In the spring we started planning a family reunion at a beach house in Galveston. I think Adrianne made the reservation in April. We planned it at the end of July, around when Garrett would be home from his Air Force camp and before Tyler had to leave for his Army training.
It was a good plan, but then Tyler learned that the week before his training (the dates of the reunion) was when he had to be preparing his company to go out in the field. So he was unable to attend the reunion. Rachel and the kids wanted to come, however. Kent and I flew to Houston in the evening on July 23rd, and the next morning I boarded a flight to El Paso.
As I got off the plane in El Paso I saw Rachel and the kids in the waiting area ready to get on the plane back to Houston. Each of us was flying with one of the twins on our laps, and we made the hour and a half flight back to Houston.
All of the kids did really well! Christian and Melody even took naps on our laps.
Rachel had everything very compact and organized so that she could walk through the airport with all of the kids. The double stroller for the twins was very helpful!
Kent picked us up from the airport in the Stinson's van and we drove directly to the beach house, after a stop at McDonald's for lunch.
The beach house was nice and large, with enough bedrooms for every family.
There was also a nice deck with some recliners and chairs.
The beach was about 200 yards away from the house.
The families went down to the beach in shifts on both of the full days we were there.
All the grand kids had fun in the water and playing in the sand.
Unfortunately we didn't get many pictures of the adults at the beach!
We were able to get a nice picture of Kent and me with all the grandkids. The photo I put at the top of this post was the best. We also tried to get one on one of the beds, but as you can see that photo wasn't as successful!!
Baby Matthew, age seven weeks, was a hit with his big girl cousins, who loved taking turns holding him.
Kent gave each family their own fairy garden to take home with them.
Adrianne organized a family jeopardy game, which was lots of fun. Garrett and Krystal's family won the game.
Another awesome thing that happened is that Adri took individual photos of the grandchildren each holding a wooden letter spelling out the words "CARSON GRANDS". The photos are on the wall of our kitchen.
Adrianne and Rachel both turned 30 in July, so I baked them each a birthday cake. Adri's was chocolate peanut butter and Rachel's was lemon raspberry.
As we were ready to leave the beach house, we set the camera on top of a van and set the timer to get this photo, which I've put at the top of the blog. It would have been perfect if Tyler had been in it!
After we got back to Houston, the guys went shooting. Kent took the photos, so he was there, too.
Since I didn't get any pictures of Garrett, Jason or Russ at the beach house, I thought I'd add them in here!
We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family! We're so glad for everyone who made the effort to be at the reunion.
After the reunion we went to church and had a family dinner at Adri's house in Cypress. Kent and I took our usual photo with Kiera and Savannah.
I had all the granddaughters who were still in town (Rachel had already left with her kids) pose wearing the smocked dresses I'd made for Lissa and Adri when they were young.
They were also holding the church bags I'd made for each of them.
There are LOTS of sewing hours represented in those dresses and church bags!!
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