Knight Family Reunion 2017

We hosted the family reunion at our house this year and I discovered something about myself.  I like hosting 25 people MUCH more than travelling for 4+4 hours in a cramped car! I usually feel a bit of "vacation depression" as an upcoming trip approaches.  A dream vacation to me is actually staying in my own home with all of my normal responsibilities of cooking and cleaning taken over by someone else :) When a travelling trip approaches I start feeling stressed, want to back out and just stay in the comforts of my own home. Maybe its because I find cleaning my house after everyone leaves a lot more enjoyable than the stress of driving/riding in traffic and packing up all the bags.

We had a great time bowling, floating the river, playing on water slides, golfing, fishing, playing at the splash pad, 4 wheeling and trying to get the grandkids to cooperate for family pictures, eating good food and playing games.  :) I feel grateful for my family and just wish we lived closer so we could get together more often.  My kids were so excited to see their Uncle Jon who flew all the way from Texas, but he appears to be MIA... at least in the photos, due to the kidney stones he was suffering from :(  We were thrilled to see that Baby Owen is being "Promoted to Big Brother" as proclaimed by his shirt.

Our informal family talent show.

Summer School

After Josh went to the store to pick out his very first school backpack he was eager to start school. Alyssa used her persuasive skills to convince him that the all blue backpack was much cooler than the Lightning McQueen one because it came with a water bottle, lunch bag, and pack sack for the same price. 

I agreed to start a session of "summer school" the next day.  Alyssa helped him pick out the perfect "outfit, insisted that she have her hair done up in "paper towel curls" and packed lunches for the 2 of them.  Bright and early (well, at least to me) Joshua came in my room all dressed up to wake me up announcing that it was time for school to begin.  I reminded them that school starts with recess :) and sent them out to play while I set up.

 Alyssa and her friend Lizzie cut out "Number Fish" while Josh practiced his letters with Do-A-Dots.  It makes my heart ache a bit pulling out these preschool supplies knowing that I don't have any more children to use them on after Josh.

 They really got into the "fishing for numbers game and then had fun assembling Sammy the Alphabet Snake.

 Later that day they built this sandcastle outside.

 But later their creativity got out of hand. I wasn't too happy later when I noticed they had brought every clean plastic cup in the house out into the sand box to build some towers!