This year I divided our pictures from the Brown Family Gathering into two parts: time at home and outings. It seemed like a good idea when I divided up the pictures, but as I started writing the words to go with the pictures, I realized that I can't just tell the story chronologically, since we had some outings and some at-home time each day, and this post only has the at-home pictures. Oh well, it seems too hard to reorganize the pictures now, so I'll put some journal excerpts here and some in the second post and call it good. A daily journal makes big blog posts a breeze! I'm not sure I really needed to write all of that here, but there's a little window into my record-keeping brain. It's always a puzzle to figure out how to divide up a huge pile of pictures!
Journal excerpts:
Saturday, July 5th: Everyone finally made it to Denver! Jeff and the kids' plane was rerouted due to thunderstorms, and they landed in Grand Junction, CO to refuel and wait out the storms for 90+ minutes. Jeff told me that the kids kept saying how glad they were that I wasn't on their flight because they know how much I hate turbulence. Mel and Kyle's families were on the same flight out of Seattle, and they sat in the plane at the gate delayed for hours before finally leaving. With their toddlers and young kids! What an ordeal!
It is so good to see everyone and have everyone all together! The cousins are so cute and happy! Right when my husband and kids got here, Amber and AJ went straight into talking and playing in their room. I didn't even see Amber for a while after she arrived. I had to go look for her. And of course Jay and Rose are settled in with the older Broadbent cousins. These cousin friends are so fun.
I am so tired. I ran 30 miles total this week at the 5600 foot Denver altitude, finishing it off with a 5 mile run this morning.
Sunday, July 6th: Sunday with my family. This morning at 8am, the kitchen was full of pajama clad people talking and finding food for kids and babies. It did not seem possible that we would all make it to church by 9am, but somehow, all 27 of us managed to get ready, drive to the church, and sit down in the chapel before 9am! Dad, Ezra (age 8), and Derek (age 9) all bore their testimonies during testimony meeting. It was very sweet. Mom played the organ and taught adult Sunday school.
After church we had a chaotic piecemeal lunch of leftovers in the kitchen. Once the three toddlers (and Jeff) were napping, we had our family talent show. Ezra, Derek, Amber, Rose, Dad, and I played the piano. Rose and I also played our piano duet. Jesse played Mom's rickety old guitar and sang a song. Ezra and Della sang a sweet primary song. Connor, Christine, and Derek also sang a sweet primary song. Christine, Della, and AJ sang along to a Taylor Swift song. Jay got up and sang the ABC's as a joking contribution. At the end we all sang Peace in Christ together. Then there was an impromptu mass family push-up competition. Kyle won, followed by Grampa Charley. It was impressive!
Dad and I bonded over our discomfort at playing the piano in front of everyone, haha. This family talent show was Dad's first ever piano performance!
My siblings and spouses drove 45 minutes out to Erie, CO to see Brad and Dani's lovely spacious new house. Jeff and I drove Dad's car separately and visited Jeff's brother Sam at his new house afterwards--as of 4 days ago, he lives around the corner from Brad and Dani!
Thursday, July 10th: Dani and I ran 6 miles together at 6:30 this morning! It was cloudy and warm, and it rained on us for about a mile or so. It was fun to jog and chat with one of my sisters. I was pretty tired after the early wake-up and since I ran 7.5 miles yesterday, so I ended up taking two separate 20 minute naps today. They got me through.
This afternoon, Dad showed most of us adults around the computer rack cooling system that he invented--patent pending. We had to show IDs and get visitor passes to the facility! It was fascinating hearing Dad explain how everything works.
Tonight we had dinner all together (ordered in teriyaki chicken) and then played an impromptu game of kickball in the backyard (Em and I watched). It was cute and funny watching kids from age 4 on up to 65 play kickball on the wonky shaped diamond we created with paper plates. The paper plates kept sliding and blowing around, so the playing area changed shape after each run. After that we did Mel's awesome family trivia Kahoot game and laughed our heads off at the hilarious responses to the family survey she gave us. After that I was totally exhausted! The prospect of sitting around talking to the sibs and spouses after all that was too daunting for my tired maxed out introverted soul. Mom and I retreated and watched a k-drama episode late tonight.
Saturday, July 12th: We made it home to our beloved house and comfy beds tonight at 10:45pm, after minimal turbulence and one small flight delay. Jay and Rose were so tired on the way home because they stayed up all night with the cousins last night. It was so hard to say goodbye to my dear family! I don't like the end of a family week. But I am ready to sleep in my dark bedroom in my soft bed.
1 comment:
Lovvvvvvvved every minute of this family reunion….and every photo and description you wrote about it!
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