Family Reunion Fun!

My family reunion this year was in Utah and boy did we have fun! It started by me loading the 2 kids in the car and driving for a day to get to Idaho. (Kent was not able to join us as he needed to work). In Idaho we stopped and stayed with a cousin of mine (ok, second cousin once removed :) I think. We hadn't seen each other for YEARS. And it was so nice to catch up and see our kids play together and have fun.

Then it was on to Utah the next day where I stopped and visited with Kent's Grandma. It was so nice to see her, and fun for her to see the kids. She kept saying that Handsome was just like his daddy at that age. I am kicking myself for not taking any pictures of them together.

Then a tire blew out on me before we got to Spanish Fork for the reunion. And thankfully a kind passer-by pulled over and changed my tire for me. The kids were oblivious to the excitement as they were totally into the movie playing on the DVD player.

We arrived safely to our destination. The next morning was BYU Bean museum, and fun chatting and catching up. It was fun to see my two big brothers and their families again.

Thursday we did temple square. It was so wonderful to show my kids the temple, to have them touch it, and to show them the conference center and explain that that was where the Prophet stood to talk to us each conference.

Salt Lake Temple doors

Yes! They held onto the Iron Rod.

And picked the fruit of the tree of life!

The next day was the start of the real reunion and my mom was able to join us for the day, and my big sister joined us for the rest of the reunion. First was a visit to the Krishna Temple in Provo. There both Handsome and Gorgeous got to feed the llamas, walk the llamas, and ride the llamas.

Later that day we went canoeing. Handsome even got to row a little. Then feeding ducks and playing on the play ground.

The next day was the Family Olympics. I thought that by having the smallest and almost youngest family that we didn't have a chance. But that actually gave us an advantage and the Rowleys won! A clean sweep. Below my older sister has joined our team to make it more even. :)

We held onto our kids' medals and torches as they played, but then again we raised them, so don't we get some of the credit? :)

Cousin fun. I hope my kids remember this fun time. It was so wonderful for them to have time to just play with cousin's their age. I already can't wait until the next reunion for them to get together again!

All the cousins (minus 3 in Oregon) at the reunion. What a cute group! Too bad my oldest brother and family were not able to make it, as well as a niece in Oregon.

On our way home we stopped in Idaho again and this time stayed with an old college roommate. She had kids close to my kids' ages too. So more fun and catch up time. Then we were on the way home. Ready to be home, yet enjoying every minute of the fun. To get home we went over Mt. Rainer and after more than a week in the hot sun we got out and the kids touched and enjoyed the snow for a few minutes. Then home to see daddy once again. :)