Reunited

Enjoyed another excellent family reunion!  I didn't think to take out my camera until we were leaving because we were having such a lovely time.  Here are some people that I love & admire very much...

My dad & his siblings 

with most of the outlaws  :)

Family Reunion

Our 7th annual family reunion for my Dad's side of the family was another big success!  Lots of catching up, meeting new babies, tagging, eating, chasing ducks, jungle-gyming, guitar (& ukulele!) playing, & general fun.  The one thing we didn't do was take a big family photo this time.  Next year!

Reunited

We held our 4th annual family reunion on my Dad's side last weekend. Well, 4th since we've started again this round... it used to just be every holiday at Grandma & Grandpa's that we'd get to see this gang of seven kids with their spouses with their kids with their kids' spouses with their kids' kids. Now we've added some kids' kids' kids. That makes for quite a crowd! Since Grandma & Grandpa have passed & since this crazy group could barely squeeze into their house now anyway, we meet at the park. There's lots of jungle gyming & duck chasingstory telling & laughing,chowing & grinning for photos with your mouth full,chatting & relaxing,singing & guitar playingNothing says Grandma's like a BIG potluck. I think they should make a different kind of plate for a family potluck so you can take one of everything. Or maybe that would require a tray...Some family I see often, some I see once a year at this reunion, others who came this year I hadn't seen since our wedding! That's the beauty & trial of a big family: it's hard to find a time that works for everyone, but even with just half available it makes for quite the crew! It was so nice to see you all! Hope to see you again next year... or before!

Reunited

Our annual family reunion on my Dad's side. This is by no means the whole crowd, but a pretty good turnout!
The highschoolers that I still envision as toddlers...
Teresa really took to Uncle Neal. I think he looks & sounds enough like Grandpa to be familiar.

A little Andrew to match our big one.

Memories of Grandma's house almost always involve a buffet spread.
Enjoying/terrorizing the ducks

I think he found those on the ground though I can't be sure he didn't pluck them himself!

We had such a nice time being together. There are always so many more I want a chance to see & talk to & reconnect with but we just run out of time. It always makes me reminiscent of days at Grandma's house growing up. I have such happy memories there.

Playing bingo with Jill in the basement, attempting pool on a table with no bumpers left & someone sticking their cue through the ceiling!, the unplanned Thanksgiving "bonfire", hide & seek in the gazebo, HUGE rhubarb plants, dancing the Achy Breaky, cousins parties, the bleeding heart plant by the front door, snakes under the couch, every color of iris you can imagine growing out by the old garage, playing hearts with Uncle Ralph, Grandma drinking coffee out of a measuring cup, chipping my tooth on the faucet at the park across the street, the Fatima statue in the living room, mistaking a glass of prune juice for grape, all of Grandpa's tools hung up meticulously downstairs, serving Grandma's friends chicken salad while they played Sheephead at card club, fruit punch Hi-C & mini Snickers bars in the cupboard, the laundry "chute" door from the bathroom to the laundry room.... so many more!!! Have any fun memories of your Grandma's house to share?

More?

More fun! The Wahoo parade!
Grandma Jisa & Great Aunt Alyce were our special guests
Neumann marching band

***

Monsignor, Jenn, Sr. Karen Marie, & I celebrated the 10th anniversary of our trip to Europe. I can't believe it's been that long already! It was such an amazing experience in so many ways. Seeing Pope John Paul II, visiting the graves of so many saints (many of them incorruptible), having our hatchback fly open while driving down the autostrada, accidentally ordering anchovy pizza & having to choke it down, paying to use the WC, dancing in the rain in the gardens of Versailles... and SO many more hilarious incredible memories. Thank you for sharing it & remembering it with me!

A Herd of Cousins

My parents graciously hosted us & a whole herd of cousins at the farm a few weeks ago. It was both peaceful & chaotic... like most gatherings! Gotta love watching them play with our old toys. The joy Teresa got out of this mirror was amazing! I'm thinking we need to invest.

My Godchildren: Lizzie, James, & Julia

No that's not my sister... it's my niece! I'm in awe at how mature Clare is & how wonderful she is with all of the little ones. Lucy is quite the little mommy herself.

A stroll down the gravel road. Just us, a couple of tractors, & the butterflies.

The mighty warriors

tamed. Innovative swinging

Thanks for a fabulous time, Mom & Dad!

Look Alikes

August 8th we had a fun adventure to Columbus for the second annual reunion on my Dad's side. It was a rather toasty but beautiful summer day.

There were aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins, new spouses, guitar playing, fishing, card games, & lots of old memories to enjoy. We don't go crazy with organized games, t-shirts, or any of that jazz yet, but we'll see what the future holds!

Andrew & Rebecca especially liked chasing around the ducks, playing on TWO playgrounds, & eating way too many potluck desserts.

I love seeing my family . . . and this is only a small fraction of them! It means so much to me to stay connected & it has been so much harder without Grandma & Grandpa around. But, I could feel them there with us as we all enjoyed each other. I know that they are smiling down on us all from heaven. May they rest in peace!