Family Reunion

We look forward to the Ellis family reunion every year! I love the chance to hang out with family, catch up, soak our feet in the ditch, watch my kids get to know their cousins, do crafts, play games, have our annual activities, start new traditions, and eat great food. Who could say no to duck races, chicken in a barrel, Grandpa's homemade mini carnival rides, flying candy, water slides, and fish for breakfast?? I so appreciate my grandparents, my mom and aunts and uncles and cousins who arrange, organize, drive long distances, host and so much more to make these memories for me and my kids. We're especially lucky that my grandparents and Uncle Ron and Aunt Lynne have large backyards for us all to play, camp, and eat in-- and are willing let let us overrun them for 3 days! It takes a lot of doing to get 80 or so people and events together, and sometimes it's a little hot or a wait for a bathroom, but I'm so glad everyone thinks it is worth it! Here's just a little bit of what we did....

A new activity this year.... pinewood derby races!
Shad, Bailee, Butterscotch, Cora, and Violet on the hammock

Bailee and Luke. I was so surprised at how easy it was to have Luke there this year. He did great taking his naps in the baby tent while we hung out in the backyard. His tent and his bumbo, as well as lots of helping hands, made it pretty easy.
Cora loved, loved, LOVED the four-wheeler! Pata was nice to take her on a very long ride. Violet joined in a bit later... I thought she might be a little scared, but Pata said she kept saying, faster, faster!
Kissie and Violet watching the ducks come down the ditch
Here they come!
Cora, Anna, and Addy lifting their feet so the ducks can get through.
The kids scrambling for candy from the candy bottle rockets

Violet was pretty apprehensive about the slide... maybe next year!

Cora loved the big slide, water or no water, and went down over and over for at least an hour!

Pata and an exhausted Violet taking a snooze
Luke was too busy kicking his feet in the water to look up at the camera!
Pinata time!
Getting ready for the family slide show.... There are too many of us to fit in one picture! I'm not sure what the exact people count was at the reunion, but counting Grandma and Grandpa, their kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and spouses, there are 118 of us. Wow!
Family pics
We were also happy to visit Grandma and Grandpa DeGiulio in Idaho too, but forgot the camera in the car. Next time!