On the way to Colleen’s house on Saturday silly Seth said, “Mom, mom, look!” When I turned around I saw that he had put his sneakers on his bear. The next time I turned around, Bear had Seth’s shirt on!
This morning when I got up, I found Caleb on the couch with a cat, crying. “I wish we could move our house and all of our animals to New York!” he confessed. “You had fun this weekend, didn’t you?” I asked. He knew I understood and began to feel better again.
We were running early to the reunion so we parked and walked on Main Street in one of the old familiar towns to a small but wonderful bookstore, which was adjacent to a coffee shop. Once the young ones understood that there would be no “buying” only “looking”, we all had a lovely time browsing.
On the way to the bookstore David gasped when he saw these backpacks. He literally gasped.
Grace was pretty.
This bookshelf was full of wonderful classic books, and many of them had fresh up-to-date covers. It was like seeing an old friend in a beautiful new dress. I carefully pulled them from the shelves to admire them, placing each and every one back with a smile. I was thrilled to see a copy of Kirstin Lavransdatter on the second to the bottom shelf in the middle (big thick black book with orange things on it). It’s a book everyone should read (I’ve read it two times and plan to read it again soon). A++++ literature.
“If you would kindly please to let me keep upright, sir, perhaps I shouldn’t be sick, and perhaps I could attend more!” Great Expectations. Wonderful writing by Charles Dickens.
Grace in the bookstore chair.
I want to read the My Struggle books (memoirs written by a Norwegian).
((CHRISTIE!!! All of the Master and Commander books! I smiled and thought of you.)) so so good.
New covers for the Anne books. They had a nice feel to them and I wished I could read them all………..
Meanwhile the boys were playing Pokemon Go. So annoying. 😉
We arrived at Colleen and Roger’s house. Colleen is my Mom’s youngest sister. She did such an amazing job hosting our first official family reunion. We had a family meeting, ate lunch, played games, swam, had a bonfire, went for a walk, all the while visiting and bonding again as a big happy family. I saw my aunts and uncle, my parents, siblings, cousins, and their children. The younger set had fun discovering and playing with their cousins.
There were a lot of old photos to look through.
One of the “minute to win it” games was stacking three golfballs. Mom won. Later I played the same game against my cousin Erika.
This game was to see who could blow a bubble through a hula hoop.
Nate and Dave got a two hand touch football game going with the kids.
We walked around Colleen’s vegetable garden. She had potatoes growing in old tires.
And a fake snake in the corn to keep out the critters.
Just outside the garden entrance was a mailbox to hold garden tools and gloves.
The pool was a very popular place to be.
As was the chocolate fountain.
One more game to see who could eat a “fruit by the foot” with no hands!
(my parents and their puppy)
Uncle Roger made a sky high bonfire and we had a table of everything to make a s’more of your dreams.
We walked along the trails by the crick. The boys skipped rocks and the children waded.
Dad’s little puppy loved splashing around in the water.
So did my little Seth.
Somehow 7 hours flew by and it was time for Rich and I to head to our hotel for the night.
We saw a lovely sunset and had full and happy hearts from a wonderful day.
The good news is that the family now plans on having a reunion every year.
*****
Uncle Brian’s Green Salad
1 16 oz container of cottage cheese
1 small pkg. instant pistachio pudding
1 8 oz container cool whip
1/2 pkg mini-marshmallows
1 small can crushed pineapple
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Let set overnight–mix again just before placing in serving bowl. May add coconut of other fruits to create your own version of this dessert-type salad.
Good to be Home 
What a great family reunion! An old mailbox to hold garden tools and gloves is a good idea.
If you’re in a used bookstore, and see a book called “Pear”l by Donita Dyer, that’s about my grandmother, my dad’s mother. She and my grandpa lived in Turkey., though they were Armenians. She left Turkey and came to America to marry my grandpa in 1904. She was only 15. She had never met him. Their parents arranged the marriage. They were married 64 years before he died. Both of them escaped the worst of the Armenia massacres. Her youngest brother and parents didn’t though. They were forced to leave their home, and walk through the wilderness on what were called “starvation marches.” My great grandmother got sick and died along the way. My great grandpa buried her somewhere in the Syrian desert. He and his son eventually escaped and came to America. Their story is told by the same author in the book “The Brother Of The Bride”. It was also published as a double book called “The Bride’s Escape/Brother of the Bride.” All of them are out of print now, but you sometimes see them in used bookstores, and sometimes I find some to buy on the internet. I think you and Grace would enjoy her story.
That sounds like a very interesting book. I’ll let you know if I ever find it!!
I didn’t proof-read good enough. That’s “Pearl”, but you probably figured that out.
Every year is a good thing. My family has been doing it every year for at least 25 years now. Started with 10 siblings but now down to 3 left living. I probably would have never gotten to know most of my family if it wasn’t for those reunions growing up. Unfortunately I haven’t been to one in 13 years:( since it’s held so far from us and we weren’t able to coordinate trips there when we were in Midwest. Anyways fun times.
Family reunions are special, that’s wonderful to do it every year!