The Great Family Reunion
This week we’ve been in Iowa for our family reunion. Should be no problem to find ten things to be thankful for!
1. Thankful that my grandmother is still in such good health and that my grand children were able to spend some time with her and see her farm.
2. Happy that my dad made it there eventually, even though he was in a fender bender before the flight, missed our original flight, and didn’t get in to Omaha until after 1o pm… almost 12 hours after we did.
3. Thankful that our family friends volunteered to go back to the airport and pick him up, so that one of us did not have to make the 3 hour round trip…. again.
4. Thankful that the ginormous tornadoes that came through Tuesday night of last week did not touch down closer than 10 miles from Sioux City and my grandma’s farm. And that the tornado warnings we were in the first two nights did not actually result in tornadoes near us.
5. So thankful to connect with aunts, uncles, cousins, and a few stragglers (!!) that I don’t get to see near enough. It was so much fun to watch my children connect with the children of the cousins I grew up with.
6. Thankful for my Great Aunt Fanchon, on my dad’s side of the family, who will be turning 99 in just a few weeks! She is still so perky and with it and still lives on her own! And best of all, she actually remembers all of us! We spent a lovely afternoon catching up with some cousins on my dad’s side of the family as well. And we were able to visit our farm, where my grandparents raised their children, and where my dad lived until he came out to South Carolina to be with us. This picture shows the screen door from the old farm house that my dad used when he built the new place.
7. Thankful for the great grandchildren that were present at the Reunion, and the two that will arrive soon. I finally got to meet 4 of the little ones I hadn’t met yet.
8. Thankful for the hotel swimming pools, that entertained and wore out the kids every day.
9. Thankful for a boisterous and fun loving family.
10. So, so, so thankful that I am not a single mom and that I can go back home to my husband. Because even though the family helped me with the kids this week, it wasn’t the same level of commitment as their father, nor was it the same level of support to me.
It was a great trip, but I am more than ready to be home tomorrow!
Dyanne @ I Want Backsies says
June 22, 2014 at 10:45 pmYour grandma is adorable! I also love her house. So midwestern!
Glad the tornadoes missed you (I’m from Joplin, I get tornadoes).
We used to have a front screen door like that! It was on the first house I lived in!
Have a safe trip home!
Janine Huldie says
June 22, 2014 at 11:03 pmAww, I love that you got to visit and be with your family this past week. And love that even your grandma was there. Mine has been gone since 2010 and what I would give to have even one more day with her now. Also, can totally say I, too, am so happy that I am not a single mom and thank god for Kevin and all his help every day, as well.
katbiggie says
June 24, 2014 at 1:17 pmI am really glad we were able to spend time with her. She is in such good shape. I am thankful for each visit with her. I was so blessed to have my great grandmother in my life until I as 21. I hope my children will be old enough to remember their GiGi when she passes.
Kristi Campbell says
June 22, 2014 at 11:50 pmWhat a wonderful family reunion! I’m so glad your dad made it – those mishaps right before a flight are something I’ve experienced and they are such a hassle and so stressful! That’s so awesome you got to spend good time with family and also that you can go home tomorrow (today?). I know what you mean about family being great about helping with kids but husbands are just different right?
katbiggie says
June 24, 2014 at 1:16 pmYes indeed. Husbands have a different vested interest, for oh so many reasons! We are all home, safe, sound, and so tired of each other!
Mary Hill says
June 23, 2014 at 12:42 amI am so glad you have had such wonderful family times. Family is such a blessing. 😉
Ee-ah says
June 23, 2014 at 6:28 amHaha! I bet you did miss me a little this trip!
katbiggie says
June 24, 2014 at 1:04 pmAndrea, you have no idea.
Dana says
June 24, 2014 at 8:56 amAmen to husbands! Sounds like you had a lovely trip. I have such a small family; when I see pics of big reunions it makes me wish I had a bigger one. But I suppose it’s all about how close you stay with the family you have, right? Welcome home!
katbiggie says
June 24, 2014 at 1:05 pmOur family is huge. My mom is the oldest of 11 kids! We are amazingly close knit for such a huge family. There are 44 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren!
another jennifer says
June 25, 2014 at 2:30 pmSo much to be thankful for. Looks like a great family trip!