Gene and April are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this November and their kids planned a reunion to honor them. It was a year in the making, getting everything booked and all the different schedules to line up. We were all making the trek to the Washington coast for a week spent together. This was a big deal since it had been several years since we had been together. Our own family left June 29th, after church, and did half the drive that day. We found a hotel in some small town in Idaho for the night. I didn't want to pay for two rooms so we threw some air mattresses in the car and assumed Stockton and one of the little girls would sleep on the floor. Ivy volunteered to do that but, lucky for her, we were able convert a little luggage bench into a bed for the night. It had a lip on the wall side so she slid the bench over to my side of the bed with the lip out and it worked perfectly for her. She was relieved not to have to sleep on the floor. 
*We also had a little bit of a car worry that whole trip but thankfully it held out on us...and then had to be fixed when we got back. But we were very grateful that it was okay, and a good thing we were in a cooler climate all week, which helped the matter entirely.
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| Brynn at one of our pit stops |
It was another 8 hour drive the next day and we had to stop at a grocery store just outside where we were staying to finish up the shopping for the trip. But we finally made it and were happy to see some familiar faces walking down the street...we all piled into our car for the last mile.
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| me and Justin in the front, Jake, Riley, Stockton, Molly, Brynn, Evie, Ivy in the back |
Since we were such a big group, we had to rent two different houses...one house for our family + Eric and Heidi's family and the other house for Gene, April, Brett, the Brown's, and the Tanner's. We checked out our house and rooms and quickly drove over to the other house for the initial reunions. It was so good to see everyone!
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| Stockton, Kai, Brynn, Jake, Lizzy, Molly, Rachelle |
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| Camille, Rachelle, and Sam talking with Ivy, Brynn, and Luke |
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| Riley and Brynn are two days apart and used to be comparable sizes; Riley has grown a lot since we last saw him! Luke is even taller. |
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| Brynn, Avery, Ivy |
We had dinner together and then drove or walked down to the beach, which we could see from both of our houses. We were able to watch the sunset and it was beautiful! Everyone was on a high after our long days of travel and finally being together.
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| Eric, Camille, Micah, Riley, Cam, Brett, Ivy, Lizzy, Rachelle, me, Luke |
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| Molly, Rachelle, Lizzy |
This is how our days went: eat breakfast at our individual houses, get ready, then meet at the big house for the activity of the day. Tuesday was extra special because Andrew had just received his mission call so we were all able to hear him read where he is going. He will be serving in the Alpine, Germany mission speaking German! We are over the moon excited for him!
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| Ivy, Molly, Avery, Brynn |
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| Ivy and Grayson |
Our first day's activity was a trip to Quinault Rain Forest for some hiking. We did this with Molly in April but none of us were complaining about going back. It is just beautiful! We did the longer loop this time, about 4 miles, and then we went back to find the jumping hole that Eric knew about. The water was chilly but a lot of brave people did it anyway (not me). |
Ivy and Grayson
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| the kids loved finding (and eating!) these salmon berries along the trail |
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| Kai and Stockton |
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| wild hydrangeas everywhere! |
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| Justin, Molly, Ivy, Brynn, Kai |
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| Molly jumping |
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| Brynn jumping |
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| I have a video of Ivy jumping |
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| Molly was left with a battle wound |
We had a yummy lunch there in the rain forest then drove back to our houses to get ready for the family pictures that were later that night.
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| Cam, Tiana, Stockton, Molly, Kai, Micah, Ivy, Camille, Matt |
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| Brynn and Avery |
Heidi had managed to find a local photographer who was planning on taking our pictures out on the beach that evening. We were told to wear light blue, white, or light tan. We did our best to meet the dress code (wink). There were no glitches in getting ready or meeting the photographer, but it was really windy and quite cold. We stayed bundled up in jackets and blankets until it was our turn when we would throw off all our warm stuff, smile pretty, and freeze until we were done and could wrap up again. I think the photographer did a decent job with what she had to work with. She got a great picture of the whole group, and I was impressed she got one with everyone looking. I was happy with our individual family picture, we do look slightly wind-blown and in the kid picture, Brynn is looking off to the side. Can't expect perfection, I guess.
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| getting ready |
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| all 30 of us! |
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| Camille, Justin, Gene, April, Brett, Rachelle, Eric |
Some other shenanigans while we waited:
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| Kai and Molly |
We wanted to try for a beach picture, so we ran down to the water and the photographer just told us to stand wherever, not necessarily by our individual families. She also took requests for different groups while we were on the beach. Then the kids ran around on the beach before we corralled everyone into warm cars and back to the main house for dinner and more hanging out.
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| grandkids |
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| these three always make sure to get one together: Lizzy, Tiana, Molly |
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| Brynn and Avery |
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Molly, Kai, Stockton, Justin, Jake, Micah, Sam, maybe Luke
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| Riley, Lizzy, Grayson, Molly, Gene, Camille |
There was no time for individual kid pictures so Eric was kind enough to take some with his nice camera back at the house before everyone changed. |
| Ivy and Avery |
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| Brynn and Enzo |
Wednesday was a beach day. We went to Kalaloch Beach first and Ruby Beach second. We had also visited both of these places with Molly but so happy to go again. I just love these rugged, wild, beautiful Pacific Northwest beaches. We spent several hours at Ruby Beach, climbing rocks, discovering all sorts of sea life in the nooks and crannies of rocks, getting creative with rocks (Evie and Ivy started the "city" and the boys added to it). It was a good day!
