Holderness Family Reunion

 Back in July we were able to attend the Holderness Family reunion in Boise.  We debated for a long time whether or not to attend this year, due to our upcoming move and the many unknowns in our life.  However, with Kenny's grandpa's health declining we knew it was the last reunion with him, so we decided it was an important trip and we needed to go.  I headed out on Friday morning and met a bunch of the family at Roaring Springs water park.  At first I thought I was crazy for taking all 6 kids by myself, but there proved to be plenty of willing hands to help me and we all had a great time.  I was even able to get away from the little ones a few times and take the oldest 3 on a few water slides.  It was a great day that would have been better only if Daddy had been able to join us.

The Lazy River.  What fun!

My cute little baby LOVES the water.

I didn't see Ben most of the time we were there.  He was off riding water slides with cousins and having a blast the entire time.

Grandma helping Gracie snap a picture.

Gracie's turn to smile.

Hannah and her cousin Savannah.

Doesn't she look like she had a lot of fun?

Waiting in line for lunch with DanDan.

Hanging out with the little boys and Grandma.

Saturday brought a lot of family time, a magician, and Daddy.  We began the day by hanging out at the hotel.  It's amazing how cool it can be for kids to hang out in a hotel, especially when the hotel is full of cousins.  At noon we headed downstairs to see the magician.  The kids had a blast watching him set up and they could hardly wait for the show to begin.  The magician didn't disappoint and Hannah, Ben, and Sarah were even chosen to be part of the show.  Towards the end of the show the kids looked over and saw Daddy sitting there watching them.  He had arrived from Washington and we were all so happy to see him.

The kids watching the magic show.

Hannah's turn to be a volunteer.  She was a little embarrassed and a little confused by the magician.

Hannah got to ride a magic carpet and it seemed as though  the carpet was floating in mid air.  Of course she couldn't see it and was not terribly impressed but the other cousins in the audience were.

Ben and Sarah got to roll the big dice for one of the magic tricks.

Dan was happy to see Daddy and enjoyed wearing his sunglasses.

After the magic show the magician made balloon creations for all the kids.  They each got to choose what they wanted and there was a wide variety of creations in the room when everything was said and done.

Hannah was one of the first to get a balloon and she chose a ladybug.  Her balloon popped within a few minutes, but the magician was nice enough to make her another one. This time she tied it on her wrist so it wouldn't break again.

Dan got a turtle and he carried it around everywhere with him until it finally popped that night.

Gracie got a heart hat and had to have pictures with her cousins who also had balloon hats.

Gracie and her favorite cousin Gabbi with their balloon hats.

After the magic show we had some lunch and then hung out with Daddy.  We ran a few errands and then headed over to Kenny's Uncle Kevin's house for a family dinner.  It was a lot of fun to hang out with family and to watch our kids play with cousins that they don't get to see very often.  Family time is the best part about reunions.  After the dinner it was back to the hotel for some bed jumping fun and then sleeping time.

Playing with cousins at Uncle Kevin's.

My little boys sharing a bed and having a bottle.  These boys sure love each other.

Hannah jumping from one bed to the other.

Gracie wasn't brave enough to jump the gap between the beds so she improvised.

The girls got really creative on finding ways to get from one bed to the other, a human bridge.

Sunday morning we packed up the room and headed back to Uncle Kevin's for testimony meeting.  Kenny has an amazing family and it is always so wonderful to hear their amazing testimonies.

The entire clan after dinner on Saturday night.  What an amazing group of people.

Grandma Holderness has always paired off the kids and taken pictures.  These are the pictures our family was in.

Mom and Dad's group (the oldest cousin group.)

Sarah's group with Jonathon, Devin, Missi, and Alex

Ben's group with Savannah and Alli

Hannah's group with Ella, Cadence, Kieran, and Samantha

Gracie's group with Zack, Lincoln, Michael, and Jaden

Dan's group with Ava, Carlie, and Mable

Adam's group with Bailey, Cooper, and Kody

After testimony meeting we were able to go back to Grandma and Grandpa Holderness' house and have the kids be welcomed into the Silver Dollar Club.  It's a club Grandpa had made up for all the great grand kids.  They each got a silver dollar, the oldest child in each family got a dollar Grandpa had saved from his parents.  It was such a nice thing for them to do for each of their great grand kids.  I just feel bad I didn't have my camera for pictures.  I'll have to get them from my in-laws.  :)

Grandpa and Grandma Holderness.  They have built an amazing legacy.