(Back Row: Dennis, Nathan, Ron (FIL), Ken)

(Middle Row: Kathryn, Shelly, Terrie)

(Front Row: Dean and Barbara Ward, or Grandma & Grandpa)

I get really excited about this, even though most people dread reunions. Every year, my husband’s father’s side of the family all gets together and does something during one of the summer holidays. Since we’re in Utah, we get July 4th and the 24th (Pioneer Day) for holidays.

My first year into the family, we went camping in Green River, Utah. Shaun was only a month old and I was still exhausted, but it was such a great opportunity for me to get to know everyone a little bit better, especially the other young wives and mothers. The in-laws brought a friend’s trailer, so baby Shaun was able to sleep with them, while Aaron and I slept in a one-room tent. It was loads of fun. I genuinely enjoy camping and I wish we got to do more of it.

For my second year, we drove down to St. George, Utah. We were able to stay in a friend’s condo and sleep comfortably on a queen-sized bed, while Shaun slept peacefully in his own crib in a separate room. You never realize how precious sleep in until you don’t have it!

Last year was an exciting experience. We were able to drive into Zion’s National Park and enjoy all the beauty that Mother Nature had to offer…until my car died in the middle of the tunnel. We were honked at by everyone behind us. “There’s no stopping in the tunnel!” they shouted. Obviously we had stopped to take pictures, because what other reason would we have suddenly stopped on a one lane road going up hill in the dark? No one even bothered to help. Fortunately, one of Aaron’s cousins was behind us in a van, so they pushed us all the way out and onto the first turn-off. We popped the hood and it hadn’t overheated. There was plenty of fluid and nothing was steaming. Maybe the alternator? No. Nothing was wrong with my car. We got it started and managed to coast back down into civilization. Because it was a holiday, all the mechanics were closed. So, we took my in-law’s car back to our house in Payson and waited to hear what the mechanic would say the next day. Turns out, someone syphoned the gas tank. Because my car has electrical problems, the electronic gas-gauge doesn’t work, so we just fill it up when we get to about 300 miles on the odometer. We had only gone about 150 miles since our last fill-up, so we didn’t even think that that could be the problem. Well, at least it was a cheap fix…after we attempted to replace another part in hopes of getting the car started. That was only about $60. At least we weren’t the only ones with car trouble that day. It’s funny now, but it wasn’t at the time. Two other families had their van overheat, but everyone was ok and able to get home safely. That’s what really matters, right?

So, this year we’re heading up to Idaho. Somewhere north of Pocatello is what I’ve been hearing, but it’s a little early to be for sure. Now, I’ll tell you why I love these trips so much. I don’t have any family within 700 miles of where I live. My parent’s are in California with one of my aunts and my grandma. My other aunts, uncles and cousins, live in Washington, Tennessee, and now Rhode Island. It was different when I was younger because everyone lived within a couple hours of each other. Now we’re all split up. I love my whole family and think it’s so important to be close, because you never know when they’ll be gone.