Family Reunion: Day One

Here's some memorable photos from our first day on the Family Reunion.  Most of the first day was just driving to Idaho, but I love me a pretty drive.  When I was growing up my mom was always taking the "scenic route"  and trying to get us to take note of the loveliness outside the car windows. . . . Looks like it must have stuck, mom!

First we stopped by BYUI in Rexburg to have a lovely parking lot visit with Miss Ashley (soon to be Mrs.!) with her handsome fiance.  Since they'd just gotten "officially" engaged a few days before, this was extra exciting.  After stopping by My Sweetie's uncle's airplane museum (how cool is that to have your own airplane museum with your own airplanes in it?!) we drove by the beautiful Rexburg temple and got back on the road again (I think we did even listen to Willy Nelson song along the way).

It was a long drive for one afternoon, but like I mentioned, I like driving through pretty scenery--especially towards evening when the lightening is getting good! See how it makes me happy:

(AZ's so hot now that just looking at myself wearing a sweater makes me feel like I'm starting to melt).

After arriving at the tucked away rustic cabin in the woods I broke out the camera to take pics of the main attractions:  that would be the kids!  How I love me some cute nieces and nephews.  Makes the long drives all worth it.

 (check out that tongue on the teething baby J!)

What is it about campfires that makes everybody happy?  Is it the combination of the elements:  fire, air and earth that creates extra energy?  I don't know, but the kids were jumping out of their skin with excitement.  I stayed by the fire to make sure no one got burned and snapped away.

And now to end this endless string of photographs of my darling relations I'll tell you one quick story:

I snapped this shot of Katie and Ben sitting by each other near the fire and thinking they looked so nicely posed I said, "Now one of you turn and look at the other one, like in a coy engagement shoot."
They both instantly turned and looked at each other, "Oh!  You're both gonna look!  Gonna go straight to pure romance!"  This made them laugh.

(See. . . pure Romance!I overheard Katie saying on FB that she "renews her wedding vows everyday."  Looks like its working for you doll.)

Their 3rd born thinks they look pretty sweet, too.