Yesterday marked the 2nd annual Shipe Family Reunion! Last year it was held at Grandpa and Grandma Shipe's house and it was awesome! This year, with our backyard complete, we were asked to host the party! We were so excited to have everyone enjoy our backyard as much as we do and it is really the first BIG party that we have held since it was finished in late August.
Our morning was crazy busy with a football game at 8am and dance at 9am, but Michael and Donna came over bright and early to get the backyard set up so that Chad and I could make sure the kids could still follow their normal Saturday schedule! Thank you both so much, that was a huge help!
When all was said and done, daddy did find time to pull Lola around the yard in the wagon while we waited for family to arrive!
As guests arrived, family pictures were taken:
Donna's Family & Grandpa and Grandma Shipe
We love and miss you Kristen, thinking of you in Utah!
Blaine's Family
Somehow he managed to get out of pictures...but Nathaniel was here!
Thinking about you Daniel (serving in the Navy).
Tammy's Family
Mark's Family
First thing on the agenda was to EAT! There was so much food and it was all so delicious! Pot luck style is how we roll at our family reunions!
From the moment the kids started arriving and took one look at the pool, they begged to go in! So that was the next thing on the agenda after lunch!
While Kyan was swimming away with (second) cousins, Lola stuck by me most of the time at the pool! The water is still pretty cold and she didn't enjoy getting splashed so much. She did love shaking her booty with me around the pool and we danced a ton out by the water!
There was an afternoon of fun and games planned as well:
I don't know who was more excited to break the pinata...the kids or Uncle Blaine (who happened to be the one to break it, imagine that)?!
There was never an empty seat at the Domino table and the boys had fun playing the Wii when they weren't outside!
Decorating Cookies!
Easter Egg Hunt!
Donna made it into a game, where the two oldest grand kids were the team captains (and let me tell you they were such good leaders, encouraging the teams and helping when they fell) and their teammates had to bring the eggs to the correct basket once they found them! The winners (everyone won) won bubbles and fun dip!
Daddy had to help Lola after she wiped out egg hunting to find the rest of her eggs! Such a sweet moment to me between the two of them.
Enjoying her newly won bubbles!
Plenty of time to chillax...
form new bonds...
...and pose for pictures!
AND speaking of posing for pictures (I giggle about this even as I write), Grandma had a special request. She brought a picture of her and grandpa posed with all of the grandchildren from years ago that she wanted to recreate, being that we were almost all together (sitting on laps and all)! Without knowing for sure, I would say it was one of the last pictures taken of all of them together up at the cabin (where the family used to go when my hubby was little for family reunions every summer - if someone knows please correct me - Chad says it wasn't at the cabin but offers no help, so I will leave it until someone tells me for sure)!
So here it is...way back when and now!
If you could have only heard all of the laughter and belly aching that was going on, it was too funny!
It was an amazing day together as family and it turned into a wonderful evening as well for those that stuck around (that I didn't photograph, just enjoyed)!
From our family to yours, we thank you for such a great day and look forward to next year!
Our morning was crazy busy with a football game at 8am and dance at 9am, but Michael and Donna came over bright and early to get the backyard set up so that Chad and I could make sure the kids could still follow their normal Saturday schedule! Thank you both so much, that was a huge help!
When all was said and done, daddy did find time to pull Lola around the yard in the wagon while we waited for family to arrive!
As guests arrived, family pictures were taken:
Donna's Family & Grandpa and Grandma ShipeWe love and miss you Kristen, thinking of you in Utah!
Blaine's FamilySomehow he managed to get out of pictures...but Nathaniel was here!
Thinking about you Daniel (serving in the Navy).
Tammy's Family
Mark's FamilyFirst thing on the agenda was to EAT! There was so much food and it was all so delicious! Pot luck style is how we roll at our family reunions!
From the moment the kids started arriving and took one look at the pool, they begged to go in! So that was the next thing on the agenda after lunch!
While Kyan was swimming away with (second) cousins, Lola stuck by me most of the time at the pool! The water is still pretty cold and she didn't enjoy getting splashed so much. She did love shaking her booty with me around the pool and we danced a ton out by the water!There was an afternoon of fun and games planned as well:
I don't know who was more excited to break the pinata...the kids or Uncle Blaine (who happened to be the one to break it, imagine that)?!
There was never an empty seat at the Domino table and the boys had fun playing the Wii when they weren't outside!
Decorating Cookies!
Easter Egg Hunt!Donna made it into a game, where the two oldest grand kids were the team captains (and let me tell you they were such good leaders, encouraging the teams and helping when they fell) and their teammates had to bring the eggs to the correct basket once they found them! The winners (everyone won) won bubbles and fun dip!
Daddy had to help Lola after she wiped out egg hunting to find the rest of her eggs! Such a sweet moment to me between the two of them.
Enjoying her newly won bubbles!
Plenty of time to chillax...
form new bonds...
...and pose for pictures!AND speaking of posing for pictures (I giggle about this even as I write), Grandma had a special request. She brought a picture of her and grandpa posed with all of the grandchildren from years ago that she wanted to recreate, being that we were almost all together (sitting on laps and all)! Without knowing for sure, I would say it was one of the last pictures taken of all of them together up at the cabin (where the family used to go when my hubby was little for family reunions every summer - if someone knows please correct me - Chad says it wasn't at the cabin but offers no help, so I will leave it until someone tells me for sure)!
So here it is...way back when and now!
If you could have only heard all of the laughter and belly aching that was going on, it was too funny! It was an amazing day together as family and it turned into a wonderful evening as well for those that stuck around (that I didn't photograph, just enjoyed)!
From our family to yours, we thank you for such a great day and look forward to next year!
5 comments:
Oh my goodness, that picture of you and Lola is darling!! Um, and I'm going to need a close-up of your awesome burlap R!
Sounds like an amazing day!
Ok so many loves! Love daddy and lo walking hand n hand, love the family pic, love the pic with ur boo, love that u call him that, love ur hair, and love that it's spring and the kids can already swim!! What a great day and a perfect yard to host n!! The kids look they had a blast with all the activities! Ur the hostess with the mostess !!! Miss u!
What fun! We haven't had a family reunion in sooooooo long!
Gosh, I tried SO hard to stay awake long enough last night to comment on this post- but I just didn't make it. After 6 hours of driving with 2 kids in the car, unpacking, 2 loads of laundry, 1 load of dishes, & a blog post of my own.....I just CRASHED!
You got so many great photos, and your family is so lucky that you always have the camera handy. I think I have now passed that on to Gina, since she has a Nikon now, so I may just get to sit back & ENJOY.
LOVE the one of you & Lola & you & Tad, and also your family one- you guys are one GOOD-lookin' family!
Soooo....on a different note, HOW much do I need to pay you to make me a hanging "C" for our front door??? Seriously, for REAL- I know my requests are lengthy, but this is the ONLY one I will bug you for! PAAAALLLLEEEASE. I will put money in your account! : )
Love & miss you, Frien.
It's been a long time since I've peeked at your blog and it was so fun to catch up on your family. Darling as usual! Miss you all and love you much!
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