06-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

I think we all looked pretty awesome in our Texas reunion aprons, don't you think? Thanks so much to Mom/Susie! What a perfect souvenir.

This collage is all about the Q. Q with the hat. Q with his Mama-in-law (apron maker extraordinaire), Q slicing the Q (nicely done, by the way). Natalie & Adam look pretty sweet in their aprons, too. And Megan. Megan? Hello? Are you there?

Mason, Sienna & Simon love theirs! Audrey and Maya snuggle up, apron-style! Chris & Sam look dope in the hat!

Lookin' good, Maya! Chris, are you cross-eyed? Sam gives the apron the ol' stretch-test. Ken & Susie do some apron canoodling. Jess kicks back apron-style with her lemondae.

Yeah, boy-eee! Grillin' it up, and lookin' good while they do it!

Oh, and PS - I don't think any of the rest of you are the proud owners of a lovely lime green apron, are you? Haha, suckers!! {Thanks again, Susie!} Oh, and the trophy. Yep, we're the only ones with one of those bad boys gracing our mantle, too. How sad for the rest of you! :)

{I will give you the apron if you forgive my debt and PAY ME $1,500!!! THAT IS MY FINAL OFFER! THE REST OF YOU ARE GOING DOWN!!!}

It's The Cottams - 2009

2009-06-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

I have now almost recovered enough from our non-stop partying to start posting our lovely memories to the blog. Feel free to chime in with your own, of course...("Pay me $1500!!!). Starting with family photos...more to come in the coming days.

{Thank you all for coming! Hope you had as much fun as we did...}

It's The Final Countdown

2009-06-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Yeah, baby! Tomorrow is the big day. Can't wait to see you all! Travel safely, and don't forget to bring your appetite. There is a lot of food sitting in our front hall right now. We may or may not have gone overboard. We'll let you be the judges of that! See you soon!!

{If you don't watch Arrested Development, then I apologize for the clip. It it time to mend your ways and watch this hilarious show!}

Family Reunion Rules

2009-06-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

We are serious. We don't want any monkey business from you crazy Cottams.

No overflowing the toilet. (Sam!)
No stealing anyone's bra. (Dad!)
No being bucked out of your tube. (Mom!)
No bucking anyone out of their tube. (Sam!)
No riding the bull. (Sam!)
No sharing a one man tent. (Adam & Sam!)
No showing your privates. (Chris!)
No getting lost. (Adam!)
No falling out of bed. (Sam!)
No lighting your hair on fire. (Audrey!)
No embarrassing behavior that will land you on next time's list. (Jessica!)
No mooning in public. (Chris!)
No skiing off the roof. (That goes for all of you!)
No shoving insane amounts of brownies in your mouth. (Chris!)
No leaving your backpack out in the open for someone to trip on. (Megan!)
No tripping over backpacks. (Adam!)
No laughing at those who fall down. (Natalie!)
No pretending you're blind. (Sam!)
No spraying cologne in your eyes. (Adam!)
No swearing, no matter how bad it hurts. (Adam!)
No checking out anybody's "private property". (Megan!)
No putting someone elses' property down your pants. (Sam!)
No putting dirty diapers under anyone's pillow. (Quinn!)
No putting dirty underwear in anyone's hat. (Quinn!)
No hitting anyone where it counts. (Chris!)
And most importantly...Do not pass go! Do not collect $200!

Feel free to add your own...we know you've got 'em!

Can't wait to see all you crazy kids!

Q&A: Adam

2009-06-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

1. How did you meet your spouse? The same week that I moved to Portland, I met Audrey at a singles ward dance. I thought she was smoking-hot, so I asked her to dance. Of course it was a slow song, because I'm a terrible fast song dancer. We started to chat, and the conversation was good. Luck was on my side that night, as the next song was also a slow song. Then a third slow song (what are the chances???), so we kept dancing and talking. Soon after, I was shocked by what seemed as a shy girl blurted out, "Aren't you going to get my phone number"?

2. Where did you go on your first date? We went to Silver Falls State Park, which my parents suggested. There is a 4-6 mile hike that features 10 waterfalls. On the way to pick up Audrey, I got so lost trying to find her place. I called her a few times for additional directions, but got even more lost by her directions. Finally, I found the place, showing up 20 minutes late. While driving to the State Park, located south of Portland we got lost a few more times.

Upon our arrival, we started hiking down the only possible trail that didn't have any waterfalls. After about an hour and a half of hiking, it was obvious that we were LOST! After receiving directions from some people on horses, we continue to hike for another 3-4 hours. At this point, it was late in the day, and it would soon be dark. As panic moved in, my thoughts became increasingly filled of being "that featured couple" on the 11:00 news, who got lost out on a day hike. Worse, yet, after the date was over Audrey could go back and tell all the rest of the girls in the singles ward, that the new guy is a freak. We were seriously lost!

Audrey was cool about things. I was surprised, as most girls would have ticked off and upset. She kept saying it was OK, and we would soon find our way back to a main trail or road. This is the time that we really started to bond, turning the date into one of the best dates of my life. Audrey, who was overly quite and timid, began to open up, telling me everything about her self.

Finally, after hiking a few more hours and over 14 miles we came across our first water fall. It was dark, so we really didn't see anything. We were holding hands, laughing and having a great time. I kept thinking that I didn't want the date to end.

Not bad for a "marathon date". I like to think that the date wasn't going to end until we both realized that we were meant for each other.

3. What is your favorite memory (or memories) from a Cottam family vacation/get-together? I really liked the first trip the Audrey went to Cabo San Lucas with the family. This is mainly because it was when I realized that she definitely was the one for me, and that I wanted to marry her.

4. What was your favorite family vacation growing up? Staying in the tent cabins at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park. We did this a number of times. The trip where Sam fell off the bunk and got a concussion remains as a dear memory. We were all so worried about him. Plus I always have had a hard time getting the thought of his head hitting the concrete out of my head. Close finalists were the trip to the Northwest and British Columbia, the years that we stayed in the beach house in Ventura and the trips to Santa Barbara to visit grandparents. Also, I can't count out the trips to Zions and Arches.

5. How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family (total, when everyone's done having babies)? 13 Total - 4 for Chris & Natalie, 3 for Megan and Quinn, 3 for Sam & Jessica and 3 for Adam & Audrey

6. What's your favorite Cottam family tradition? I used to really enjoy selecting yearly photos to put in a framed collage that we'd give to mom. Going through all the pictures taken each year was fun to see which memories would be selected to represent the year. Mom & dad quickly had quite a collection of frames, and the tradition died out. One day, I hope to continue it with my family.

