Swan Reunion

This is the second year in a row that the Swan Family reunion has been held in Springville over the 4th of July holiday. This makes it less of a vacation for us, but the kids enjoy seeing their cousins.

The first day we hiked the Left Fork trail up Hobble Creek Canyon and spent the afternoon at the splash pad. Then we had a BBQ at Aaron's parents house for dinner.

Zac, Lincoln, Luke, Ivan, Adelia, Eliza, Ollie

Rue and Malia

Adelia, Ruby, Eliza, and Malia

Ollie and Eli, best buddies and cousins.

Spencer, Lincoln, and Ivan playing chess.

On the morning of the 4th, we got up early and drove to Provo to see the hot air balloons, which is one of my favorite traditions. The weather wasn't ideal though, so the balloons didn't launch. But they still blew them up for everyone to see, which was cool.

Sometimes this is as good of a family picture as you get. 

After balloons we went to watch the parade. It rained for a little while, but stopped before the parade actually started. Parades aren't really our thing, so we left early.

Lincoln, Zac, Luke, Ivan

This is how Ollie watched most of the parade. 

Lincoln, Ivan, Zac, Jeremiah, Spencer, Adelia

I made my own Fourth of July T-shirt, in Type 3 colors. I had a little help from Aaron and Kelly. Have you ever tried to make anything with an engineer and an architect looking over your shoulder? Hehe, it was funny. But they were helpful, so the shirt turned out perfectly.

After the parade, we went home to give the kids naps and to get our house ready. We were hosting dinner and fireworks. Aaron made home made root beer.

Eli and Ollie, watching them play was my favorite part of the whole weekend.

Jeremiah and Ivan

Ollie was unsure of the fireworks at first, but he warmed up to them.

Ollie's first sparkler

Five of my favorite people. 

Hosting so many people is stressful, and that's an understatement. I had planned on everyone being mostly outside, but of course that never happens. By the end of the night my house was a wreck from top to bottom, my privacy had been invaded, multiple boundaries had been crossed (unintentionally, I'm sure), my nerves were fried, and I just wanted everyone to leave. I will not be volunteering my house for family parties in the future. With such a large group of people, I think it's better for everyone if the events are held in a neutral space, like a park. That way everyone is on equal ground, and no one is left with a giant mess to clean up at the end.

But the important thing is that my kids had a good weekend, and made some great memories with their cousins. We survived, and my nerves will get over it eventually. Even if right now I want to crawl into the back of a dark closet, curl up in a ball, and never see another human again. I'm sure that feeling will pass. :)