Barrus Family Reunion 2008 (Part 2)

Friday afternoon began the family festivities with lunch and floating down Warm River. The name is deceiving - it was quite cold! We crammed four families into our raft (7 adults and 12 kids) and rode the fairly slow current downriver. It was a fun and fairly leisurely 2 hours. My girls even took naps! After getting cleaned up at Grandma Barrus' house we met at the church cultural hall for a pizza dinner, talent show and auction. This side of the family is very musical so it was a treat to hear all of the piano and guitar playing as well as singing. Grandma's quilts were doled out to those lucky enough to be drawn and others got some funny old relics. (Greg got a Jello Salad recipe book from 1980!) After a fun evening came the spectacular fireworks. We had awesome seats right by the river to see the show put on in Idaho Falls by Melaluca. We were so close to where they set off the fireworks that we got in trouble for having even sparklers! It was an amazing show. Very loud and bright! Mia and Ben were worn out and fell asleep - though I couldn't see how. We got back to our campsite around midnight. Saturday we met at the park for a yummy lunch of ribs and dutch oven potatoes. Mmmm. The cousins played on the playground equipment for a while until we decorated rockets out of 2 liter soda bottles and shot them off with an air compressor, then played water games. It was fun! Everyone took a little break and then we got together at Uncle Brent's property where he had a barn all set up with tables and chairs and a campfire outside. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, took turns driving and riding the 4 wheeler, and fed the fish in the trout pond. The uncles took this opportunity to set off all of the fireworks they had left. The kids loved it! When we finally got back to the tents, we sat around in our camp chairs and talked until the wee hours of the morning. It was so fun to visit with Greg's siblings. It's been awhile since we were all together. Sunday morning we broke camp and got ready for church. After the meeting we had lunch at Grandma Barrus' and said goodbye to those leaving. Our family and Robert's family set up our tents in the backyard and visited with our fun cousins from CA, Brian and Michelle. They have a set of twins that are Kyle's age and my kids just loved them. Kendra adored Megan and followed her around the whole reunion. Kyle and Ben hung out with David (as well as Kymani, Brandon and Sean.) They were all so cute together! I hope we can do this often and they can remember each other. That night there was a huge thunderstorm. I loved it! The kids were a little nervous, us being in a tent and all, but after being reassured that we were safe, everyone snuggled down and went to sleep.

Floating the river

Michelle working the paddle. I just brushed annoying bugs off people.

Ben, Kymani, and Kyle

Cousin Angie plays awesomely at the talent show.

Mia, Kendra and Adelyn

Uncle David provided sparklers

Keyshon and Nolan watching for the fireworks

At the Park

Our family with G&G Barrus (Plus Aunt Carol & Brian's family)

Adelyn & Kendra - Best Cousins. They had to ride everywhere together!

Ben, David, Brandon, Sean and Megan

Cozy through the storm