7. What's your favorite meal/food that Mom makes? Roast beef & yorkshire pudding.

8. What is your favorite Cottam family holiday memory? I've always loved the memory of waking up excited on the Christmas that we got our first color TV. All the boys ran down stairs to be shocked by seeing that our little sister beat us all to the punch. She was sitting there by her self watching cartoons on the new TV.

9. Which of the Cottam kids is going to end having the most children? You'll be surprised on this one, my vote is on Audrey and I. We're saving up our money to go to a fertility clinic in California that guarantees octo-mom status in 9 months. I'd put my money on Chris and Natalie as being close runner ups.

10. What is the best piece of advice/lesson you learned from Mom & Dad? Working hard is something that will always top the list of things learned from my parents. I learned that there is opportunity in unexpected places from my mom as she was entrepreneurial with her sowing business when we were kids.

What Can I Get For You?

2009-05-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

Don't forget! If you don't want to hit the grocery store to stock up on supplies for your assigned meal, and/or snacks and drinks, I'm happy to do your shopping for you ahead of time. I'm also happy to bring my own supply of any "recipe items" you might need.

Also, we're hoping everyone will contribute some snacks and drinks for everyone to share. My kids have been eyeballing the stash of treats and junk food and soda pop for a week now - they are SO ready to bust into it! Here's a tip for ya: if you're looking to make friends with kids (and/or me), it's a good idea to be in possession of the best snacks.

Send me your shopping list if you'd like to. Or you can mosey into the good ol' HEB if you'd rather. As with everything else in Texas, it really is THE BEST grocery store in the world. (Kidding, kidding.)

Some Like It Hot...

2009-05-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Don't forget your sunscreen!

Women Be Shoppin'!

2009-05-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

You cannot stop a woman from shopping! {Name that movie! First person to guess correctly wins a prize. Okay, there is no prize. Aside from my deep admiration and respect. And really, what better prize is there?}

We've set aside Saturday afternoon, after we dine in the treetops at the Gristmill, for a little poking around the shops in historic Gruene. Those who aren't inclined toward shopping are welcome to head back for naps, swimming, chit chat or whatever you'd like to do. Those who enjoy a little browsy-browse might like to check out this link for more info on what Gruene has to offer in the retail department.

See you in one week!

Q&A: Quinn

2009-05-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

How did you meet your spouse? Actually meet Chris first.... Megan came up and talked to me while I was setting up for a show my band was playing
Where did you go on your first date? Riverdale hot springs
What is your favorite memory (or memories) from a Cottam family vacation/get-together? Our trip to the Florida Keys
What was your favorite family vacation growing up? (In-laws can tell about their favorite family vacation growing up.) Going camping in the Tetons
How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family (total, when everyone's done having babies)? 12
What's your favorite Cottam family tradition? Big get togethers
What's your favorite meal/food that Mom makes? Cinnamon Rolls
What is your favorite Cottam family holiday memory? Going Ice Skating in Reno
Which of the Cottam kids is going to end having the most children? Chris and Natalie
What is the best piece of advice/lesson you learned from Mom & Dad? Look for a good deal, its always out there

Texas Must-Do: Breakfast Tacos

2009-05-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

One of the most important Texas food groups (alongside brisket and burritos) is the breakfast taco. Not to brag (although what's more Texas than bragging?!), but we have better breakfast tacos at our local gas stations than any "real" restaurant in the country. Well, if that gas station is Rudy's BBQ & Country Store, a classic Texas gas station/barbecue joint, that is. And we were stoked to realize that there's a Rudy's just down the street from our digs at the family reunion! So that y'all can experience this wonder for yourself, we're declaring Saturday's breakfast to be all about the breakfast tacos. We'll send some representatives over to Rudy's to bring us back the goods. Chris likes 'em standard: potato, egg and bacon. I love 'em Texas style: beans, potatoes and bacon. But however you like 'em, you're bound to love 'em.

Q&A: Sam

2009-05-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

How did you meet your spouse? As Jessica mentioned, one weekend in Boise I was set up on a blind date with one of her roommates. On this date a group of us decided to watch a movie after attending a single’s dance at Jessica’s place. Right before we started the movie, Jessica got back from a date that she had been on. We started visiting a bit and she warned us that the movie was not going to be very good. After a bit we decided to ignore her warning and we proceeded to watch the movie anyways. Low and behold, as Jessica predicted the movie did not end on my Top Ten List of Favorites. At the end of the night when I returned home and recapped the evening with one of my good buddies, I kept thinking about the really cute little brunet that I meet earlier. Although I was only able to talk with her briefly in a group setting that night, I could tell that she was very sweet and had a very kind heart. In such a short conversation Jessica made a great impression and I hoped that we would somehow have the opportunity to get to know each better somehow, someday. As destiny played out… time had to first run its course before we were able to pick up where we had left off in our conversation during this chance meeting. But as with all of the important things in life, things eventually worked out better then I ever imagined they would.

Where did you go on your first date? After a considerable amount of time, destiny dealt me another favorable hand. I was again setup up on another blind date. I have to admit that this particular point in my life I had already been setup up on what seemed like a thousand blind dates that never seemed to work out. I also was rather frustrated with dating and was really not looking for a relationship at this point in time. Nonetheless, I decided to at least go along with the group to the Idaho State Fair. As luck would have it… this blind date was different, and I was setup with a really cute little brunette. At first the date was rather awkward due to some of the surrounding circumstances. But as the night went I on Jessica and I eventually started to warm up one another and started to hit it off. Eventually as the night was drawing to a close, through some crafty engineering, Jessica and I ended up on one final ride together. I did not know at the time that she does not fair well on moving rides, roller coasters, etc… but I soon noticed that she didn’t look like she was feeling so good. Instinctually, I reached out and put my hand on her arm to comfort her. At that moment, both Jessica and I felt our first connection together, which set the course for an enjoyable rest of the evening together. After our first date, Jessica and I kept in contact and eventually started spending some time together as friends. Later in the fall that year, I started taking some classes at the BSU LDS institute and by “chance” I would end up bumping into Jessica as she was walking to her evening class. Usually, we would end up talking for a while under one of large trees next to the building. The more I got to know Jessica during these conversations and as we began spending more time together the more I realized just how beautiful, sweet, and wonderful she is. Eventually we started spending more and more time together. As we did our friendship grew into a deep love and respect for one another. Months later, one afternoon while we were walking in the park together as often enjoy doing, we both finally realized that we had first meet long before during the chance meeting while I was on a blind date with her roommate. She was indeed that cute little brunette that I had hoped to have the opportunity to get to know years before, only now she was more beautiful and incredible then I ever had imagined.

