Chlarson Reunion 2010

Another fun-filled Chlarson Family reunion has come and gone! Why does the time have to go so fast when I'm with my family? I wait and wait and the anticipation is almost too much for me to handle and then it's finally here and over in a blink. It was a great reunion this year, if I do say so myself. My sister Barbie and I were in charge together and decided to shake things up a bit and have the reunion in Utah, Bear Lake to be exact. Barbie found a house in Ovid, ID that would accomodate our large group. We made the reservation and started planning!

The house was nice, it had a lot of space and a lot of yard to pitch tents, put RV's, and run around. We had a camp fire a couple of nights, spent a day at Bear Lake, spent another day at the caves and had a famous raspberry shake. We were tired little campers by Sunday.

It was a different dynamic this year. Marion and her family weren't able to come because they were helping Shaila get ready to move to California. My brother Travis and his family wasn't there either, so it was just us four girls and our families, Mom and Dad, and the some of the older married cousins. It's amazing to see my nieces and nephews who are still little kids to me, married and starting families of their own. It was fun to get to know their spouses and welcome them into the family. I'm sure they think we are wild and crazy but hopefully they will get use to us after a while. It was especially fun to meet my nephew, okay great-nephew, Jonas. I have waited almost two years to see him. It was so good to love on him and get my Jonas-fill. He decided that he liked Uncle Ryan, so once Ryan got there, I was kind of forgotten. I love the great-nieces and nephews, and there's starting to be so many of them. 33 to be exact!

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We played games, ate until we were sick, and just enjoyed being together. It was fun to have Jana and Alan, along with Dylan and Chandler, drive up from Texas, too. It's a LONG drive from Texas to Utah, but we are always glad when they can make it to the reunion.

I love my family so much! I know I have said this before, but I don't realize how much I miss them until we are all together again, and then it hits me. I wish we could all live closer but that's not how life works, unfortunately. I cherish the times when we are together though and appreciate my family for letting us each be who we are. I never walk away from my family wondering what's being said behind my back or if they are judging me. Those things just don't happen between us. I am thankful for that. I love that we love each other for who we are and appreciate each other's qualities.

I also want to thank Barbie and Ray for taking Colby and Taylor this year for our manager's meeting. Colby and Taylor love to go to Aunt Barbie and Uncle Ray's and this year they came home feeling like men. They killed a snake and through some circumstances ended up with a dead pheasant, too. They got to go four-wheeling and spent fun time with Unlce Ray feeding the pheasants that they raise. I could hear Colby and Taylor beating their chests like cave men! They love being out in the country doing boy stuff that they can't do in California. They had a great time! We love you Barbie and Ray!

I'm thankful that after 17 years, we are still having family reunions! It's a lot of work for most of us to get there but it is so worth it. I am grateful to know that families are eternal and someday, I will get to be with this crazy family forever and will never have to tell them goodbye. My family has made me who I am and have taught me such valuable lessons. I love each and every one of them and always look forward to the next reunion.