The boys and I got the chance to head to Salt Lake City in June to attend my family reunion. Growing up my family would go to the Stoker family reunion that honored my mom's mom and her five sisters and I have so many great memories of those reunions. Now we have reunions that honer my mom and her two sisters (Barbra and Gayle)and I hope my children will make and have great memories of these reunions as they grow up. We had so much fun and it was so nice to see everyone there. I laughed so hard every day and the boys had a BLAST. Benson made a new best friend, his second cousin CJ. They were inseparable from the first time they met and it was a hard goodbye for them to part at the end.
We spent most of the time swimming and the boys were SO BRAVE. At the first place we went to there was a huge water slide that they both ran to and went down all by themselves before I could Even ask if they wanted me to go down with them. AND... Benson jumped off the HUGE high dive because he said, "I want to because CJ is." So off he went and belly flopped, but hey.... HE IS AWESOME!
This past year my Grandpa Ralph Warthen passed away and I did not get to attend his funeral, but I am so thankful that I was able to go to the reunion. It brought so much peace to my heart and the closure that I so badly needed to truly say goodbye to him and feel the love as all of the family honored him the last night. We told sweet memories, funny stories, and just got to let it out as a family.
I was especially thankful to see my mother, my aunt Barb and my Aunt Gayle whom I truly love and honor so much. I have amazing women in my life that I hope in my own life I can truly take all that I have learned from them and apply it to become the person I still strive to be.
My favorite cousin Katie and Me (I have not seen her for three years), we are only a year apart and we have so many memories together as we grew up:
Britton coming to tell me he is having a blast swimming with his cousin Breck:
Benson stuffing his face with donut holes, taking a break from swimming:
Braden was the only one who got injured during the reunion due to a motor bike accident, but he was such a trooper. We hope he gets better soon!
This is the house that my Great, Great grandmother was born in! Still standing after all of these years. We got to hear amazing stories about her, I am so thankful for my ancestry!
My mom and Aunt Barb dressing up like Pirates the last night to tell some jokes as they hosted "Talent Night":
The boys after the last night.... they played their hearts out with their cousins!
2 comments:
Looks and sounds like you had so much fun! I'm soooo sad that we couldn't catch up. Things got crazy here and before I knew it you were already gone:( Some day we will get to meet. I tell you what...I think 4 kids just might do me in!!! I'm happy that you had a good time though:)
I love the picture of you and Katie. Even after swimming you both still look beautiful. It was so great to see you!
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