Family Reunion Weekend

We had fun at the family reunion early this month.  I took LOTS of pictures - imagine that, so here we go!

THURSDAY

We finished packing that day and headed out that night.  We had a few problems that slowed us down so we got out really late, but the campsite is only about an hour away so we knew we wouldn't be driving all night, plus we were in a camper so there were no tents to set up in the dark so we were on our way.

FRIDAY

Let the fun begin!  The kids couldn't wait to get in the water, even though it was really dirty from all of the run-off and flooding.  Brianna was paddling somewhere!

Then Kevin & Sandy arrived and the kids were excited for the dogs and the jetski!

Kevin took the kids for a ride, but that didn't last long thanks to all of the floating logs from the run-off, so he had to put it away before there was any damage.

He sucked up a stick when Brailee and Kolbie were on - they were pretty far off shore when the machine died.  Luckily he was able to play around with it and get it free to start back up again - the two little ones weren't too thrilled with that ride.

Noodle Wars

Ranger Rides

Putting up the teepee

We packed Trysten's Tonka truck with us - he took that thing EVERYWHERE!  He got this for his first Christmas and he never gets sick of it, he plays with it every single day.

The kids caught a lizard.

We finished off the night with glow sticks and some cool effect pics before heading to bed in the teepee.

SATURDAY

Started off with a morning flag ceremony by our family Scouts to put up a special family flag.

Complete with music from our very own family band playing the Star Spangled Banner

The kids had fun chilling and playing in the water...

...and in the sand on our disappearing beach

Kaylee was making Mud Stew.

 They enjoyed this Carribbean Island - here they are waiting so patiently while David blew it up.

  Kaylee and Isaac kept arguing over the correct way to say it ;-) 

Kolbie kept saying 'I've got the best seat in the house!'

Kaylee didn't get very far with this boat and paddle ;-)

Brailee's masterpiece Mud Pie!

Taylor was such a good buddy to Trysten this weekend - Trysten really looked up to him and would ask him to play with him, which Taylor did willingly even though he's about a dozen years older than him. 

We got our reunion t-shirts and got a few group shots of everyone.  Kaylee is missing from the following pictures as she was sleeping off a migraine :-(

This picture was nearly impossible - I took twenty-something pics of this set-up of Grandma and Grandpa and all of the present grandchildren (just missing 4 from our Montana family, 1 on a mission, 3 from our Idaho family, and Kaylee sleeping) - and this was the best one I got.  It was impossible to get everyone looking and smiling!

Trysten cooled off with a Creamy...

...and shared some with Daddy

They always have fun with their cousins...

...even the ones that are 15+ years older than them!

The kids always wear themselves out at the lake - Brianna got done playing in the water, got her jammies on and curled up on a chair and fell fast asleep - all before dinner!

Here's Darrick, Kolbie, and Brailee waiting for the flag ceremony that evening.

Grandma always has a pinata for the kids - this year she had one for the little kids and one for the big kids - made it easier for those little kids to get in and get their goodies.

Brailee has quite the swing for as little as she is ;-)

Goodies!

Trysten went for all of the suckers and Brailee went for all of the money!

The big kids got blindfolded and spun around.

We enjoyed our view from the other side of the canyon!

After the pinatas, the kids went for a quick ride in the Ranger before bedtime - it was so windy that night our kids slept in the camper instead of the teepee.

SUNDAY

We packed up that morning and got ready to head home.  The kids kept each other and the dogs out of the way and helped pick up any stray garbage.

It was a fun reunion - next year we are in charge so I'll be brainstorming and then planning for the next year!