WOAH! Where’s Alton?

Almost every summer, for the 4^th of July, my family and I head down south for the Merrill and Afton Heaton Family reunion in ALTON, UTAH. About 20 Miles South of Bryce Canyon, this little town is “Home to the Heaton’s”. I love this reunion and look forward to it every year because it’s a time for whole family to get together… and when I say my whole family I mean my whole family. Basically, I’m related to just about everyone there by blood or marriage.

 penny flying on the way to alton

I couldn't believe my siblings had never done this before

 "the father of alton"

This year was a little bit different from the others because a couple of years my grand parents bought some property down there, so we had a place to stay where we could basically run wild… sort of. Because my family and I only had a small tent my sister and I decided that we were gonna sleep under the stars to free up some room in the tent. It started out as a great idea because the stars in Alton are so incredible, but about 2 am it was so cold that Tracy had to go into the tent. I made it to about 5:45 am and then I couldn’t handle it any more. I had to go in too. I was really bummed because I really wanted to sleep outside. After borrowing some sleeping bags and blankets from the Judd’s (some family that lives down there) I was able to sleep outside without freezing.

Every year for the 4^th there is:

a dance  

a family parade

 program

Uncle Art has “train”

“age races”,

 a town luncheon,

 water games

 in remembrance of Aunt Joy

 only in alton

 mckenna, kim, and alexa waiting for the program

 

and of course the family dinner:

Dutch Oven Mutton and Potatoes are the main course but each family brings salads, fruit and veggie plates, and desserts.  It’s always a good time. Now that the family (extended and all) is getting so big, its hard to fit everyone, so it has been said- for a couple of years now- that we are only going to have the reunion once every two years, but because Grandma and Grandpa have land, I think we are gonna try every year. I hope so, because  

I love Alton.