What is your favorite memory (or memories) from a Cottam family vacation/get-together? The original family reunion at the beach house in Ventura, CA. where nothing less then epic. I can still remember visiting with our Aunts, Uncles, cousins and Grandparents. The setting was spectacular to say the least…. So Cal. beach , sun, swimming, bogie boarding, and surfing. We had an amazing time enjoying Fiesta in Santa Barbara . But by far my most prized memory of all was waking up one morning to see the glorious site of an old surf dog back in his element. I don’t think I will ever forget the joy of seeing my pops back out in the lineup on a trusty long board. I always knew that he had Southern Californian salt water running through his veins… but at that very moment I think we were all transported back in time and experienced a vision of the much younger pops, kicking it So. Cal style, earning his undisputed title as the beloved “Smooth Dog”.

What was your favorite family vacation growing up? (In-laws can tell about their favorite family vacation growing up.) This is a tough one, because there are some many wonderful options to choose from. Mom and Pops always had a wonderful sense of adventure and created wonderful opportunities for us to explore and enjoy new places together. One particular Easter camping trip stands out in my mind. When we were all very young our parents took us on a camping trip to Dead Horse Point in Southern Utah . Not wanting us to miss out on the fun searching for Easter candy my parents proceeded to coordinate the coolest Easter egg hunt that I can remember. I will never forget how much fun we had running around the campground searching the brush, trees and cactus for hidden treasures. If I remember correctly we may have even found a few Easter lizards.

How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family (total, when everyone's done having babies)? I can hope for twenty grand kids… but I will guess 14.

What's your favorite Cottam family tradition? I always loved hoping in the family car at Christmas time and cruising around to see the amazing Christmas lights in Hidden Valley . It was always a lot of fun joking around with everyone and seeing all of the houses decked out in tons of lights and ornaments. I do however still wish that we would have been able to pull of our plans for the mega-Cottam Christmas decorations that among many other amazing ideas involved flooding the front yard and turning it into an ice skating rink. I still think that if we would have started in early November, we could have pulled it off!!!

What's your favorite meal/food that Mom makes? Although I love all of the food that my mom makes and a lot of my very favorites have already been mentioned by others… I am going to have to go old school on this one. When we were younger we would often load up in the family truckster (the Brown Party Flame and later the Golden Goat) and head off to amazing camping areas in the National Parks and other cool areas across the west. Although these incredible adventures often varied in location, distance, and time duration there was always one constant (that even today) we could bank on… the traditional Cottam camping dinner. This family favorite consists of the following: pork chops grilled on the Coleman camping stove, canned string beans, gravy, and of course the famous camping potatoes. Now if you have yet to enjoy this Cottam tradition, there is one last thing that you must know… a good camping diner is never complete without canned pears or fruit cocktail that has been chilled to perfection in a cool mountain stream or lake. We spent many wonderful evenings enjoying this rugged feast while taking in breath taking scenery and most importantly spending quality time together as a family. To this day when I have any of these foods I can’t help but to be taken back to many of those magical moments we enjoyed while growing together as Cottams. Although this was never the fanciest of meals, for me this has always been exactly what I imagine a good meal in heaven would taste like.

What is your favorite Cottam family holiday memory? There are so many good memories to choose from that in a way they blend together as one big happy experience. But if I must pick one single experience it would be the Christmas in Reno when Santa brought us all our first set of skis. I can still remember that we were all so excited upon seeing out good fortune that we all proceeded to get decked out in our whole ski outfit, strap on the ski boots and clip into our skis for a few practice runs around the living room. Excitement ran very high at the Cottam home that Christmas as we all joyfully anticipated our beloved days of glory at Sky Tavern for the Jr. Ski program. I am not sure or not if this was the same Christmas when we were snowed in with a few feet of snow. But if not I do know that we were definitely inspired at that moment to scheme up plans to ski down the road in front of our house and the idea for the infamous ski jump in the back yard. To this day, Mom and Dad swear that this ski jump extended way up onto the roof of our house… and claim that at one point they had the ski and snowboard tracks to prove it. I personally remember things a little differently. I am pretty that Adam, Chris, or Megs will back me up on this… but when it came to our backyard aerial training safety was always our number one priority. With this in mind, even if extending the ramp up to the roof would have meant a lot better approach and some fatty air. Personally I think that it was safe to say that we were always more focused on prepping for Sunday school. Frankly, despite mom and dad’s version of the storey, I know that we would have never wanted to jeopardize our health and future posterity for a few glorious moments for eternal backyard glory.

Which of the Cottam kids is going to end having the most children? Chris and Natalie... but I hope that we all give them a good run for their money!!!

What is the best piece of advice/lesson you learned from Mom & Dad? Mom and dad always taught us to standup and take accountability for our actions. From a very young age they worked very hard to teach us the importance of personal integrity and helped us to learn that we were in control of our own actions and destiny. On many occasions they loved us enough to not let us take the easy way out and firmly encouraged us to do the right thing. We were also taught us that it was up to us to make the most out of ourselves and to never look for excuses from others when we failed to do so. When successful we were taught the importance of humility and no mater what the circumstances to always look for ways to help others to also be their best. Thank you mom and dad for your fine examples and for helping us become the individuals who we now are.

To Cabana or Not To Cabana?

2009-05-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

Soliciting more input. Schlitterbahn has a limited number of cabanas available for rent at a cost of $50. You get a covered area to stash your stuff, a table and chairs, and a few lawn chairs. We're thinking this might be a great way to establish a "home base" and secure some much-needed shade for one and all. The cost breaks down to just $10 per family. Please respond and let us know if your willing to pony up the cash-ola!

10 days and counting!

Monopoly Rules!

2009-05-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

We thought we should give the kiddos a Monopoly primer, so we busted it out and they played their very first game tonight. {Game's not over yet...but so far it looks like Mason is going to take it! Like father, like son!}

Anyway, as we played, we started discussing the rules. You know, the "real" rules, vs. Cottam Family rules. Such as the "Free Parking" jackpot. And getting $400 if you land on GO. Stuff like that. Then when the wheeling and dealing started, we realized that we should probably get the rules of the game down and in writing before the landmark game takes place in just 2 weeks!

