Bussey/Weiner Family Reunion

Near the end of June, we met many of Chris's family members (on his mother's side) in Colorado for a family reunion. Aunt Judy came up with the idea of joining together at The YMCA Camp of the Rockies and there was no way we were going to miss an opportunity to see everyone and spend a week in the fresh mountain air.

Eight out of ten cousins were there, five of us bringing a rugrat or two. And The missing two had good reason (Emily was just married and Jason's wife Erica was very pregnant with number four, Graham Colt.) I wish I could post pictures of everyone and document all the fun times but that would be impossible.

The highlights for me were:
-Our hike with Jacob, Matthew and their 'rents followed by lunch at a small brewery
-Naps and reading with Sofia in the room
-Hanging out in Larry and Judy's room (they can make even a hotel room warm and inviting)
-Seeing all the little ones: Micah, Ian, Melanie, and Jesse James
-Jacob (at the top of my list of cool kids) trying to sneak cocktail weenies out of the cafeteria for me in a napkin.

Lucas would say the high points were:
-SNOW!
-Swinging in playgrounds
-Mini-golf
-Root beer with his cousins at their own table on a restaurant patio (he fakes liking root beer now because it is so cool)
-Throwing rocks into creeks
-Potty jokes and running wild with cousin Matthew (his age) and Lego's with Jacob (8 yrs old. and VERY tolerant and gracious with the two 4-yr-old crazies)

Arts and crafts

24/7

A room with a view
(of the playground, a typical ranch scene, and trees ravaged by the Pine Beetle.)

Swangin'

Hiking just outside Rocky Mountain National Park

Kids table (lunch after the hike)

That smile is convincing, but the cup was about that full when we left.

Pic-nicking with the Weiners

The grand finale - a family bonfire (I was sleeping with Sofia)

Lucas and Matthew built a "fire" of their own.
This is probably his 37th marshmallow.

Smiling with Gigi