Family Reunion (picture heavy)

So I was not going to post about my family reunion seems how really my family is the only ones who read my blog, but I have a new BFF (stay tuned to find out who) who seems to read often and so I thought I should post about my family Reunion. That and also this is my way of keeping a journal and so it is also a way for me to remember some things and post pictures.

After the 4th of July the girls and I drove to Utah for my family reunion. I got there a couple days before the whole family was to arrive and so I was able to spend some time with 2 of my sisters Kim and Shaina. We went to Temple square to do a session, but once we got there we discovered that it was closed for cleaning. So we walked around Temple square for a little while and took some pictures and stuff. We even went to the visitor center and saw a mini replica of the SLC Temple. It was pretty cool to see it. Then we went and did some shopping for the next few days to come. Here are some pics from our time together.







Thursday night is when the reunion began. All the guys in the family got together and played Halo and my brothers house, they were out till about 2:00 in the morning. There were not pictures taken at this part of the reunion, reasons are unknown...
Friday morning the sisters and sisters in law and my mom and some more extended family got together for brunch. It was brunch but it was also a surprise baby shower for my sister Shavonne who is expecting her first baby. A boy! We are all so very excited for her.


After brunch the whole family gathered for swim time at the beach. When we got there is was sunny and warm and super nice. My brother Ian is the favorite Uncle, and you can see why. He was throwing kids up in the air in the water. My girls love Ian, he is the best example to them, and he loves them too. But after about and hour and a half it started to rain. So we gathered under some outdoor canopy's and had lunch. There were roughly 50 people under these tents. And it was great.






After we got rained out we headed to my brothers house. He lives in a really nice area where behind his house is an in closed park. We gathered there and played some minute to win it games, and kick ball and glow stick tag. We also had dinner and got to visit with my moms brother and his family. Which was so nice to see them and catch up with them.



Saturday was the reason we all came together. It was the day the Ian and his wife Karissa were sealed together for time and all of eternity. They are a forever family now. This was also the first time that myself, my 9 siblings, their spouses and my two parents were together in the Temple. My parents have made a legacy. they have been the most wonderful example of eternal families. They love and support each of us and have raised us all to be good upstanding members of the church. I am so thankful for this day that we had to all be together. I am so proud of my brother Ian. He worked so hard for this day. He loves his wife. He is my bud, and I love him so very much.





After the Temple we headed to my oldest brothers house, where we had a BBQ, played more games...the guys had a ping pong round robin style game going that looked like fun. It started to rain so we moved inside and did a white elephant gift exchange. Fitting 50+ people in one living room is not always easy, but we made it look like nothing. We ended the night and the reunion with an outdoor movie, Rio. And families went their own ways.
It was such a blessing that I was able to attend the reunion. I am so glad that my girls were able to spend time with my family and play with their cousins. I am so blessed to have my eternal family. I love them so much. I cannot wait to see them again.