So we're soliciting input. Should we do the Free Parking jackpot? When are "deals" made? Is combining interests allowed? Does anything go? What are your thoughts?

Leave some feedback in the comments and we'll post the "official" rules next week...

Oh, and PS. YOU'RE ALL GOING DOWN!!!

Schlitterbahn Fun Facts

2009-05-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

Schlitterbahn® Waterpark Resort
New Braunfels, Texas
Schlitterbahn FUNfacts

Schlitterbahn West has 16,000 thousand black inner tubes to choose from—in all sizes and shapes. Schlitterbahn East only uses colored vinyl tubes because the chlorinated water causes black tubes to make marks on the walls.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark has been voted “The World’s Best Waterpark” for nine consecutive years in a poll of park fans conducted by Amusement Today.
Schlitterbahn guests consume about 45,000 turkey legs and 90,000 sausages-on-a-stick each season. Add that to roughly 10 tons of hamburgers, 22 tons of chicken strips and 7 miles of foot-long corn dogs and you may wonder how many packets of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise guests need: 1 million!
Since 1995, Schlitterbahn has reigned as the nation’s most popular seasonal waterpark, only topped in attendance by year-round waterparks.
Schlitterbahn pumps 72-degree spring water from the Comal River through some of the rides in the main park. The water is pumped from one end of the park, circulated through several rides in Schlitterbahn West, and then flows back into the Comal River.
Our six-story Master Blaster uphill water coaster was voted “The World’s Best Waterpark Ride” for the ninth time in 2006. It works by using state-of-the art technology to blast riders uphill on high velocity streams of jetted water. The 1,000-foot-long ride takes riders through six uphill sections and features a coaster-style 36-degree, 27-foot drop.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort has a long history of firsts, including:

The first swim-up refreshment bar was introduced in 1980.
The first family wave pool with maximum depth of four feet opened in 1989.
The world’s first fantasy-themed, shallow children’s water playground, Polywog Pond, designed specifically for young children, opened in 1989. Today the park has six water playgrounds.
The first professional competition on a man-made wave took place in 1992 on the Boogie Bahn surf ride.
The world’s first uphill water coaster, Dragon Blaster, created a world-wide buzz in 1994.The park now has a Family Blaster, designed for multi-rider rafts, and a six-story version called Master Blaster® that opened in 1996.
The first Torrent River® which offers customizable, computer-controlled waves also opened in 1996 in the Blastenhoff section of Schlitterbahn East.
The first USA Triathlon-sanctioned Kids’ triathlon that takes place in and around a theme park occurred in 2004.

Q&A: Audrey

2009-05-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

How did you meet your spouse?
Adam and I met the first week he moved to Portland. I saw him at a dance the first weekend he was here. He was talking to my roommate Lisa and her Friend Ross Goodrich. Adam knew Ross from when he lived in Reno. I was introduced to Adam, then we ended up talking and dancing the rest of the night!

Where did you go in your first date?
Adam and I went on a hike to Silver Falls state park. It was supposed to be a 4 mile hike to see a dozen different waterfalls. Some how we ended up getting off the trail and we hiked about 15 miles and only saw 1 waterfall. We were walking back to his car in the dark. I think it was really his plan all along to wear me down! It was definitely a marathon date! We ended up spending about 18 hours together that day. Adam said that whole day he was lost. He got lost finding my house, we got lost trying to find the park, we got lost while hiking, and he got lost after he dropped me off back home. Maybe we had to get lost in order to find each other! :-)
We went back to Silver Falls a year later, and got engaged! We didn't get lost a single time!

What is your favorite memory (or memories) from a Cottam family vacation/get-together?
I have done a lot of fun things with the Cottams! One of my favorites was when Adam and I were still dating, We went with Ken, Susie and Sam to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. That was where I got introduced to the real Cottams! We went four wheeling, and I could not figure out how to change gears. Everyone was passing me! Adam and Sam were going crazy on their four wheelers! I think Adam ended up rolling his a few times!

What was your favorite family vacation growing up?
Most of my family vacations growing up were trips to Oregon or Utah to visit relatives. On one trip to St George, I had just gotten my learners permit and I was driving our 12 passenger van. Everyone was asleep in the van except my Sister Sariah and I. We decided to see how fast we could make the van go! Not a smart idea. I think I got it up to about 70 and I freaked out! I was losing control of the van, and it started swerving all over the road! Needless to say I woke up everyone in the van and I was banned from driving the rest of the trip!

How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family?
14

What's your favorite Cottam family tradition?
Is it fair to say the deserts are my favorite tradition!

What's your favorite meal/food that Mom makes?
My Mom makes the best lemon meringue pies! Growing up in California we had a lemon tree in our back yard.

What is your favorite Cottam family holiday memory?
Ken and Susie do an amazing job decoration their home for Christmas! I love all of the decorations. My favorite is the 12 foot Christmas tree! :-)

Which of the Cottam kids is going to end having the most children?
I think I heard Sam and Jess talking about have sextuplets! My bet is on them!

What is the best piece of advice/lesson you learned from Mom & Dad?
laughter is the best medicine & look for the good in all things!

{Adam, Sam & Quinn: I'm looking at you!! Send it over, boys!!}

Boy Howdy!

2009-05-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

If you're gonna come to Texas, it's best you learn to speak the language...

Add syllables to words. Texans with a heavy accent don't use one-syllable words. To talk like a Texan, practice elongating all one-syllable words into two syllables. The word "big" is pronounced, "bee-yug." The word "pen" is said, "pee-yun." The word "cat" is said "ka-yut."
Drop the "g" from "ing" when it is found at the end of words. Texans don't go "walking." They go "walkin." They don't do the "cooking." They do the "cookin." Their phone isn't "ringing." It's "ringin."
Change the "ing" to an "ang" when it is found within a word. Texans with a heavy accent don't "sing." They "sang." They don't have "things." They have "thangs." They don't eat "wings." They eat "wangs."
Make your long "i" sounds into lazy sounds. To talk with a Texan accent, your long "i" sounds need to sound closer to a short "a" sound. Texans don't get in "fights." They get in "fahts." They don't "buy" something at the store. They "bah" it. They don't do something "nine times." They do it "nahn tahms."
Learn Texas slang. To talk like a true Texan, you have to use a few common slang phrases. Say "fixin to" instead of "about to." Say "right quick," instead of "quickly." Say "ya'll" instead of "you guys" or "you all." Say "down yonder" instead of "over there." Say "tuckered out" instead of exhausted. Say "boy howdy," when you are impressed by something.
Talk like the locals. Say the names of Texas cities the way Texans do. Houston is called, "U-ston." San Antonio is shortened into "San Antone." Corpus Christi is called "Corpus."

