Simonson Family Reunion

You always know summer in coming your way when the family reunions begin. I only wish the weather cooperated, but it was a wet reunion.

We had the Simonson (Andrey's mom's side) get together this last weeked in Mt. Pleasant. What a beautiful area. If I was made of money, I would go buy me a cabin to live in right now.

We had a great time, cleaning out our camper (that we got for free-YAHOO!) and visiting with family we havn't seen since Christmas.

We had fun taking the kids on the mini Jeep/Golf cart (so I like to call it), riding up the mountain side. I forget how beautiful it is to be in the mountais. So green, pretty wild flowers, the clean air. I can just imagine it now.

We had a yummy spaghetti dinner where Emma and Ellie both got to help. But ELlie's little distraction was Grandpa's singing fish he had hanging on the wall. She loved it until he lifted her up to it. That was a little too close for comfort.

We stuffed the pinata for the next day's activities at the park, and enjoyed a night of games and visiting.

We got to bed really late, but the girls were full of energy and so excited to sleep in their beds i the camper. As we climbed into our bed and the lights were out (and me shaking in the cold weather), we felt two little girls climb in with us. They were too scared to sleep below all by themselves. So, all four of us were cramped up in the small bed, keeping each other warm throughout the night. Silly girls.

The next day, after a yummy breakfast and some more games (while everyone else got out of bed), we headed to the local town park and had a good lunch, played on the playground until it was time for the pinata. Then a huge storm hit. We had all of us catching our food and toys as the wind and rain blew it all away. We finally bundled up the kids and hit the pinata open and watched them scramble for the goodies. I always think it's so funny to see the excitement as the candy hits the floor and the kids are trying to get it all and dodge the one little kid still swinging the bat.

We raced back to our vehicles and headed back to the cabin to have our family auction there.

Our family has an auction where we all bring things we no longer want and the money we make off it goes towards our Christmas party the following year. It was a lot of fun listening to everyone fight over certain things; pictures, cds of great grandma's voice, crafts made by grandma and Serenie, etc.

The fun ended when Ellie came in with a bloody lip from falling off the 4-wheeler (and it wasn't even moving).

We had a fun barbecue and headed back, sleepily, to Manga. We had a great time and the girls loved being outside in the mountains and with their favorite cousin, Rylee, and aunt, Starley.

Thanks for the great reunion. Can't wait till next year!