Eat, Swing, and Be Merry

Josh's siblings and parents usually get together every year over July 4th for a reunion, but this year several people in the family wouldn't be able to be in Salmon during that weekend, so we had a small reunion the last weekend of June instead.

It was very low-key this year: the 2-day reunion basically consisted of just two family meals, a mini family photo session, and lots of swinging in the yard.  

On Friday night (June 27th), we had hot dogs for dinner. The Harris & Beesley families joined us, and Tim & Barb came too. It was cold and rainy, and we'd planned on cooking the hot dogs over the fire pit in Ed & Kathy's yard (which the kids still did), but we placed the grill in the pavilion to cook them instead. We set up the meal and extra tables in the pavilion too so people could eat their food and stay dry.

After the hot dogs were eaten, most of the kids roasted marshmallows over the fire pit. I think it's funny that even though it's the end of June, the kids are wearing their jackets & coats in these photos!

When the rain subsided, the kids were happy to play in the yard--and they took advantage of all the swings.

Malachi pulling boys on the giant stride.

Josh had gotten a little round wooden swing, and we decided to hang it up right before the reunion so that it would be something new in the yard for the kids to play on. We hung it from one of the lower branches of the big tree in Ed & Kathy's yard.

Joel swinging out over the yard

Kanyon eating a s'more while sitting on the new swing

Coral took a turn swinging, making sure to keep
her feet up so she wouldn't knock them on the rocks.

Jessalyn took her turn next!

Then Edward had Malachi hang up a new rope swing across the ditch. Malachi had to go pretty high up and straddle the branch of the tree in order to hang it just right. This rope swing has a handle bar on it, so it's different than the other 2 rope swings that are already attached to the tree over the ditch.

Lots of boys waiting to swing on the new toy!

Ammon on the regular rope swing & Aysha on the new bar rope swing.
They both swung across and landed in the floating boat!

There were lots of turns taken on the bench swing that also hangs from that big tree lining the ditch! We are so blessed to have that large, useful, fun, beautiful tree!!!

Micah & Joshua Beesley

Ammon

Jessalyn, Alexander (I love his face & hair!), and Coral

Kala & Josh

The next morning, we got dressed and ready for family pictures in the yard. The rain was still around, off and on, and Alyssa took the photo in a little break between rain clouds.

We were going to float the river that afternoon, but it ended up being too cold for it. So that was cancelled. Everyone came together one final time for dinner of grilled hamburgers that evening.

We told stories and chatted for a while after dinner, the kids played outside games, and we stayed warm by the fire as it started to get dark. Then Josh's sister and her family left to go home that night, and his brothers left early the following morning.

The boys had fun with their cousins while they were here. They played the wii, watched movies, played night games, and made new memories--which is the best part of family reunions.