{Source}

Bring Your 'A' Game...

2009-05-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

...because you want it...you know you want it! The lucky winner of our Monopoly throw-down is taking this bad boy home. Save some room in your suitcase if you're feeling confident, because it ain't small! {Okay, okay, we'll ship it to you if we have to.}

The catch is, you have to bring it back to the next reunion! Two years from now, it will be back up for grabs...

Family Show & Tell

2009-05-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Saturday night we'll all be settling in for a little Cottam Show & Tell! Ken has promised his famous slide-show (favorite of all who have seen it!), and we'd like to invite you all to participate as well. If you'd like to whip up a slide-show of your own, we'd love to see it! Got scrapbooks? Bring 'em! Want to report on your latest vacations? We're all ears! But we want to hear from everyone! So bring it on, bring it on!

Let's Go Surfing Now, Everybody's Learning How

2009-05-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

Who's ready to catch a wave on the Boogie Bahn? One of Schlitterbahn's most famous (& popular!) rides simulates waves for a close-to-the-0cean experience! So who's got the best moves? Here's the scoop straight from the Schlitterbahn website:

Professional surfers from all over the world have challenged the Boogie Bahn, the first surfing ride anywhere. But you don't have to be a pro to surf at Schlitterbahn. Just grab a bodyboard and try it for yourself. You might not get the hang of it at first, but be careful, when you do you might just get hooked!

Some locals who had never surfed before Schlitterbahn opened the Boogie Bahn are now among the best in the world. And while you might not become that good, it's an experience you'll never forget. You lie on your body board and slide down onto the wave surface. Although 50,000 gallons of water flow across the surface, the water depth is just a matter of inches. Beneath the sheet of water is a foam covered surface to ease the occasional "wipe-out."

The basic concept of The Boogie Bahn is a rapidly moving sheet of water rushing across a wave-shaped surface. The job of the surfer is to maneuver and maintain control on this surface. While amateurs and aficionados alike surf the Boogie Bahn every day during the summer, professional surfers challenge the wave during special competitions. Then the flow rate is doubled creating a curling wave that takes special skill to master.

Flashback: Reunion 2007 - Let the Good Times Roll!

2009-05-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

The Gristmill

2009-05-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

You can't visit the Gruene/New Braunfels area without stopping in to the famous Gristmill "River Restaurant". It's built into an old barn with a tree-house like collection of decks where you can dine in the treetops overlooking the river. We think it will be the perfect spot to hang out on Saturday afternoon, after we float down the river.

You can check out the menu here. We made a pit stop there a while back (had to check it out for you - quality control, you know...) and really enjoyed our food and the lovely ambiance. We hope you'll love it, too!

Q&A: Smooth Dog

2009-05-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

1. How I met my Spouse…It was a church youth talent show in Santa Barbara, CA. Susie had a couple of numbers doing these dance routines to patriotic music. I was doing some singing with a group chorus. I watched her dance in each practice. She was really good. One night she showed up at the church with a friend and wanted to practice, but the recording equipment didn’t work. She came up to me in her dance leotards at the back of the stage where I was helping my Dad clean the church and just said, ”Hi, my name is Sue Jones, What’s yours?” It took me a moment to recover and I stuttered out my name and asked what I could do for her. She then asked to use a record player that was locked up in a closet. Amidst my spinning head I got it for her and even snuck in some takes of her practicing.
2. Where did we go on our first date…Actually, I never asked Susie out until we were at BYU going to college. True, I did call her up to go to a briefing for new college students that previous summer, and I picked her up, but it never was a date, even though she gave her feelings for me away by trying to hold my hand in the car as I turned down her street to drop her off. I then asked her if we could go to a football game or do something if she wasn’t too busy when we got to college. We both agreed that we would do this. She then invited me in for some cookies and a glass of milk and introduced me to Rudy, her guinea pig. Upon arriving at college (I drove all night straight through from Santa Barbara) I went over to see her and asked her out for that evening. We had a very nice time at Bridal Veil Falls, up Provo Canyon, where we took the tram to the top and went for a short hike. We enjoyed the views, visiting about our ourselves and our families. Being very tired, I then took her home. Believe it or not, that was on September 16th, my birthday!
3. My favorite memories from a Cottam family vacation…My favorite has to be going to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks for several summers while the children were young. We loved to stay in the tent cabins at Colter Bay. That was our “summer place”. We were so excited when we found out that we could use the swimming pool at Jackson Lodge. We all had fun cooking meals, relaxing, hiking, swimming, canoeing, boating, and going to the campfire programs each evening. We would always take one day and go up to Yellowstone National Park to see Old Faithful and the Lodge, the geissers, and the waterfalls along with all the wildlife. It was there that Adam pulled his first tooth.
4. My favorite family vacation growing up…My choice is simple…Growing up we had just one family vacation and it is obviously my very favorite. Our family packed up the old car and a pull along flat trailer and went to a campground by Ojai, CA, some 40 miles from our home and camped there. It was called Wheelers Gorge Campground. From there, we would go swimming at Matilaja Hot Springs or Ojala in the pool or just dip our feet in the creek. The weather was very warm out so we didn’t do a lot, but it was our vacation.
5. How many grandchildren will we have?...My favorite all around number is 16. It’s so even!...Probably 12!
6. My favorite Cottam family tradition…Just voicing the words “It’s a go” would bring to mind one of our greatest family traditions. Mention the words “Sky Tavern” and none of us will ever stop talking…Each winter we enrolled in a ski program sponsored by the City of Reno, NV. The signal that there was enough snow and we would be going was…IT’S A GO! 365 days a year we all talked about it and waited patiently for that signal. I loved being the one to shout it out early on Saturdays when it was a go during those winter months.
7. My favorite mea/food that Mom made…My mother made a knockout casserole…Macaroni and Cheese. She had the grated cheese in layers, macaroni, and the condensed can milk added in. I could eat it anytime, day or night! When we came home from college or to visit, she always made it for us.
8. My favorite Cottam family holiday memory…It has to be Christmas Eve with the family. Always the great dinner. Gathering around the Christmas tree and acting out the first Christmas with the children and their pets. Reading the scriptures, and the delightful stories read by Susie from a storybook. Grandpa Cottam died one year just before Christmas. I had to go to Santa Barbara to be with Mom and John, leaving Susie to carry-on without me. It was hard, but she did well. It was also tough when each of the boys was serving a mission. They were missed a lot.
9. Which Cottam child will have the most children…Toss up…I go for 4 each! …an even 16! ...Actually, I will say Sam and Jessica.
10. What is the best piece of advice/lesson I learned from Mom and Dad…I learned a lot from my mother and father. “Don’t pre-judge others…Render service to everyone you can. If there is a will, there is a way…Never give up…You can do it.” Dreams will come true! ...Dad was one who believed in working hard at what you do and set this example throughout his life.