Kalaloch:
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| Molly, Lizzy, Ivy |
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| Brett, Camille, Rachelle, Justin |
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| the kids thought it was funny to get their feet buried as deep as they could in the wet sand |
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| Jake and Stockton |
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| Micah, Sam, Stockton, Eli |
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| all the parents getting their pictures! Camille, Matt, Justin, Gene, Rachelle, April, Brett |
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| this was called The Tree of Life |
Ruby Beach: |
| Lizzy, Molly, Brynn, Stockton |
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| Brynn and Riley |
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| Rachelle, Avery, Brynn |
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| Molly, April, Micah |
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| Ivy and Evie |
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| Stockton, Cam, Luke, Kai |
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| Stockton, Micah, Ivy, Evie, Kai |
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| Brynn and Avery |
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| Grayson, Rachelle, Lizzy, Molly |
That night after dinner we had a campfire with s'mores, and listened and sang to some good music. It was a pretty perfect way to end the day. Molly moved to the main house that night and had a sleepover with Rachelle, Camille, and Lizzy.
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| Justin, Rachelle, Camille, April, Gene, Eric, Brett |
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| Lizzy, Cam, Brynn, Grayson |
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| Molly found a slug which I thought was disgusting! Molly and April |
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| Lizzy, Molly, Rachelle, Camille |
The next day was a little more chill. We decided not to plan a big outing but to hang out at the house and enjoy what was close to us. We walked down to the beach after breakfast. We found lots of crabs and sea dollars. |
| such a pretty path down to the beach |
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| Brynn thought it was great to be as tall as Justin |
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| Sam and Molly (the two soccer players) playing soccer tennis |
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| a stranger let us fly his kite for a few minutes |
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| Stockton, Kai, Molly back at the house for lunch |
We had lunch and played some games at the house but some of us were antsy to go do something. The town of Seabrook was six miles away so we went to explore. And I am glad we did! It was so quaint and perfect, it didn't even seem like a real place. Molly and Stockton asked, "Is this the Truman show?" I loved all the cottages, how each one had a name, with beautiful flowers and plants, and many were decked out for the 4th of July which just made it so much more enjoyable.
We found a picturesque little trail with hidden gnomes scattered throughout. It wound through the woods and down to the beach, then along the beach and up some stairs to a very pretty overlook where we stopped to take some pictures.
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| Molly and Grandpa |
Gene and April's 5 children had spent a lot of hours planning a special program to honor them that night. They told stories about their childhood, sang special songs, presented a photo book, and we watched a slideshow (made by Molly). It was neat to reflect on the two of them and the life they have built and what they have taught all of us. They are wonderful, Christ-like people and we are all better for their examples.
After the program, we drove down to the beach to see if we could catch any fireworks. We had been told some people were going to light them, even though it was still only the 3rd. Justin let Brynn drive on the beach a little and she couldn't stop laughing the whole time. We told her she had to actually open her eyes to see where she was going. We played on the beach for a long time with no fireworks so we headed back. We were freezing. Apparently, we left 5 minutes too soon because they got something broken working again and had a pretty great firework show. Oh well.
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| Molly, Stockton, Ivy, Kai, Riley, Brynn, Avery |
It was our last night so Stockton took his turn to go sleep at the big house with the Brown and Tanner boys. Looks like they had some fun! |
| Grayson, Micah, Riley, Sam, Stockton |
We were leaving the next morning. This was the hard part. It was no fun saying good-bye, especially to those who live further away. Who knows when we will see them again and it's not likely that all of us will be able to spend several consecutive days together again. We were so grateful for the time spent together. Everything went so smoothly that it felt like a miracle and tender mercy from Heavenly Father.  |
| Molly, Brynn, Avery, Ivy |
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| Brett and me |
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| Riley, Eli, Ivy |
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| Cam, Riley, Stockton, Grayson, Sam |
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| Jake, Molly, Camille, Tiana |
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| Eric set up a hug train - two lines going in two directions (toward each other), and you had to hug as you went through the line |
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| Ivy, Kai, Molly |
Our family had a couple of days to get home so we took a detour and drove to Astoria, Oregon for half a day. We climbed the stairs to the top of the Astoria Tower for an amazing view. (Stockton did not like this part and immediately went back down.) We recreated a family picture from the last time we were there (July 2006 when I was pregnant with Molly).
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| Stockton and Grandpa |
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| Molly and Grandma |
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| Brett, me, Ivy, Molly, Brynn |
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| 2006 |
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| 19 years later! |
We were tired, and tired of hiking specifically, but Heidi had told us about a hike that was short so we did that as well. It was beautiful so probably worth it.
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| Grandpa poking his head out in the very back, Stockton, Molly, Brynn, Ivy |
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| Molly, Grandpa, Grandma |
Ivy wanted to ride the trolley so we went down to the harbor and walked around the port while we waited for it to arrive. Then it was taking too long to come so half the family went in search of some fish 'n chips to bring back while the other half waited and rode the trolley. |
| Molly, Brynn, Brett, Ivy, Stockton |
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| Grandma, Ivy, Stockton, Justin, Molly, Brynn |
We drove as far as we could, slept in another random hotel along the way, and drove the rest of the way home the next day. It was a great trip but home is always best.
Last photo to document: instead of Ivy or Brynn sleeping on the floor, the three girls shared one bed at the last hotel, with Brynn sleeping in the middle with her head at Molly and Ivy's feet. I woke up first and found her sleeping with her head almost all the way off the end of the bed. We were all happy to be back to our own beds that night!
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