Sunshine & Rainbows Part V: Unforgettable Moments

For the third straight year, Uncle Joe hosted a series of foot races among the kids.

 

I captured the beginning and the middle, but have no idea what happened at the end. Someone won, and someone else probably fell, and someone else probably got hurt, and there were probably no less than two children crying.  That's how these things usually end.

 

After the big foot race, we enjoyed another tradition: a campfire and s'mores.

Xandra & Uncle Josh

Kiyah

Theia, Xandra, Uncle Josh, Laney, Aunt Beth, Evie, Liam

Left to Right:  Cora (in back), Uncle Andy, Aliyah, Joe, Theia, Xandra, Evie, Liam, Auntie Beth (in back)

 

After the s'mores, the adults also played some silly game involving famous people, but I can't remember anything about it now, except that Andy coordinated it and I'm pretty sure I lost.  

It's a good thing I'm tasked with chronicling our families big moments since I've been gifted with such an amazing memory and attention to detail.  

Sunshine & Rainbows Part IV: Tricks on Bikes

This poster appeared on the door of the Pull house the Wednesday before the reunion.  You'll notice after it was posted that they had a last minute edit moving the performance day from Thursday to Monday.

 

The kids practiced and bossed each other around about the big day all weekend.

 

They also hired a clown to be the MC of Tricks on Bikes.

 

They didn't have any money to pay him, so they had to just take what they could get for free.

 

Once he gathered everyone's attention,

 

the show began.

 

It consisted mostly of kids riding their bikes in circles.  Then the big kid joined in with his big bike.

 

Tikvah was waving back at the performers.

 

Uncle Ryan even took a turn.

 

Then Xandra and Gramps performed synchronized biking,

 

 and were followed up by a bike caravan.

The grand finale involved Uncle Ryan and Gramps in one (almost) death defying stunt.

 

Thankfully, they defied death.  Then the adults all went back to eating and the kids all went back to bossing.

Sunshine and Rainbows, Part III: Productivity

While SOME of the adults lounged about,

 

the rest of us (actually just Grandma) kept the kids busy

 

painting.

 

They painted cars

 

and birdhouses.

 

She's a very brave woman.

 

 And productive too.  

Unlike others who will go unmentioned, but not unpictured (see above).

Sunshine & Rainbows, Part 2: Snuggles, Beatings & Eatings

More highlights from the family reunion included walks with Autie Laura (and anyone else they could convince) to the bridge, (There is a bridge at the end of my in-laws driveway and the kids love to go down there and throw rocks off of it.)

 

snuggles with Auntie Beth (or any available lap),

 

swinging in the swing with Gramps pushing,

 

and knocking Gramps over, too,

 

playing hide and seek at the window with Liam,

 

and holding baby Edmund (or any baby she can get her hands on).

 

There was also an incident of good-natured head butting involving Joey and Gramps.  Gramps didn't make out too well.

 

When we weren't abusing gramps, there was also eating.  Lots and lots of eating.

Sunshine and Rainbows, Part I

The beginning of June brought the annual Pull family reunion.  

This year there was lock picking 101 with Uncle Joe,

 

Thumbsucking with Joey,

 

Lounging with Lucy

 

and Kiyah,

 

Bug Collecting with Xandra

 

Step Climbing with Tikvah,

 

biking games in the garage with cousins,

 

Talking and lazing with the adults,

 

and free rides with Laura and Lucy.

 

 Basically, it was all sunshine and rainbows.  Of course, with Xandra around, everything is sunshine and rainbows,

 

including the barbecue grill.