Family Reunion - Other Pictures

In addition to all the fun adventures planned for us, we also had a lot of time to:

play games

do crafts with Grandma

and play in the hot tub.

Honestly, family reunions take so much planning, so much effort to clear collective schedules, and so much patience, but it is always worth it. I am so grateful for the heroic efforts to organize this. It was good to get the cousins together, but it was equally good to get siblings together. It's so easy to focus on the love I have for my cute little foursome but I am also eternally grateful for my family of origin and the love and grace they showed to me all week long.

Family Reunion - Adventure Park Day

 Yesterday, we went rafting which was so much fun even though I have never loved getting splashed, especially when the water is just above freezing. No thanks, it was not hot enough for that. Dude and Luca were curious about this new adventure but definitely very nervous about going into the desert. I tried reassuring them that I wasn't just telling them "it's going to be fun" to get them to come, but that I really and truly thought they were going to LOVE it. It didn't help that it was about an hour drive and A LOT of waiting around to get started. But sure enough they loved it. Even when they claimed to be terrified of the rapids I know they were having the time of their lives. 

Also yesterday, we ended up seeing my sweet young women on the river. They were there for High Adventure. Not quite sure why I didn't put two and two together. It took me longer than it should to recognize them but what a fun surprise.

Today, we went to the Mount Hood Adventure Park. They had alpine slides, batting cages, zipline, rock climbing . . . We stayed basically until they kicked us out. So much fun.

Luca didn't particularly like me behind her on the slides. She wanted to go at her own pace and not be "yelled at" to go faster. Dude and I were meant for a little more speed.

Just going up on the ski lift was great. At one point we figured out that you didn't have to get off to go down the slide if you didn't want to, you could just ride the lift ALL the way to the top and back if you wanted. Luca and I did that and then her dad went back down the slide with her because he promised not to yell like mom did.

We also found the rock climbing wall. When we went rock climbing a few years ago at our last family reunion, Dude did pretty well and Luca barely made it off the ground. Luca started off more or less like last time but then she refused to give up. She tried over and over on one side and then decided to try her luck at another side. That side proved better for her and she went up to the top at least three more times. I was so proud of her determination and her grit.

I also was proud of Matthew, he LOVED it. I think he has found himself a new hobby.

After that I let the kids pick one adventure for which we would pay extra. Dude picked the zipline with which he completely fell in love. Luca picked the tree top ropes course. We did that one together. Part of it is pretty easy. Part of it is a LOT scarier and it took a lot of coaxing and a lot of bravery to make it through. I'm not sure she would ever want to do it again, but it was a great mother-daughter bonding moment.

Halfway through the day, my oldest nephew Parker surprised us all when he arrived unexpected all the way from Virginia. We all thought he couldn't get away from Medical School but somehow he found a way and we were all so glad that he did.

Family Reunion - Lake Day

After the temple yesterday, we had family soccer followed by a barbeque and bounce house water slide. Today we packed up our gear and headed up to Mount Hood. We couldn't get into our houses until later in the afternoon so we opted to spend the day at Trillium Lake. I was in a sweatshirt and jeans for the entirety of the day but that didn't stop Luca from jumping into the lake the moment we arrived. Dude was also excited until he got out. He was cold after that, but you can't say no to kayaking with dad so even though he was one cold kid he went out and returned a happy boy. Ah the miracle of boating on a beautiful lake.

After lunch and before we headed out we went for a walk around the lake. It was a couple of miles and these two were inseparable basically the entire time. I do love their cousin relationship.

Families Are Forever

Tuesday was the first official day of family reunion and attending the sealing of Nichole and Lloyd's two newest adopted sons to their forever family was the most perfect way to kick off an amazing week. Families are meant to be eternal even if your babies grew in someone else's tummy. And I love that Nichole and Lloyd show everyone just that. I am so proud of their family.

A few days earlier, we got to be part of Paul blessing his newest baby B.

I also love their family. I love that even though he is the youngest by 7 years, he still got to have babies with so many of us, including his oldest sister who played "mother" to him for so many years.

Pre-Family Reunion Party

Family Reunion officially starts next Tuesday, but with everyone coming to town early we decided to do a few unofficial outings.

Friday we went to our local trampoline park. We paid for two hours and yet somehow we ended up staying for closer to three before they kicked us out. Between Nichole, Melissa, Jared, Mine, and Paul's family we had quite the party. And thankfully it wasn't crowded at all. The kids and the cool adults did just about everything in the trampoline park they could possibly do and had all the fun. What a great way to start off our family bonding time.

Monday, some of us picked cherries and I got a nasty gash on my leg.

We Get Creative in Our Roasting

 The kids had a dream of roasting marshmallows over a candle since we don't utilize our firepit nearly as much as they would like. Sure. I didn't think it would turn out well but they had all the childhood joy you could hope for and patiently worked on getting them perfect. We all did actually.

Some things we learned.

1. It is a lot less taxing on your eyes and limbs to roast a marshmallow over a candle. No smoke in eyes, no singed fingers. No worrying your marshmallow is going to slide off into the cinders of the fire.

2. It also takes a whole lot longer to roast. I mean, so much longer. It is a serious commitment in time.

3. Unless you like a burnt marshmallow, the effect is never going to be the same. I love getting just the perfect level of even almond brown. Never going to happen with a candle. The best I could muster was small brown spots. It honestly didn't even taste toasted.

But no matter the outcome the children LOVED the process and I felt like a cool mom for saying yes. Solid summer win.

Camping with Friends

Monday night I was texting a darling friend about getting together. Our kids like each other fine, but I think she and I get along better. Either way she had no such time for us that week. Until, that is, she invited to join her camping trip that Thursday through Saturday with her and her son. She had planned on taking her daughter and friend but when the friend couldn't come her teenage daughter also declined. Which meant I had no time to say anything but YES. Luca had asked to go camping sometime this summer but in Oregon, if you don't want to sleep in a campsite by a highway, you have to book 6 months in advance. I had done no such prep work for my dear daughter so I was more than happy to tag along with someone who had, especially since it meant we got to camp at the coast.

We packed our tent and some chairs and food and off we went. The weather wasn't balmy by any means but with just a light jacket we were perfectly content. We went on the nature walk around our campsite, played at the beach, enjoyed lots of campfire time, played games, and chatted with our fellow campers.

Saturday as we were leaving we finally got around to taking some pictures. Don't let those boys faces fool you, they loved it all, they are just stinkers for the camera. Thank you Emily for letting us join you on your adventure. When ever you need a last minute camping companion we are at your service.

P.S. Matthew spent almost the entire time we were gone helping his brother and very pregnant wife move.