After leaving Blake's family, we headed down to spend a few days with mine at our annual family reunion.
Trey immediately sat down and started playing the piano. This is normally not allowed by the grand kids, but he was playing so sweetly and softly I got to take a picture instead of tell him to stop. His thumb is in the mouth however, because he saw me coming and automatically assumed he was in trouble.
This was a frequent sighting over the next few days. My niece Kylie is the best at getting her youngest cousin to sleep!
And then the reunion "officially" began.
My parents were in charge this year and the theme was "Christmas in August". So, my mom started things off by setting the scene and the mood.
Christmas hats, decorations, and a few small gifts.
Doesn't he look adorable in his hat?
Doesn't she look adorable in her hat? She loves when I take her picture.
Then everyone set to work decorating their rooms to look like Christmas.
Except our family. Lanaya was asleep in our room and I wasn't about to disturb her. And that is how I became the Family Reunion Photographer.
Kayli and Kylie. I loved how much cousin bonding went on this year!
Next step at creating Christmas in August--making snow.
The problem with the hats was that it was nearly impossible to get faces.
Lanaya woke up and joined in the fun.
This is what Trey's snowflake looked like after his cousin Jared helped him make it and before he ripped it in half. Toddlers and crafts don't always mix.
So, instead the toddlers went down to play some ladder ball.
Just watch what happened next:
Total Cousin Domination!
Sad face again because he just assumed he was in trouble.
Actually, I think I might have been reminding him of that awful word "share".
This is how my dad has fun at Christmas. And all year long. He is an excellent dish washer.
Love this face. Kylie was so great to help him be happy no matter what we were doing.
I sure do love those Christmas cookies, Sugar.
Serious cookie talk going on here.
Making cookies makes her really sleepy.
Actually, this is another of her silly Camera Smiles.
This isn't any sort of smile. This is a My-Dough-Won't-Do-What-I-Want-It-To-Sad-Face. So sad.
Fortunately, his awesome mama helped him figure it out and Happy Face was restored.
Cutting out the gingerbread men.
I love my husband.
No distance is too far to reach when cookies are involved.
My dad was still having a lot of fun. Actually, in this photo he was vehemently declaring that he doesn't vacuum floors. Sorry, Dad. Your secret is out. If you and Mom move into my basement, I'll unpost it.
That's right. This is blackmail.
Aunt Melanie perpetuated her sweet bond with this little guy. He adores her!
Cookie decorating! Never have I seen gingerbread men so loaded down with treats and toppings. I think the raisins were the only things left by the end of it. Weird.
Just snapping a random photo of this little gal and she smiled! Granted, she was asleep, but this is exactly how her smiles look when she's awake. Except that her eyes are usually open...
And then the girls decided to make headbands. No one knows how it happened but, my brother-in-law and my dad were somehow the ones in charge of this.
My dad just loves crafting flowers and headbands. His second favorite activity after housework.
The great thing about having two manly men helping out is that even my "I'm not a girl-girl!" daughter made a couple headbands.
Here they all are with their creations!
And that, My Dear Readers, is the first half of the day. So, take a breather and we'll be back with more soon!
