Billions of Bradleys

For those of you who don't know Christian comes from a big family. I mean a big family. His dad is the oldest of 14, Christian has, 79ish cousins, and we are nearing the 200th great grand child. It is a bigger family then I had ever encountered and after four years I am still learning names and who belongs to who. One of the best things about belonging to a family this big is that when we get together it is always a party!  The Bradley Clan does one big family reunion each year and this year was a true adventure, we went to the Heber Valley Girls Camp and spent a weekend playing as a family and having way to much fun.

We started our weekend with some paddle boating on the lake. The girls were champions at the paddle boating, Christian and I not so much. Still we had a great time and there were quite a few laughs. 

There was also a lot of good food, something to be expected at a Bradley reunion.

While we were eating dinner the first night I noticed that James' tooth was hanging by a thread. He let Christian pull it out and then showed off that happy toothless smile. Still not sure how this boy is eating with so many lost teeth.

After spending the night in some cabins we got up the next morning to do some challenge course. We all picked to do the giant swing and everyone was super excited. 

Here is how it works, you hoped in a harness and

this handsome group of men would pull you up 75 feet in the air

Now if you were under eight you can go to 3/4 height

Then you let go of the red tie and you ....

SWING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matty was very upset that he was too little to do the swing but the sandbox soon calmed that tantrum. 

That afternoon the kids had some more lake time and worked on one of the many arts and crafts project that were available.

Then we went down to Heber Park. Heber decided to have a parade at the same time so it was a double bonus. The kids also liked the awesome new playground. 

We had a fun picnic in the park and then it was off to the Heber Rodeo- red bandannas and all. 

I think the kids liked pretending they were outlaws.

They enjoyed their first rodeo and we all enjoyed the adventure. What a great reunion.

Thanks Bradley Family, we are already looking forward to next year!

Bellamy Family Breakfast

Growing up I remember loving to attending Bellamy family activities. I have a plethora of  cousins and we would get together once a month for Family Home Evening and for Thanksgivings and Christmas Eves. Christmas Eve's were an adventure. All piling into Nan's living room singing together and anticipating not only the gifts but our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of roast beef sandwiches. As we grew we still pilled into that room though it was a lot harder to fit the meal was still the same.  Of course it came to the point that there were just to many of us to keep getting together and Thanksgivings and Christmas Eves ended as did the Family Home Evenings. 

Though I still saw a few of my cousins now and then the only real contact I had with them was on Facebook or for a few minutes once a year at a larger family reunion. Truth is, I missed my cousins. I liked sharing time with them and talking with them. I liked being able to recall shared memories. So taking the idea from my husband's family I organized the first Bellamy Family breakfast-

We didn't have everyone there but we had quite a few. We ate, talked and the kids even played a few games.

I loved watching my kids get to know my cousin's kids and become good friends.

At the end (after some had left) we took a picture of Nan and all her grandchildren still at the party. I loved watching Matty take to Jessie and not leaving her alone all day. Or Eve coloring with Tori. It was just fun to watch them all.

I enjoyed being able to see my cousins and spending time with them. I can't wait to do it next year.