Family Reunions

I have to say that I just love family reunions. I realize that I may be in the minority here, but because of family reunions with my Mom's brothers and sisters, I have grown up with over 50 1st cousins that I know by name and with whom I have a relationship. As my own immediate family is "growing up" and have been scattered through out the US, we have decided that it is now time to start the tradition with our family. Thanks to Tedi, we had the 1st Annual Lorin & Trudy Clements Family Reunion over the 4th of July weekend. We had a great time. Everyone was there (minus Reubs who is serving a mission, so I guess we will excuse him this time)and it was the first time that we have all (or most of us) have been together in several years.

It was fun to play with my adorable nieces and nephews, visit with siblings I haven't seen in over a year and just enjoy being at home with my parents. I spent the nights sleeping on the trampoline like I did as a kid, swimming, playing at the river and attending a good old small town 4th of July parade... no 4th of July parade is complete with out at least 1 marching band, classic cars, politicians, horses, beauty queens, tractors & a float or two. Fun times! although I have to say that the Pasco 4th of July parade was one of the quietest parades I have ever been two. They needed some more music and definitely another marching band or two.

Friday night we enjoyed what I affectionately called "The Man Dinner." Dad smoked some pork and turkey in the smoker and then we had dutch oven potatoes and peach and apple cobbler. It was delish! We definitely ate REALLY well.

After the parade we went home and had some lunch and prepared for "Swimming Pool Olympics" Sadly I did not get any pictures of this event, but needless to say it was SUPER fun. We had to play "over & under" with a beach ball, passing over the head of one person and through the legs of the other, once the ball got to the end of the line, the last person had to run to the front and start again until we had rotated through all participants being in the back. I am surprised no one broke any bones. I have to say that my brothers and brothers-in-law are EXTREMELY competitive. We also played a form of ultimate Frisbee in the water and a game where we had to collect ping pong balls one at a time, trying to get as many balls into the basket as possible. It was pretty ridiculous, but honestly loads of fun. Other people who were also at the pool asked to join in our fun, and of course we let them. It was all fun and games until Arina got trampled at the bottom of the pool. (She decided that it would be a good idea to swim under us when playing ultimate. None of us were looking beneath us, we were just trying to win!)

Saturday we spent the day at the river - jet skiing and enjoying the water, sun and the company of siblings. We relaxed in the evening and then watched a movie outside on the back of the house. I think that almost everyone fell asleep before the movie was over.

I am so blessed to have such a fantastic family. Every time I go home I am reminded of how much I love being there. All of my worries just disappear and I am completely content. I think it must have something to do with the atmosphere of love that is there.

Anyway, much thanks to Tedi and everyone else who put it altogether. Enjoy the pics!