The main reason Mason and I went to Arizona when we did was so that we could attend my Mom's family reunion. These reunions have been held at Green's Peak in the White Mountains of AZ at least since my Mom was a kid. Maybe since my Grandpa was a kid! I grew up camping there with all of my cousins, aunts, and uncles for a week every August and have the best memories of those times. I hadn't been able to attend this reunion since Mason was a baby eight years ago so I was really happy that it worked out this year.
Green's Peak is only about an hour away from my parent's house so we did quite a bit of back and forth driving. Mason and I slept up there for three nights, but that was more than anyone else except for Marc and Uncle Bob.
We knew that most of the extended family probably wouldn't come until the end of the week, but Mom, Dad, Marc, Mason and I drove up on Monday to reserve our spot since it is a popular camping area. Green's Peak is on BLM land and isn't a campground - just open forest with no facilities. I missed access to a bathroom other than a port-a-potty, but the solitude is 100% worth it. We found a good spot with lots of room for all of my cousins. Marc stayed there to save our spot and the rest of us went back to SJ.
I can never get enough of Arizona sunsets.
Making waffles:
Katelyn, Lindsey, and I took our kids swimming at the St. John's pool on Tuesday. I spent many hours there as a kid so it was fun to do with Mason. He was brave and jumped off the diving board a few times. And, I proved to myself that I still could run and dive off the board. It was fun!
We stopped by the snow cone shack after swimming. After spending three summers in that shack as a teen, snow cones don't appeal to me one bit anymore. Haha!
These two are such fun cousin friends!
Mason, Grandpa and I drove back up to the mountain on Tuesday evening. Luckily for us, Marc and Bob had gotten our tent set up right before a huge rain storm. Camping is pretty awesome when someone else does all of the hard work for you!
I don't know why Mason has such a grumpy face in this picture. He loves camping and was super excited about it.
Marc took Mason and I fishing at Big Lake the next morning. After an hour or two in the hot sun with only one bite, he gave up trying to convince us how awesome fishing is. I still think it is incredibly boring and frustrating. Almost as bad as sewing!
Everyone else came up that afternoon and Mason, John, and Evelyn had a great time fishing for squirrels from the back of Marc's truck. Haha!
Pinecone baseball:
Visit to Burnt Mill Spring. We didn't see any salamanders in the pond, but the meadows around it were beautiful.
Everyone but Marc went back to SJ that night so the kids could play in the water while Grandpa irrigating first thing in the morning. Sunrise when I went for a run:
Mason lived his absolute best life running all around the yard in the water and mud for a few hours that morning. It makes me so happy to see the joy he gets from things like this.
Dinosaur Island:
Mason loved playing with Cora and was really cute and sweet with her.
A rare selfie in the shirt from the race on Saturday.
When we got back up to the mountains on Thursday a few of my cousins were there and a bunch of us loaded into the backs of trucks and drove to the top of Green's Peak. It was cold and windy on the top, but such a pretty view with a rain storm rolling in.
Helping with dinner:
A few more cousins trickled in on Thursday, but a lot just came for the day on Friday. Most of them live close enough to do that. Aunt Peggy was in charge of the reunion this year and organized some fun games and a yummy dinner that day. Mason wasn't thrilled to participate in the nature craft contest, but I made him do it in support of Aunt Peggy. ;)
He was happy with the fun marshmallow guns Peggy made for all of the kids though!
Zac helped him with the fishing game.
Taking a break in John and Evelyn's hammock.
Rustin brought an awesome new lawn game called Kingdoms. This picture doesn't show it at all, but Mason and I loved it and it's now on our family Christmas list.
Rustin also shot off his candy cannon a bunch of times. It was a big hit!
Michelle loved Rustin and Rachel's dog.
Marc won an extra cool marshmallow gun for winning the horseshoe tournament, again. He was way too nice and gave it to Mason when Mason asked for it.
Lots of my cousins have kids right around Mason's age and he had the best time just running around the forest and playing castles and bank robbers and tons of other things.
Wendi took it upon herself to be the reunion photographer and did a great job capturing everyone! These are a few of her photos and maybe some from Katelyn. And here's a list of everyone that came. I have 36 cousins on my Mom's side. Of course many of them couldn't make it but it was so fun to see those that did.
Clint + Amber
Kelli + Travis - Gordon and Easton
Ben
Tyler + his significant other (??)
Garrett
Jennifer + James - Liberty and Katie
Uncle Steve + Aunt Chris
Wendi
Holly + Allen - Amie, Afton, Avery
Jake + Karen - Vera
Bonnie + Clint - 4 kids
Uncle Bob + Aunt Susan
Mom + Dad
Me - Mason
Marc
Katelyn + Zac - John and Evelyn
Lindsey + Jordan - Cora
Michelle
Aunt Peggy + Uncle Randy
Rustin + Rachel - 4 kids
Tyler + Ina - 2 kids
I got up early for a run on Saturday morning. The sunrise was gorgeous and the mountains were so quiet and serene. I saw a huge bull elk but it disappeared before I could get a picture. We were at about 9,000 feet above sea level so it was a slow, hard run, but so good for my soul.
We packed up camp and headed back to St. Johns on Saturday morning. It felt so good to get clean! We got to spend the rest of that day and Sunday just hanging out with everyone then Marc drove Mason and I back down to the airport on Monday morning. It was a great trip and I'm so grateful for the memories we made with my family!
