The Young and the Restless

Cabins and Cousins (part 1)

Still sticking with our "cousin" themed posts as we continue our summer adventures. Our next adventure finds us in Pinetop, AZ sharing a cabin with 35 of our favorite people (and really missing those that couldn't make it). In years past we've always made an effort to get together at some point or another, coordinating trips to Utah and meeting up whenever we can. Last summer we decided to take turns planning an official annual family reunion. Janessa started us off and spent so much time researching where to go, where to stay (finding accommodations for this many people is no small task!), coordinating meals, activities and figuring out all the details to make this reunion possible. I am so grateful for all that she did to create such a fun and memorable reunion. I loved that as soon as the kids opened their eyes each morning they were off exploring and playing with cousins. Family reunions with my own cousins growing up are some of my favorite memories and I love that my kids can file these memories away as some of their favorites as well. Here are a few highlights....my mom did a "games with grandma" day and the kids loved the plastic wrapped ball of goodies that was used to play with a dice game. Maddox thought he won the lottery when he unwrapped a pocket knife. If you know Maddox, you know how when he gets excited about something it is all consuming. This knife did that for him. He spent endless hours whittling sticks for his cousins and discussing knife sharpeners and knife sharpening techniques with Grandpa and Uncle Tyler. His joy could hardly be contained when Grandma sat down with him and researched knife sharpeners on Amazon and picked one out for him. It was ALL he talked about and thought about for the entire reunion. The first thing he would say every morning when he woke up is "I'm just so jazzed I'm getting a sharpener!" or "this must be a dream!".  I love how it's the little things that get him so excited.

Their cousin Ian showed Ryder how to turn a shirt into a Ninja mask and he couldn't wait to show his cousins. They spent the rest of the reunion in Ninja mode and I sorta loved it.

Sam did a workout for us one morning and I couldn't walk for two days straight. I was in charge of a morning run one morning, but it got downgraded to a walk and lasted about 15 minutes-ha!

We couldn't get enough of the deliciously squishy babies, Lydia and Dean were by far everyone's favorite entertainment

The game room was a close second. We had a foosball tournament going on with official brackets, teams and rules. It was not taken lightly.

Each family was in charge of an activity, for ours we did a photo scavenger hunt and it was so much fun. Jason, Tyler, Troy and John teamed up and we were dying at the stuff they came up, those boys think they're teenagers again when they get together and it's pretty entertaining.

We had a nail biting finish, it was decided by Jason that we would have one final tie breaker challenge in the form of a "Foap photo challenge" (totally making fun of Janessa and I taking all our Foap pictures), we had to hand it to the boys, this final display of creativity took the cake and they were given the official title of Jolley Photo Scavenger Hunt Winners.

We had a talent show one night, which is always entertaining in a family that is not particularly filled with traditional talents. There were skits, magic tricks (a LOT of magic tricks), demonstrations on how to start an IV (most creative talent award goes to nurse Jessica!), some entertaining family songs and a ukulele duet that left us all wondering where Julene's beautiful voice came from. And then we debuted the talented "boys in tutus with fidget spinners" number. Just bursting with talent I tell you. Another favorite night was when we shared stories from our ancestors. Loved the connection to the past and being able to pass along stories of our courageous ancestors. I also loved that our reunion fell on the 4th of July, but that will be a post of it's own...