the reunion 2014

well, it's not our best family picture ... we had just finished our 11-mile relay race so we're all a little nice and sweaty, and several people aren't looking at the right camera, many of our tshirts are too big, and i look pregnant for the second year in a row... but those flowers sure are pretty, aren't they? and sheesh, i sure love these people. and the boy's family picture debut!!

this year's eyrealm reunion included all the good stuff in its own 2014 way:
-joyful reunions of siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles
-bonfire on the beach revealing each of our own chosen song for the year :: this year it turned into a pretty rocking dance party with glowsticks and sparklers that lasted until past all of our bedtimes...
-delicious sunsets every night and some choice "skiing on the gold"
-fear factor :: this year included some grilled rattlesnake (which came from a shooting, dissecting, de-rattling and skinning escapade) as well as larvae and spoonfuls of crisco (ick!)
-sailing and tubing and waterskiing and paddle boarding and swimming and wakeboarding
-family meetings directed by our visionary dad
-amazingly yummy, colorful, mostly healthy food for every meal :: and this year included some meals combined with our extended eyre family cousins, which was fun
-doubles tennis tournament :: the boy and i actually advanced past the first round this year! big deal. sure, one of our opponents was a 12-year-old, but still!
-talent show featuring darling and hilarious acts
-late night discussions :: this year we had a chocolate chip cooking baking contest to fuel us night owls
-games and play on "grandchildren's green" :: this year we had a big slip-n-slide and water games on the grass
-relay race from our cabin to the drive-in to get raspberry shakes :: my team won this year!
-family testimony meeting on the grass outside church on sunday - i think that's always the best part

the boy and i are the chairs for the 2015 reunion, and we already have some good ideas brewing! i feel so immensely blessed that my family has the ability to make these gatherings happen and that we all love each other so so so!

{here's last year's recap, and start here for posts about the 2012 reunion, and here's some pictures from the year before that, and here's some highlights from 2010}