Colorado Cousins Reunion

How do you get a bunch of Arizona cousins to make a trip to Colorado?  Have a reunion and offer your house as a place to stay at.

This is exactly what Lisa and Ken did (our daughter and son-in-law).  It was something they had planned on doing for quite a while.  They put a new second story deck on the back of their house, made meals and offered bedroom space to all the couples.  Younger kids and teenagers either had to sleep in tents or find a place on the floor.  The remaining group (aka Senior citizens) stayed in their own trailers at Cherry Creek State Park and Uncle John stayed at the Motel 6 in Parker.  It all worked out.  This is what their front yard looked like as we drove up.

 And right by the front steps was a deer!  This was her area, and she wasn't giving it up, tent or no tent.

 Doris stopped to take a picture before we headed inside via the garage.

We were the last group to arrive, and there were people everywhere....out on the back deck,

 in the kitchen,

on the back patio telling stories and "chewing the fat"..

 and running around in the back yard.  The ages of our group ranged from 8 years (Micah told every one he was eight and a half) to 77 years young.  There were 3 generations, including 6 grandparents.

Lori, our nephew's wife, was involved in a conversation with McKenna, Ayla, Kyla and Nate.

 Ella, the only grandchild of ours who loves to have their picture taken, was peeking through the spiral staircase with a huge smile on her face.

 Sandy and Jerry's grandson, Wyatt, was sitting on the lawn with his sister Ainslee and cousin Lauren.  They never even knew I had taken their picture.

 Meanwhile, Doris and John found a quiet place to have a glass of wine or beer.  The house was well stocked, with Ken having his own beer fridge.  It's a beer connoisseur 's dream!

See what I mean??   Even with the well-stocked beer fridge, there were additional runs made to the store for more wine, beer and pop.  Keeping 31 hungry, thirsty people fed and hydrated was a task.

Looks like Jerry was deep in thought and wondering if there was a life without beer.....

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, stories were being told by Stacy and Lisa.  Somehow, their childhood memories didn't coincide with mine, Heidi's or Greg's!  I just wish I had kept a journal of those days when my kids were little, and I babysat Greg and Stacy during the week days.  I could have published a book about those two!

 Heidi took her turn at recounting the various antics of Lisa and Stacy.

And we even brought in Greg so he could back us up!  Can you see him smiling as Lisa and Stacy were telling the rest of the group various renditions of their memories?!  It did involve a lot of laughing.  The young teenagers were somewhat astounded at times.  After all, I did load the 5 of them in our station wagon each summer and "forced" them to go to Vacation Bible school, take swimming lessons and attend the weekly PG movies at the theater (without popcorn).  It was a hard life.

Even though we had a lot of teasing going on, we know we are all loved by our wonderful, sometimes boisterous, family members.  I still got a nice hug from my favorite niece, Stacy.