Q&A: Mom

2009-05-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

How did I meet Ken?

I had noticed Ken in Sacrament Meeting while sitting next to my boyfriend, David, who was preparing to leave on a mission. I thought he was very handsome but seemed a little old for me as I was going to be freshman at BYU. Ken sat behind me at the Missionary Farewell and kept making comments about not dating for 2 years, it was sure going to be lonely …… When my missionary left on his mission, his words to me were, “I think it would be a good idea for you to date while I am gone but please do not date Ken Cottam”.

Where did we go for our first date?

After my missionary left for the MTC, Ken called and asked me to go to a Young Adults Activity with him in Ventura, CA. I was very excited because it was with the older, very handsome guy I had previously noticed. He came and picked me up and we proceeded to the Church to pick up some more people. He failed to tell me that it was a bunch of girls, one of which he was interested in. We got out of the car at the church at which time I lost my place in the car and had to sit in the back of the station wagon facing backwards all the way to Ventura. I was steaming! This is my date and why was I sharing it with all these other girls. We went to the event in Ventura and before the meeting was over, I excused myself and went to the car and sat in the front seat to secure my spot for the way home! I foiled Ken’s plan for another girl to sit in the front seat with him. He should have known then that once I had seen what I wanted, I could be very determined to get what I want!

What is my favorite memory from a Cottam family vacation/get-together?

Camping at Timpanoke. We would set up the tent, have great eats, and watch the boys and Megan float boats down the creek for hours. Life was simple and the kids could have a lot of fun with simple things.

What was your favorite family vacation growing up?

It was when my Dad rented a boat and we went all through the Puget Sound for 2 weeks. We saw amazing things and ate the fish that we had just caught.

How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family?

What is your favorite Cottam family tradition?

It is when we light all the candles on Christmas Eve and have our traditional Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding dinner and everyone comes dressed up nicely and we have gobs of Martinelli’s.

What is my favorite meal/food that I make?

I am very fond of homemade peppermint ice ream.

What if your favorite Cottam family holiday memory?

It was the year that Megan was the baby Jesus, the puppies were the sheep, Porky was on Sam’s lap and Tweetie was on Adam’s shoulder. Of course we had on the bathrobes and towels on our heads!

Which of the Cottam kids is going to end up having the most children?

Chris and Natalie. They had a head start over everybody else.

What is the best piece of advise/lesson that you learned from your Mom and Dad?

After immigrating to Canada, we looked around at what everybody else had and realized that we could have it also! Dream big and work hard!

Family Flashback: Family Photos '07

2009-05-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

Ah, what a bunch of outlaws! What fun family photos.

We're going to get together for a group shot Thursday evening at the reunion. We're thinking everyone should wear khaki pants and white shirts. Ties for the guys, of course.

Just kidding. Everyone can wear whatever lovely, casual outfit they'd like. Shirts are required, Cottam boys! :)

Q&A: Megan

2009-05-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

1. How did you meet your spouse?
I meet Quinn before a show his band was playing up at Utah State. He didn't remember meeting me after the show and he asked me what my name was...so I told him "if my face is not cute enough to remember then it is not worth my time to tell you again."

2. Where did you go on your first date?
The hot springs in Preston, ID...smart man to get me into my bathing suit on the first date!

3. What is your favorite memory (or memories) from a Cottam family vacation/get-together?
This might be graphic, but when we all met in Elko for my soccer game. Everyone surprised me and we all stayed in the same hotel room. Sam used the bathroom...and let's just say he overflowed the toilet and mom was not thrilled with what was going on. We had to wait forever in the parking lot for Sam to go explain to the people a tthe front desk. I am not sure why I still think this was so humorous, but it has stuck.

4. What was your favorite family vacation growing up? (In-laws can tell about their favorite family vacation growing up.)
Trips to Grand Teton National Park at Culter Bay. The most memorable trip up there was when Sam(sorry Sam I am not trying to pick on you) rolled of the top bunk and we had to rush him in the middle of the night to the hospital. That place as a tender spot in my heart.

5. How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family (total, when everyone done having babies)?
15 - Chis/Natalie (5), Adam/Audry (3), Sam/Jess (4), Megan/Quinn (3)

6. What's your favorite Cottam family tradition?
Christmas. Everything to do with Christmas. I loved and still love the decorations. Mom always went all out. I love the tradition of the white lights on the tree (ask Quinn, we got in a huge fight and he called me a boring whitey).

7. What's your favorite meal/food that Mom makes?
Roast Beef (even though I don't eat beef anymore), potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. Also O Henry bars.

8. What is your favorite Cottam family holiday memory?
The Christmas that I got my teddy Roxane when we lived in San Diego. I woke up before everyone and keep going into the boys room with my cool new talking bear. Adam was so mad at me for waking him up with a talking bear. HEW HEW!

9. Which of the Cot tam kids is going to end having the most children?
Chris/Natalie - You have such a huge lead

10. What is the best piece of advice/lesson you learned from Mom & Dad?
Always work heart and never quit. I remember when I started playing soccer when I was 4. I got kicked so hard in my shin bone on the first day and I never wanted to go back. Mom and Dad told me that I needed to finish what I started.

Tubular, Dude!

2009-05-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

We're headed to Texas River Country, so of course, we've got to do some tubing! Read a pretty amusing guide to tubing here. And check out some tubing outfitters here, here, and here. Apparently the main point of tubing isn't actually the thrill as much as it is the drinking, so it proves to be a pretty amusing time!

