Family Reunion - August 9, 2014 (Day 4)

Saturday started with two amazing breakfast casseroles.  I thought Jenna was just making one but she surprised us with two.  They were so good.  The food disappeared so quick.  She made a french toast casserole with buttermilk syrup, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.  It was delicious and my favorite!  She also made a casserole with eggs and potatoes that we all loved.

After breakfast we made bug jars.  Elijah did a great job with his.  Benson was the first to fill his jar with bugs and ants.

Thanks to Ashley, Casey, Jenna and Charity for helping with the bug jars.  I thought they turned out cute.

Then the kids colored placemats and did a nice job with that.

Cute Allison!

Nate led the kids in some sack races.

They tired of the sacks quite quickly.

Spencer took a break.

Brielle was determined.  I think she was the first one back to finish the race.

Spencer even endured to the end.

Casey got adults and kids together for a tug-of-war.

It was so much fun to watch.

Casey was determined.

We couldn't seem to find evenly matched teams but we laughed and had fun.  Even Charity participated.

Paisley was so sweet.  She made this beautiful plate of snacks for me.  I was so touched by her kindness.  It was delicious.  Thanks Paisley!

Ashley got out the fingernail polish and did nails with the girls.  They were enjoying that very much!

Then the tennis match began.

Nate and Misty vs. Casey and Jenna

More climbing in the tree - Adalei, Benson and Weston.

Dalton playing with the balloons under the dining room table as we made dinner.

Misty made dinner - taco salad.  I got chips and nacho sauce to add to the meal.  Yum!  Thanks to Charity for helping prepare the meal.

We skipped the planned smores for a previous evening so had them Saturday night.  Everyone had a good time.

Spencer was swinging and making cute faces so I took some pictures of him.

Spencer....

He's so handsome!

More of Spencer

Audrey fell at the porch and gave us all a scare.  She had some injuries.  We were glad it wasn't serious or needing medical attention.  This was our only accident during the family reunion.

Paisley enjoying her smore.

A final picture before everyone went to bed.  

We had planned to play games but ended up talking instead.  I'm so glad we could get together especially so the cousins could play and get to know each other.  I sure love my family.

Family Reunion - August 10, 2014 (Day 5)

 On Sunday morning, it was a rush to get packed and leave.  Check-out was at 10 am but church started at 9 am.  We just had cold cereal for breakfast.

 I was thrilled that we could all go to church together as we ended out family reunion.  I have such an awesome family and I'm grateful for each one of them.  This is a picture of Jason holding Dalton at church.  He is such a good baby.

Casey surprised me by getting the family together and having someone in his ward take a picture.  I'm so excited to have a family picture for 2014!  Thanks Casey!  Little Emme Belle was born 8 days after this picture was taken so she is missing in this picture.  I have been blessed with a family that brings me much happiness and joy.  I just can't describe how much they mean to me.  They are the most important part of my life and I love them dearly.  I'm so grateful for their sacrifices this year so we could have a family reunion.

Family Reunion - August 8, 2014 (Day 3)

 Ashley made a yummy breakfast for day 3.

 She made tons of pancakes with homemade buttermilk syrup, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and whipped cream.  They were heavenly!  We all enjoyed them very much.

 We had two shifts for breakfast.

 Then the craft for the day was making foam airplanes.  Weston figured out how to put them together before I did.

 Charity, Jenna and Casey were a big help with the craft.

 Spencer did a great job!

 I loved the colors Benson picked for his airplane.

 Allison did a great job with her airplane also.

 Then we went outside for our second craft - sand art.  Jenna was a big help.

 Paisley created a pretty ice cream cone.

 Benson did a great job with his flip flop.

 Elijah made a boat.  I was so appreciative of Charity's help also.

 Allison made a beach ball.

 Adalei made a cute ice cream cone.

 Jenna was so creative and had this wonderful idea to make the poster with holes so the kids could fly their airplanes through the holes.  They had fun doing that.

 Here's Paisley holding our week's schedule.  It included meals, crafts, and games.  Charity's birthday was the highlight of the family reunion.

 Benson and Spencer checking out their creations.

 Jenna helping the kids do a second sand art picture.

 Jason and Casey filling up water balloons for a water balloon fight.

 Jenna did an experiment filling up a balloon with air using vinegar and baking soda.

 Relaxing on the porch - Ashley, Audrey, Nate, and Misty

 Casey and Weston playing ping pong.

 Getting ready for the water balloons

 Passing out water balloons

 The water balloon fight has begun.

 Everyone had such a fun time.

 The kids loved it.

 I loved watching...

 and seeing all the facial expressions.

 It was as much fun to watch.

 What a great activity for a hot day!

 Casey just got hit!

 Paisley is going to hit someone.

 Then it was time to go swimming.

 Casey jumped over Benson and dived into the swimming pool.  That was amazing to see.

 Adalei jumped off the diving board.

 Jason helped Brielle go off the diving board.  He just lifted her and slowly lowered her into the swimming pool.

 

 Weston warming up by the pool.

 Cooling off in the pool

 Everyone had fun with the pool toys.

 Casey jumping off the diving board and catching the Frisbee before hitting the water.

 Another catch...

 and another....

 and another.

 Nate trying to catch the Frisbee.

 Fun times at the pool

 More Frisbee catching

 Paisley jumped off the diving board for the first time.

 Casey was really good catching the Frisbee and Jason was really good at throwing it to him.

 Diving into the swimming pool 

 Isaiah and Charity

 A beautiful picture of Charity

 This is a picture of me with Adalei, Audrey, and Paisley sitting by the swimming pool.

 Charity and Casey playing ping pong.

 We had a pinata for Charity's birthday.

 Allison wanting to swing.

 For Charity's birthday dinner, Jenna and Casey made barbecued chicken, salad, and twice baked potatoes.  It was so delicious!

 Audrey trying to break the pinata.

 Benson with the bat. 

 Brielle's turn

 Charity tried to hit the pinata.  

 Spencer

 Paisley and Spencer

 After Charity, Casey hit it and broke it open.  There were 100 pieces of candy and toys inside it.

 Nate made a huge birthday card for everyone to sign.

 Jenna made an awesome birthday cake for Charity - lemon blueberry!  It was so good.

 Charity getting ready to blow out her candles.

 Finally cake and ice cream

 Charity had lots of help opening her presents.  I think the candy bars were from Brielle.

 Pajamas from me

 A special book for daughters from me

 A Christus statute for her office from me

 A book from me

 After Charity's birthday party, Jason played Twister with the kids.

 They loved it

 and had so much fun.

 Paisley looking on after she was out of the Twister game.

 The kids did it well.

 Playing at the tennis courts

 This is one of my favorite pictures from the reunion - Allison and Audrey together.  They got in this car all by themselves.

 Relaxing (Jenna, Charity, Ashley, Jason)

 We have a tradition of playing Minute to Win It at every family reunion.

 Jenna and Casey always do the preparations for all the activities to be done.

 I laughed and laughed.

 It was so much fun.

 Thanks Jenna and Casey for the great memories.

It was super to be together and have such a great time.