Devin and I were already there, and then on my mom's birthday (Tuesday the 29th) Mark and Cristina and their kids showed up. Yay kidlets! I haven't seen them in 4 years since I lived with them and Justin was a baby. Justin is now 4, Brianna 6, and little Mark almost 8. Crazy. They are all adorable and so fun to be with and they love their Uncle Devin and Aunt Rebecca, and we are fine with that because we love them too.
Wednesday, Mom had doctor's appointments and errands, and the kids played and went to the park. Devin, Mark, and I all went to the Temple.
Thursday, we all went to a water park!! Yay!! My family LOVES water. Loves it. So, Mom and Dad were kind enough to pay our way as we are poor, and off we went! Meanwhile, while we're going there, we find out that my sister Elise and her family are coming that day instead of Friday! Whoops! Oh well. Once we got to the water park, we got the group cabana thingy rate so we had a private cabana for chairs and shade, free miniature golf & go carts for 4, and discounts on alcohol which did us absolutely no good. So after renting some inner tubes and lathering ourselves in sunscreen, we were off! Devin and I rode all the slides but the speed slide, because in my opinion it just gives you a wedgie, and didn't go in any of the pools. They had 2 tube slides you could go on on tubes, a half pike, a toilet bowl, 3 body slides, the speed slide, a lazy river, a hot tub, a wave pool, and 2 kiddy pool areas. Mark went on absolutely everything and was able to convince Cristina to go on one of the tube slides with him. Mom enjoyed the lazy river and watching the kidlets and I think the hot tub. Dad went on everything Devin and I did, and the kidlets played in the kiddy pool areas and the lazy river. Little Mark also went on the half pike with his dad twice and in the wave pool with both of his parents. After food and more fun, Mom and Cristina took the kidlets home and Devin, Dad, Mark, and I went go carting and played miniature golf. My dad would have you know that he “won” both (you couldn't really pass or win on the go carts but whatever). Oh and one of the holes ate 2 of Mark's golf balls. He swore it would have been a hole in one and wouldn't give it up for forever. We watched them clean the hole out and like 6 to 8 balls came out of that thing.
Later that evening, Elise and Robert and Bjorn showed up. Yay more family! Bjorn loved my mom's kitten and was laughing so hard when Devin was playing with her or when the kitty would chase after a toy that Bjorn would pull behind him. However, sometimes the kitty had to be protected from the various grandchildren and Robert was so allergic to the kitty that he had to sleep outside in the tent :(
Friday was the day the kids went and had cousin pictures taken. Then there was more of children playing at the park and then Clark and Tricia flew in. My parents house then had 14 people staying in it! 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 14 people and 1 kitty. Madness.
Saturday morning, our family went and took family pictures. I will not describe the drama that was involved in figuring out what everyone was wearing for said pictures, but just know that it was there. So, we're all dressed in church clothes, and taking pictures by rickety old barns surround cow pies. Although I have not seen them yet, I hear the pictures are actually quite good, so thank heavens for that! That afternoon, Dad, Elise, Robert, Mark, Devin, and I all go to the Temple with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Glenn, Aunt Rose Maree, and cousin Elizabeth. It was such a wonderful, sweet experience to be there with all of them. Afterward, we ran home for dinner and to change. Then everyone (meaning more cousins and cousins' kids and aunts and uncles and siblings and nephews and niece) all met up for ice cream at a park. The park was quite fun and I got to push Justin and some of my cousin Glenn's daughters on the swings and Bjorn and Brianna were super cute playing together. Then, while we're serving ice cream, the sprinklers come on. Always an adventure with the Hammers. That night my siblings and siblings in law, minus Robert, all played Just Dance. Fabulous dance game on the Wii. Please see my facebook for videos of the ridiculousness and awesomeness.
Sunday morning, we all went to Church at my parents' church and I loved getting to hear from my grandpa, my dad, my cousin, and my sister in law Cristina about their Testimonies of Jesus Christ as our Savior. After Church, we had a family picnic/BBQ at another park and community center. We had BBQ beef or pork (don't remember which) sandwiches, macaroni and potato salad, fruit, and more ice cream. The kids all played outside on the play structure and Justin and Sara (my cousin Glenn's daughter who I pushed on the swing the night before) fought over who got to go down the slide with me. Such fun! Sadly, Clark and Tricia had to fly back to Portland so that Clark could go to work the next day. Later, we all returned to the church to have a fireside. We sang the Star Spangled Banner, as it was the 4th of July, and listened to my aunt Suzanne, uncle Glenn, and my dad all talk about the joy of growing up with my grandparents and how they are wonderful people, and they are. My grandparents also spoke about each other and their Testimonies in Jesus Christ. It was a beautiful meeting and it was wonderful to share that kind of experience with my family.
Monday was the last day of the family reunion and it was awesome. We all drove over to Colfax, CA, over the hill as my dad calls it (I do not think the Sierra-Nevadas are a hill but whatever), to where my uncle Glenn and aunt Rose Maree and the grandparents live. They are fortunate enough to have a fair bit of property and enough room for large gatherings. They also, along with a few other neighbors, own a pond. We were able to go swimming, kayaking, and paddle boating on the pond. It was incredibly fun, albeit hot. There were also geese, and a duck-goose. This hilarious duck thought it was goose. It would always hang it with the geese and chase away other ducks. Apparently, the geese have tried to chase it off a number of times but just give up when it won't go away. At any rate, my aunt and uncle also have two VERY large cats and chicken, along with whatever wildlife is in the area: bears, squirrels, raccoons, cougars, birds, etc. They also have a zip-line, a 4 wheeler that they pull a little wagon behind for the kids to ride in, and a big fire-pit with lots of chairs. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. Brianna especially loved the paddle boat and didn't want to get out. But I wanted to ride with my husband and she didn't want to be in the middle so out she went. Devin and I were attacked by the Malmstrom vikings while were out paddle boating, but then a truce was later made when Devin took the small viking Bjorn out on a kayaking trip in the blue boat (Bjorn insisted it only be the blue one). Bjorn also brought the fake duck along for this trip. Elise and I were then able to paddle boat around the pond and look for fish. Throughout the day, several were spotted. Devin was also kind enough to take Justin out while Cristina and Elise rode the paddle boat. Brianna and Bjorn enjoyed playing together, especially in Uncle Glenn's waterfall. Poor little Mark tripped and scratched his face, but still had a good time anyway. Mark and Devin also played badminton with some of the first-cousins-once-removed. After some more food, stories, and hugs it was time to go. Hopefully we will be able to have another family reunion soon.
Tuesday, after packing and watching our picture slide-show, all of my family departed, and Mom and Dad had their house back to themselves for the first time in 2 months, with the addition of the kitty of course. I hope it won't be too long before we're all together again! I love you all!
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