My research tells me that tubing isn't necessarily the best activity for pregnant women and children under age 3. Since I know we've got a couple of each of those, perhaps we want to plan another activity as well...? Best outlets in Texas, ahem, the world are 15 minutes away, and playing at the park, or just hanging out chit chatting are all good options. Or, you know, tube it up. I'm not your mother! :)

Quinn, don't forget your beer hat! {We'll fill it with Diet Coke, of course!}

Q&A Natalie

2009-05-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

1. How did you meet your spouse? Chris & I met down at the church in Reno after a FHE. I remember that Chris was wearing his glasses, and that my first impression of him was "this dude thinks he's pretty darn cool". Come to find out, he IS pretty darn cool! :) After a few weeks of hanging out in groups, I spread the word that he should ask me out and when he suggested "We should hang out sometime", I quickly pinned him down to "when?". We were pretty much inseparable after that.
2. Where did you go on your first date? Our first date was up to Emerald Bay in Tahoe. I remember going shopping for "hiking clothes" and I know that I really wow'd him by getting out of breath when the path started to take a slight upward incline! :) It started to rain during our "hike" and we ended up picnicing in the car. I still remember how yummy it was, with the crackly-roll sandwiches and an ice cold Coca Cola. I also remember that he paid for the parking in quarters, because he had gone to vacuum out the car on his way over, put a $20 into the change machine and gotten $20 back in quarter. Smooth!
3. What is your favorite memory (or memories) from a Cottam family vacation/get-together? Where to even start? Chris shoving many, many brownies into his mouth during that picnic at the hot springs. Adam tripping over Megan's backpack in Phoenix. ("Freakin A, Dude!") Ken "hiding" Susie's bra in Hawaii. Oh, good times!
4. What was your favorite family vacation growing up? (In-laws can tell about their favorite family vacation growing up.) One Summer in high school, us kids & my mom took an epic pilgrimmage to Utah/Canada from Tennessee. My mom did all the driving, and I spent my time trying to amuse/keep her awake. Many hilarious songs were made up and a record amount of Vitamin D milk and Big Hunk bars were consumed. Mmm.
5. How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family (total, when everyone's done having babies)? I'll go with 11, my lucky number.
6. What's your favorite Cottam family tradition? I love having Martinelli's with a big, fancy candle-lit holiday meal. So elegant and fun!
7. What's your favorite meal/food that Mom makes? I love Susie's quiche! Oooh, so yummy.
8. What is your favorite Cottam family holiday memory? Has to be the year that Sam had Santa duty and pretended he was blind the entire time. It was hilarious! And I believe that one or more gifts were broken in the process...
9. Which of the Cottam kids is going to end having the most children? I will vote for us. Keep 'em coming. I've got Chris to agree to 5...now I just have to get him to agree to 6. (Or somehow conceive twins on that 5th one...)
10. What is the best piece of advice/lesson you learned from Mom & Dad? I am grateful that Ken & Susie taught Chris the importance of hard work! He is such a hard worker, at his job and at home. All of my friends are jealous of the good husband I have, and they should be! I never have to worry that things will be taken care of. He's a great husband and daddy, and it's a testamant to being raised well!

***Hey everybody, this is me begging you to answer the Q&A and send it to me! We'd all love to read it, and you might just enjoy this fun trip down memory lane...***

Q&A: Jessica

2009-05-08T07:44:00.000-07:00

1. How did you meet your spouse? The first instinct for Sam or I would be to say on a blind date. Truth be told we met when he was set up with my roommate. His friend set them up and they came over to our house we were renting to hang out. I was home and talked to Sam. We didn't see each other again until about 1 year later on our blind date. We didn't realize until a couple of months after the blind date that we had already met.

2. Where did you go on your first date? It was a little awkward at first I have to admit. We started out having Sam meet me and our friend JJ at her apartment. We went to Baha Fresh for dinner and then met up with a group of friends at the fair.

3. What is your favorite memory (or memories) from a Cottam family vacation/get-together? Celebrating Sam's Birthday in Cabo with a once in a life time dinner, dessert and amazing view with great weather and of course family.

4. What was your favorite family vacation growing up? (In-laws can tell about their favorite family vacation growing up.) Going camping with mom's side of the family.

5. How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family (total, when everyone's done having babies)? I think Chris is on to something with his prediction. But I'll say 12.

6. What's your favorite Cottam family tradition? Ken craving the turkey.. Hey I haven't seen or heard of all the traditions. Ken takes that job serious!! :)

7.What's your favorite meal/food that Mom makes? Her Chicken and Broccoli casserole.

8. What is your favorite Cottam family holiday memory? I wasn't there but I've heard of the time Adam sprayed himself in the eye with his Cologne.

9. Which of the Cottam kids is going to end having the most children? No fair C/N have a head start.. I'll have to place my vote for them..

10. What is the best piece of advice/lesson you learned from Mom & Dad? If they help you move you are going to get everything they have been storing in their home that belongs to you (SAM). I so grateful that they helped us out.

Q&A: Chris

2009-05-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

How did you meet your spouse? Natalie and I met for the first time at family home evening at the University ward in Reno. I had only been home from my mission 4 days so I was still a little rusty with the ladies. I was out in the foyer talking to Mike Carpenter when around the corner I heard a loud giggle girl laughing and talking really loud. I thought to myself “ who is that loud girl around the corner?” When she came around the corner I saw her for the first time and the rest is history.
Where did you go on your first date? Our first date was a picnic / hike at Emerald Bay (Lake Tahoe). I was a bit nervous since it was my first date post mission, but I think it went well.
What is your favorite memory (or memories) from a Cottam family vacation/get-together? Going on the snorkeling trip with Megan and Dad to Molokini Island in Maui. The snorkeling was unbelievable!
What was your favorite family vacation growing up? (In-laws can tell about their favorite family vacation growing up.) My favorite family vacation was when we went to Yosemite and stayed in the tent cabins. I remember that a group of bikers were staying a few spots down from us and that they rode their motorcycles into the tent cabins and we thought it was the coolest thing. The other part of that vacation that I remember was that Adam got lost one night in the valley on the way home from a evening program and so Sam and I started calling him “Lost Boy” for the rest of the trip which made him super mad which only encouraged us to do it more!
How many grand kids do you predict there will be in the family (total, when everyone's done having babies)? 14 (3 for A&A, 5 for C&N, 3 for S&J, 3 for M&Q)
What's your favorite Cottam family tradition? Putting up the Christmas lights outside on the house each year. It was always a tradition to put up lights with dad on Thanksgiving day regardless of the weather. Usually this was the only free day that he before Christmas due to working in retail for all those years. I love putting up the lights each year and now I have a few helpers that help me each year around Thanksgiving!
What's your favorite meal/food that Mom makes? Meal would be roast beef with Yorkshire Pudding with homemade rolls. Dessert would cream puffs. I could eat a million of those!
What is your favorite Cottam family holiday memory? It would have to the Christmas that Adam got a Garth Brooks Double Live CD. When he unwrapped it and realized what it was he threw his hands in the air and shouted “DOUBLE LIVE”. Sam thought it would be funny to take it from Adam and then proceeded to shove it down his pants and it all went downhill from there.
Which of the Cottam kids is going to end up having the most children? I would say Chris (me). We have a head start with 3 and Natalie was recently been talking about wanting 5.
What is the best piece of advice/lesson you learned from Mom & Dad? The best piece of advice learned from my parents was to always pay the Lord first! What an important piece of advice this has been. The other lesson that I remember was the saying “I don’t know means you don’t go!” This saying used to drive me crazy but I can see how it will come in handy when my kids get older.

