Shurtliff Family Reunion Part 1

The Shurtliff summer vacation is the highlight of the year! I love my family so much and love spending time with them. It's so fun to sit around and talk to each other, work out together, and play games together.

I was not thrilled with the circumstances in which the vacation started. Unfortunately Matt had some big changes happening at work and came up a day later. That meant I had to make the 4-hour drive by myself with the kiddos. I should preface this by saying that whenever we drive long distances, Matt does the driving because I can last about an hour before I start getting sleepy at the wheel. I was SO scared about the drive knowing that I had my children's lives in my hands! A prayer, lots of phone calls and a book on tape, plus Caleb's help to make sure I was awake and somehow we all made it safely.

I had a huge head ache when I arrived though--something about driving that long with 3 kids and waiting in an hour long car line to cross on the ferry with a baby that only napped 1 hour when I was hoping he would nap 3. It was my turn to cook dinner that night, so despite the head ache and the unpacking that waited for me, I got started with our first meal of the vacation: BBQ chicken salad + french bread.

The kitchen was nice and large which was a must for our big group!

While I cooked dinner, Aunt Kara and cousin Ellery kept Bryson preoccupied with exploring the bedrooms.

We had, basically, a Family Home Evening every night. My brother, Clayton and his wife, Kara, had the idea to do a Family Tree Gathering each night based on Elder Cook's conference address: 

We finally have the doctrine, the temples, and the technology for families to accomplish this glorious work of salvation. I suggest one way this might be done. Families could hold a “Family Tree Gathering.” This should be a recurring effort. Everyone would bring existing family histories, stories, and photos, including cherished possessions of grandparents and parents. Our young people are excited to learn about the lives of family members—where they came from and how they lived. Many have had their hearts turned to the fathers.

Each couple was assigned some ancestors to research. Matt and I had Clara and Israel Savage. Even though it was difficult to find the time to do the research, I found it so fascinating to study their lives. The amazing trials they survived and how they clung to each other and their faith in Jesus Christ inspires me. 

Here we are gathering on the first night. 

Later we did a doughnut eating contest with homemade doughnuts. Such a fun idea, again by Clay and Kara.

The kids loved it!

Each morning when the kids got up earlier than the adults, the kids played on ipads so the adults could get a little more shut-eye.

Even though the ping pong table wasn't regulation size, we had a lot of fun with Around the World, doubles and singles games.

Grandpa and Caleb

Caleb and Drew played quite a bit.

We had some fun shuffleboard games as well.

Caleb is obsessed with America Ninja Warrior and loves to make up courses in our house or on our play gym at home. He showed off some of his skills on vacation.

Entertaining the young kiddos