Family reunion

I am a bit behind on my blogging, but it has been a lovely summer. Every two years, my parents gather their children's families together in a different place. Some of our previous gathering places have been my childhood home in southeast Minnesota, Cancun, and Dana Point.  This year, we spent two weeks together in South Carolina on Hiltonhead Island and in Charleston.

All 4 of my brothers and their families were able to attend. We had a total of 11 adults and 7 grandkids.

Some of my favorite things on this vacation were

-getting a new wardrobe, thanks to my thrift-shopping mom and my hard-working dad

-running with my superstar sister-in-law, Christy

-surprising all my siblings by being capable of real pushups

-roasting smores

-movie dates with Ethan to see Megamind (which I loved) and KungFu Panda 2 (which I also liked)

-kayaking with dolphins and the grown-ups of my generation while my parents watched the grandkids

-staying in a beautiful hotel in Charleston with amazing service and equally amazing views

-eating at some upscale restaurants, including a very fun late night dinner at McCrady's

The only downside to our family gathering was that an uninvited GI-super-bicho showed up to wreak GI chaos and make everyone sick for at least a day. Here's my s-i-l's perspective on The Plague.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our reunion:

Grandpa, Uncle Ben, and Aunt Christy watching kids in the pool

Uncle Hugh and my kids

Elizabeth at the playground on Hiltonhead Island

The Great Dalmuti

Lovebirds on the boat to Ft. Sumter

Mr. M and Elizabeth

 

Uncle Tal and Simon, waiting for our buggy ride in Charleston

Buggy ride

 

Scott in the fountain across from our hotel in Charleston

Ethan on the water taxi to the aircraft carrier

Aunt Kristi and the boys in Charleston

We are already looking forward to our next gathering in Mountain View, Alberta, next to the beautiful Canadian Rockies of Waterton.