Let The Trash Talk Begin!

2009-05-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Who's ready to get some Chest action? {Community Chest action, of course!} Well, DO NOT PASS GO, because we're pleased to announce the first ever Cottam Family Reunion Monopoly Tournament! That's right, Saturday night we're going to bust open a BRAND NEW Monopoly game (so that Chris has no opportunity to cheat) and battle it out. Winner gets bragging rights for the next 2 years...oh, and a prize. That's right, there will be a prize! A big prize. You want it. You know you want it.

So which Monopoly gamepiece are you?

{Chris is claiming dibs on the thimble...}

Hey Good Lookin'! Whatcha Got Cooking?

2009-05-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

Howdy, y'all!

After much asking around and debate, we've decided that the best way to provide the food at the family reunion is to split it up and assign everyone a meal. That way, no one is overburdened and everyone gets a chance to participate. So here's the scoop.

What we want you do to:

Provide all of the ingredients for one meal - meaning you go to the store and buy them. If you think you won't have time, you're welcome to send me a shopping list and I'll go get them for you in advance. If you need a small amount of something that we probably have on hand at our house (spices, etc.), just send me a list of what you need, and I'll bring it with me. We don't want you spending a bunch of money to get a small amount of anything.
Prepare the meal - meaning you're primarily in charge of cooking and serving the meal, although I'm sure you'll find plenty of willing helpers. (Sure, most of them are ages 5 and under and are absolutely no help at all, but hey...they're willing!) :)
Clean up after the meal - again, I'm sure everyone will be willing to pitch in (right?!) but you're primarily in charge of cleaning up your meal, washing dishes, etc.

What we don't want you to do:

Spend the day slaving in the kitchen. Please, think simple! The point of this reunion is for us all to spend time together. We don't want anyone to feel put out or overwhelmed or overworked. You are welcome to go to Little Caesars and pick up pizza if you like. Or something like a casserole that you can whip up in the morning (with help, of course!) and just put into the oven at dinner time.

Here are the assignments:

Thursday:
Dinner - Welcome BBQ - Chris & Natalie

Friday:
Breakfast - Megan & Quinn
Lunch - Picnic @ Schlitterbahn - Mom & Dad
Dinner - Adam & Audrey

Saturday:
Breakfast - Chris & Natalie
Lunch - @ the Gristmill in Gruene
Dinner - Sam & Jessica

Sunday:
Breakfast - Chris & Natalie

Other Info:

You'll be feeding 10 adults and 3 children. I can't speak for Sienna, but our kids don't really eat much. (Other than cookies...) Planning for 10-12 adult portions is probably pretty safe. (Let's not forget the famous Cottam boy appetite, though...) :)
We'd love it if everyone would contribute some snacks. Bake some cookies? Buy some sodas? Pop some popcorn? Whatever. But the snacking is half the fun (at least in my opinion...) - Chris already has a large laundry list of treats we need to have. If there's something you'd like to make and you need some ingredients, let me know, I'm happy to bring 'em!

Thanks for pitching in! We can't wait to see everyone!

What Size?

2009-04-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

There may or may not (*wink*) be a family reunion t-shirt waiting for you when you get to Texas. Just in case, how about hooking us up with your size. Please specify all the details: for example, I, (Natalie) prefer a men's size medium. If you like a women's cut tee, let me know. If you need maternity, we can do that. Don't forget about your children...err...child! :) Leave the info in the comments or send it on to natcottam@yahoo.com. As soon as possible, if you can. Or you run the risk of receiving an ill-fitting tee. And if you don't know how uncomfortable that can be, ask Chris to tell you about his suit at Adam's wedding...

Reunion countdown: 39 days!

WorldMark - New Braunfels

2009-04-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

We went and checked out the WorldMark property in New Braunfels last week, and took a bunch of pictures. The people that work there are typical small-town Texans, SO friendly and chatty. They gave us tons of good info and a full tour of the units. Here's what they look like:

The outside of the units. The guy we spoke to said that at sunrise, there are usually dozens of deer roaming around.

Each unit has a big ol' kitchen.

Bath with double sinks.

The living room is adjacent to the dining area and kitchen.

All of the units are 2-story with 2 bedrooms upstairs and the master downstairs.
One of the upstairs bedrooms has double beds; the other has twin beds.

BBQ area

BBQ/Pool area in the distance.

Pool

For you crazies who like to work out on vacation! :)

Rec room with TV and pool table.

Cottam Reunion - 2009 - New Braunfels, TX

2009-04-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Who: All 14 ½ members of the Cottam Crew!

What: Cottam Family Reunion, 2009, baby!

When: Thursday, June 4 – Sunday, June 7, 2009

Where: New Braunfels & Gruene, TX

Accessible via the Austin (45 minutes) or San Antonio (35 minutes), TX Airports

Thursday: Arrivals throughout the day; check in the resort; welcome BBQ, swimming, visiting and family photos (before everyone gets sunburned!)

Friday: Schlitterbahn Waterpark

Saturday: Tubing the Guadalupe or Comal River, Lunch at the Historic Gristmill Restaurant, and shopping in historic Gruene, TX. “Family Show & Tell” in the evening, including Dad’s famous family slide show. (Everyone is invited to bring something to share – scrapbooks, photos, etc.)

Sunday: Family time, departures as needed.