Arave Family Reunion {Family Picture}

 Arave Family Reunion 2012

back row: Angela, Michelle, Allen and Christine Quinn, Sharon, Anthony, Ira and Eliot Quinn, April, Jake, Dallin and Mackenzie Trent, Lauren and Nathan Quinn, Bodie and Truman Simons

middle row: Clarissa, Dan, Abi and Booklyn Thomas, Marie Thun, Molly Trent, Liam Gutke, Anne, Ilene and Joel Trent, Gregg and Camille Simons

front row: Erik Thun, McKay Quinn, Dallin Quinn, Enoch Hopkinson, Ida and Alive Arave, Valine and Paul Quinn.

sitting: Aaron, Jean, Addie, Anna, Tiffany and Quinn Hopkinson

{there are more Quinn's in this family then Araves!}

 And, some silly pictures.

It's all because of these two people!

For those of you who where not at the reunion ... we missed you, and thought about you, and talked about you, and hope to see you in 2014.

{well, really we hope to see you before 2014}

Arave Family Reunion {Thursday}

 The sock bun was the hair style of choice at the reunion.  Tiff's bun was huge ... she has so much hair, and its thick.  I think the bun is cute on her!

 My dad did a scavenger hunt for the different age groups.  He sent them out in groups with the radios so they could talk with him if they had questions.  There were all sorts of special prizes at the end.

It rained most of the day.  We couldn't really complain because all of Utah fasted and prayed for rain on Sunday - it was a welcome relief because of all the fires and dry conditions.  We had cabins and a large pavilion to keep us dry and plenty of crafts, games and food.  I don't think anyone minded at all.

Dallin, Ira, Nate and Lauren.

A stick and dirt - he needs nothing more.

Hanging out.

Lauren, Quinn, Tiff, Enoch, Abi, Gregg, Dallin and Addie.

Dutch oven chicken enchiladas...we have some good cooks in this family.

Bed time.  We shared a cabin with Hopkinsons and SF Quinns.

6 adults.

7 kids.

We all survived.

Arave Family Reunion {Rope Swing}

 We had to break a few of the rules while we were at Heber Valley Camp.  Shhh...don't tell.  Aaron climbed this a half dead tree and made us a rope swing up in the mountains away from our main camp {hidden from the camp hosts}.  Look at him in the picture above, checking to make sure the swing still looks safe!

 Truman loved it.

 Aaron.

 Enoch.

{I know its not in focus, but its kind of funny}

 Tiff.

 Lauren.

 Nate.

 Aaron.

 McKay.

 Truman again.

 Jean.

 Gregg getting ready to jump on.

I took this picture so you could see how incredible high the tree/swing was {and I still didn't get the top of the tree or the swing}.

 Gregg.

Me.
If our camp hosts only knew ... we would have been in big trouble.

Arave Family Reunion {4th of July}

Today was the first day of the highly anticipated Arave Family Reunion {my mom's family}.  We held the family reunion at the Heber Valley Camp and I think we all agree it was a great location.  The weather was perfect; a little rain, lots of sunshine, and cool nights.  Because of the high fire danger in Utah this summer we were not aloud to have fires, but I don't think anyone cared {especially all the parents - we didn't have to worry about the kids around the fire and we don't have to do loads of laundry when we get home}.  

 Gregg and I and my brother Ant and his family were responsible for dinner the first night.  We decided to do an all American Dinner to celebrate our countries freedom.  We served sliders {mini hamburgers} complete with all the toppings {this is a picture of the hamburgers hot off the grill waiting to be served with the "toppings" bar that we provided}.

{a local bakery made the mini burger buns for me}.

My brother Ant manned the grill.

Addie ready to celebrate - and eat.

We served a red, white and blue drink in festive style.

My dad helped with the kabobs.

 Lauren and Nate.
{from San Francisco}

 This was a very popular place to eat - we faced the two baby chairs toward each other and the kids loved it - they were entertained while they ate.  There were so many small kids we had to rotate them through the seats.

 Grandma and Quinn.

 The competition began early, is anyone surprised?

It started with dinner and the burger eating competition.

Winner selected a song that the loser had to sing with the two 'losing runners-up' as back-up singers. 

Nate lost {anyone surprised!?} with 1 3/4 burger.  Gregg and Aaron {his two brother-in-laws} had to sing back up.  He had to sing "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus which Anthony selected because he won with a grand told of 8 burgers {mini sliders mind you}.

For dessert we served a patriotic red, white and blue cake {and ice cream} that I made with the assembling expertise of my sister-in-law {thanks Tara}.  Inside was white and red velvet cake with Boston cream filling {wish I would have remembered to take a picture}.  Before we ate the cake there was an improv singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

 After dinner and dessert it was out to the field to play baseball - is there anything more American then that?

We played lots of baseball...

...and lots of games!

grandmas.

Headed to grandma Quinn's for a sleep over with his beloved cousin Jean.

{Thanks mom}.