Family Reunion and the 4th of July

Last week we had our annual family reunion with my immediate family. We are getting so big, we are usually all together only twice a year, for our reunion, and at Christmas time. (15 grandkids with 2 on the way, plus my 5 siblings and their spouses!) I drove to Layton on Wednesday morning and Kyler and Stephanie (and cute baby Josh) met me there and I rode with them the rest of the way to Burley. Chris had to work Wednesday and Thursday, but I wanted to go earlier. I told my mom I wasn't coming until Thursday night with Chris, but then I surprised her and came Wednesday with Kyler. That evening we ate with Kelby and his boys at Al's Pizza, and then went to the park for awhile and took turns hitting the baseball. 

My mom reserved Steadman's for Thursday. It was a lot of fun. Chad, Brock, and Chris weren't there yet, so just the rest of us went. Steadman's is in Raft River and there are two big slides made out of some kind of plastic and you slide down them on tubes. We had lots of fun. There is also volleyball, a zip line, and some little playground toys for the kids. Although one of the kids, Luke, had no interest in that. He went down the slide head first over and over and over and over again by himself. He would laugh all the way down, and then get off and start walking up again, taking his tube with him. Sometime he couldn't even see where he was going. He was so cute! What a brave kid!

 Brock got to Burley Thursday evening. The next day we went to my sister Tysi's in Twin and hung out there. Chad got to Tysi's around the same time we did. Ron made a slide too out of a tarp that was pretty fun. The kids loved it. The little kids enjoyed a slip 'n slide and a kid pool. We also filled up water balloons but didn't get a chance to use them because it got a little chilly. My 2 year old nephew Cooper loves balls and playing catch, and he loved taking the water balloons after they were filled up and throwing them in the cooler. One time I threw him one and it landed on the ground and popped and he just looked around and said, "Where it go?" It was so cute. We played some baseball as well. That night Ron set off some fireworks for us all and there were plenty of sparklers for the kids (ok, I might have done one, too).

Saturday my nephew Ian got baptized at 1pm. We all went to that, and then had a lunch in the park with everyone who came to the baptism. It was very nice. In the park my brother Chad taught us all a new game called "Blocks," that was really fun. We played that for quite awhile. I also got to see my Uncle George and Aunt Charlotte at the baptism and the park. I hadn't seen him for so long. He is 96 years old. I was glad to get to see them. When I was about 5 years old, I learned my ABC's backwards and Uncle George gave me a dollar. Pretty much all of my cousins know the ABC's backwards. Well that's besides the point....After the park we all went to the Star Church baseball fields and had a real baseball game. My cousin Lindsay and her kids and my aunt Bev came to watch. My mom split us into two teams so we would be even. My team won, but no one's keeping track. :) I think my brothers were surprised that I can still hit a baseball. One time when I was running to first base I tripped and fell, so I didn't make it. Everyone got a good laugh out of that. After the game we finally had our water balloon fight. I enlisted the help of Lindsay's daughter Kate and my niece Taylee to help me get Chris. We were both pretty wet. It was really fun.

I love my family and love and cherish the times when we all get to be together. 

On Sunday my mom's church didn't start until noon, so we just went to the first hour and then left to go home. We stopped at my dad's on the way out and visited with him and Shana. We saw them at the baptism and the lunch, but wanted to be able to visit with them more. It took us quite awhile to get home because of construction but we finally made it home. But it was nice not to have to drive all day to get there. :)