Family Reunion

I have been blessed to grow up near most of my extended family.  We lived next to one set of grandparents and about a 15 minute drive from the other set.  So, even those family members who lived further away we saw when they came to visit the grandparents.  We still all live relatively near but we have a family reunion every year.  These reunions consist of one day together eating lunch, playing games and having a Chinese Auction (yes, that is on both my mom's and dad's side).

Kam's family is a bit different.  He grew up in Alaska, far away from all his extended family.  I don't think he even really knows half of his cousins.  I have only met 2 or 3 of them since we've been married (which is weird to me since he met almost all of my cousins on one side the night we got engaged!)

Last week, we went to a family reunion for his side of the family.  This was not an extended family reunion, though, it was his immediate family!  If you know his family, it makes sense that they need a reunion.  His parents have just moved out of Alaska and are going to China to teach English for the next school year.  And, his siblings are literally spread from sea to shining sea (California, North Carolina and Hawaii- oh darn, more places to visit)!  Anyway, since they see each other only every year or so (and most of the time they're not all together at once), this was not like the family reunions I've been used to.  We rented a large house in Heber and we all spent 3 days up there together!  We had fun playing at the house, going shopping at the Park City Outlets (the women, of course!),  going on the Alpine Slide, hiking, having a big birthday party for everyone, and the kids loved the bounce house and fireworks.  I enjoyed watching Grant run away from play with his cousins and he had a grand time charming his aunts and uncles.  I also enjoyed getting to know all of my in-laws a little better.  I think Kam enjoyed getting to chat and catch up with his siblings, but mostly, he had a lot of fun entertaining the nieces and nephews :)

Although there were a few accidents, a lot of crying and squealing from all the kids, and Grant got clingy, it was a fun few days.  We love our family and were sad to see them leave again!

Here's a few of my favorite pics from our reunion:

 In line for the Alpine Slide

 Riding the lift up to the slide

Going down the Alpine Slide!! 

Kind of a scary pic of me but fun that I got my 

niece in the background!

 One of the accidents- Kam crashed on the slide 

and got a nice burn.  Good job love!  :}

 Birthday party!!  The kids loved the rainbow!

 Cute!  Little bit of family time.

The kids loving the bounce house!

 Notice the cast on my nephew's arm?  Yup,

that's another one of the accidents.

 Look at those grins!!

 My mother and sister in law preparing dinner :)

 My brother-in-law had a war against the flies!

 At least these two live close!  Love that silly boy!

 Since it was the 24th of July (Pioneer Day) we HAD to

have fireworks :}

My husband the pyro

 The sky was amazing while we were outside for the fireworks!!

 Grant got to stay up a little later and loved the noise and colors

of all of the fireworks!

Playing with his cousin and grandpa

The whole family!!