Takin' on Texas: Mini Carlson Family Reunion

Over Memorial Day Weekend, we had a chance to get together with a lot of our Carlson family since they were in town for Chad's wedding. It was soooo great!!!

But first...just a couple pics from earlier that week

Emmalyn playing doctor with Landen

Maxwell eating with chopsticks for the first time. He loved it and was pretty good (with the little helper tool)!

Unfortunately we weren't going to be able to go to the actual wedding because we had already planned on doing a Color Run as a family on my mom's birthday. Luckily there were other opportunities to spend time together with our extended family. We met up with everyone at the site of the wedding and joined in on a pizza lunch. (I didn't get any pictures)

Then we headed over to the hotel everyone was staying at to spend more time together. We decided to go swimming since it was something everyone could do and we didn't have to go somewhere and spend money.

The kids were already making friends and having fun. Emmalyn had a couple of the "older" cousin girls who were happy to mother her.

Angelina, Vanessa, Emmalyn, Landen, Max, Hayden, and David

We hung out in my Aunt Sue and Aunt Nancy's room. We weren't prepared to swim so I ran to Wal-Mart with my cousin Melissa to get supplies for her kids, my kids, and Brittany's kids. It was fun to have a few minutes with her sans kids!

We got there and most everyone was already swimming. Britt's boys just jumped in wearing their shorts but of course, Maxwell my rule follower was eagerly waiting for me to get back because he would only go swimming with a suit.

All of my Uncle Rob's family was there except the bride and groom who were off doing things. Many of them I have not seen for years!

The pool was filled with my much loved Carlson family.

Unfortunately the water was not heated!!! It was soo cold but that didn't stop everyone. I was glad Emmalyn's little mothers got into the pool with her so I didn't have to.

She had fun but it was nerve wracking not being in the pool even though I was watching like a hawk.

Maxwell out of the pool on a quick break (note his purple lips!)

Emmalyn finally was too cold and so she got out and bundled up with Angelina

Uncle Rob tossing Maxwell in the air, just like fun uncles do. :) I have some really great uncles who are not only great uncles but great grandpas and treat my kids as if they were their own grand kids. That always really touches my heart.

Finally pulled this kid out of the water and he was coooooold.

Some of the group

After swimming, Britt and I took the kids and went home since it was bedtime. Late that night, the Kenyons got to our house to spend the long weekend.

The next morning we all met back up at a park halfway between the wedding and our place (since we were more than an hour away) for more time to play together and visit more.

I found the park by just googling... No one had been there before but the pictures made it look like it was a decent park. It ended up being AMAZING!!! Lots to do, a variety of toys for many ages, tons of places to sit, trails to run for the runners, and a splash park too!

Emmalyn was constantly entertained by her cousins, it was great!

Vanessa, Emmalyn, and Natalie

They did a great job of taking care of her.

Maxwell also benefited by having lots of cousins around (even though some of them he didn't know before yesterday) to challenge him and inspire him to play in new ways than he had before.

Peter wanted to hold Jackson. Maybe he's ready for another baby??? (Hah - NOT)

Why splash at the splash park when you can splash in the muddy puddles?

Some of Grandma Carlson's great grandkids. It's amazing how many there are and then you realize that there are so many still missing! There was representatives at this informal mini-reunion from each of her children/their families (and mine).

We finished off our fun morning with lunch at in-n-out. Luckily they had some tables outside and I had a bunch of blankets in the car for the kids to sit on. We were a big group!!!