Family Reunion Day 1

In Tucker’s family, we try to do a family reunion every other year, and each child takes a turn to plan it.  A few years ago, Tucker and I were in charge, and we took the family to Tahoe.

 

This year, it was Maren’s turn.  Originally she had planned for us to go to Sedona, Arizona.  But as the year wore on, many of us were having financial difficulties and then Maren had a baby in May….so we decided to change it to a “Staycation” or a Family Reunion in Utah where everyone (but us) lives.  The total cost of this reunion (including food for 30 ppl EACH day) was approximately $200 per family.  You can’t beat that!

 

We are the only ones that had to travel really far to get there.  Everyone else lives near the Salt Lake Valley, so they were able to go home at the end of each event.  We love that we get to stay at Gam & Pa’s when we come to town.  They live centrally to everyone.  And they have a totally finished basement that is devoted to us when we’re there.  Last year, they completed the bathroom down there, so we basically have a little apartment all to ourselves.  But the extra benefit is how fun it is to put the kids to bed and still be able to hangout, or play games, etc.  I told Jeannine that I want her to feel comfortable telling me if they ever don’t feel up to us staying there….but she said that will never happen.  :-)

 

So Maren planned SIX full days filled with lots of fun activities.   At first I wondered if that would end up  being over-kill.  But it was quite the opposite!  At the end of the six days, we were all physically tired, but very sad to see it over.

 

Day 1, we all met at Gam and Pa’s house for swimming and Jeannine’s Teriyaki Turkey (soooo good, this was my first time having it).  We tye-died shirts/bandanas and the kids made boondoggle bracelets.  We talked and just hung out.  It was a great kick-off to the week.