Well, we the Christensen side family reunion was in full swing the beginning of this July. Sam got off work early on a Tuesday afternoon, and we got a really late start when we had some car trouble, and we ended up pulling out of Bend at after 3 in the afternoon, and though the first 5 hours of the drive is always doable, it's the last stretch that will get you. As it got us. We finally pulled into Burley at around 1:30 a.m. and a rough start with Rowan at the hotel, I really began wondering if we should have just stayed on the road. But, everyone finally fell asleep...Sam, Josh, Kaj, and myself in that order all on the one king size bed. It is really good thing they are still little in 10 years that sleeping arrangement just wouldn't be possible.
We first met up at mom and dad's house, and all the little nieces were already there playing. They greeted each other very typically of little kids- showing just enough enthusiasm to say: 'I am open to playing with you' but not appearing too overly excited. It was a fun first day. We to a new splash pad in Sandy, that was more like a miniature river than a splash pad, and the kids had a lot of fun together. We, then went back to house to get them some food, and play some more, and it is still just amazing how a year or 2 can change the way all the kids interact together, the little conversations that take place, and that with that many kids- they all get a long very well.
The next was the official start of the reunion. Sam and I met up with the rest of the adults at the Draper temple, and did a session. It had been a really long time...and it was nice to be there. We both agree we need to set a goal on going down to Portland to do a session quarterly, or every 6 months...the time frame we haven't yet decided, but we do want to do that. We picked up the kids afterward, and headed out for a short hike to Bridal veil falls, and then stayed in the Provo area for the rest of the day. It was fun to go to BYU, and walk around with Sam on his old stomping grounds. We went to the library on campus, and then went over to the Bean museum where the rest of the family was at. We, then, went over to Jon and Mandy's to have dinner. They have a great yard, and an amazing garden which was inspired us to think about a garden as well. The kids had a lot of fun running around, and jumping on the tramp. It was a non stop day for the kids (and us) and needless to say, I really did wonder how I was going to do this same thing on repeat again the following day.
But, actually the next we spent all of it hanging out at Teresa's and Vance's. They had a great idea of surprising the kids with this huge, blow up, waterslide. So, we gathered the kids inside, and had the watch a little show while the slide was being put together, and then lined them up to run outside after announcing a surprise. It was a hit for everyone. Adults turned into little kids very quickly with that.
The next day, we had family pictures in the morning at Salt Lake temple. It was pretty chaotic with that many people, and it got a little long winded, but the photographer was very nice, and I am sure there are some successful pictures in the hundreds of photos that we took. The rest of the day was an at home carnival. It had some very cute ideas, games, and prizes. I have to say Teresa and Vance's back yard...also amazing. They had paved this area of the yard that sloped so you can ride down with bikes, and race, and that was a lot of the fun when things weren't organized. The cousins seemed to have a lot of fun together, and that was the goal.
I have to say, Teresa and Vance are amazing. They worked very hard, and had a lot of people for a long time, and I am very thankful for the many things I can learn from Teresa. She is an amazing person with a lot of talents, and big heart.
I very thankful for my boys, and the good boys they really are. They were amazing on the ride home, they are troopers, and can make these long trips really easy when it otherwise, could be really hard. I know that they deserve a great mom, and I hope that I can be that for them.
It started with a video clip. Scanning through social media for a spare moment today, I played a clip that was the "top 10 things to know for a first time parent." They had all different parents giving their own top 10 reasons and then tied a bunch of them together. It was all good advice, sweet, funny, tender, and ending on the note: "slow down, you will want these moments back." Of course, I have heard this before. Mostly some reflective person at the grocery store says something like this to me looking at my 3 boys. There are days when want them to stay little, and there are days when I want Rowan to catch up, but today I want to remember them little. Kaj had a hard night- he didn't want to eat dinner, he cried about it, and was sent upstairs, Sam briefed him on the ways he could join us again, and he decided against it. Sam and I went into discussion on what we can do better for him. He is such a good boy, and we always want him to be a good boy. We worry. As all parents worry. Perhaps, stemming from a lot of thought about his starting kindergarten so soon, and despite the fact I have now talked to many parents about the school, about the feelings they had sending their first to kindergarten, and though I feel consoled in the moment, I go back to worrying. Truly, I am going to miss Kaj. 
