Braithwaite Reunion

Dustin's family is so good about having a Hillard Braithwaite (Dustin's grandpa) family reunion every year.  This year was a little different reunion because it was a reunion for the descendents of his 4 great grandparents Rowland and Hannah Askew Braithwaite.  It was held in Manti, Utah with over 450 people there.  All of his siblings except his sister were able to make it with their families.  We stayed 3 nights together in college dorms.  It was a great time!

The ride was super long with 3 tired kids.  We left about 6:30pm and finally arrived around 1:30am.  We got desperate for ideas on how to make the kids not scream so here's Dustin doing his penny trick.

My girls had so much fun playing with their cousins.  We had 4 apartments with 3 rooms each full of our immediate family so the kids went in and out of rooms and up and down stairs all day.

Friday was temple day at the reunion.  There were Braithwaite family names provided to everybody able and willing to go to the temple that day.  Dustin and I arranged to go do sealings.  It was really awesome to be in the sealing room with 11 Braithwaite family members, sealing many siblings to their parents.  What an awesome day for the family, desceased and living.

After the temple we had a little picnic lunch with Dustin's brother Alan and his family.  Alissa took a much needed nap on the grass outside.

Ella and Noah

Then we headed back over to the temple to let the kids see it close up and roll down the big hill.  On our way in we passed Dustin's parents leaving so we caught a quick picture of them.

Noah, Andrew & Ella

Aunt Pam & Molly

The family gathered for a catered dinner that evening and had a Power Point presentation on the family.  After it was over we headed to the Manti Aquatic Center and did some free swimming.  It was free and freezing because it was 8-9:30pm.   We had fun but ended up with 2 chattering babies and lots of mosquito bites.

Ella & Jason

Saturday we got up and headed to the Manti Tabernacle for a program with stories, singing, etc.  They had a display of family heirlooms set up which was neat to look at.  Then we headed to the park to play some games.  My 2 babies fell asleep on the way over and I was super tired from the kids waking up in the night so I sent Dustin and Ella out to play and took a nap with the kids.

Here are the pictures of the games.  I wish I hadn't been so tired, they look fun.  They played "Minute to Win It" games.  The reactions of the people watching make me really wish I had been there. :)

Dustin and his 2 brothers Alan & Brian - shaking balls out of the kleenex box strapped on their bum

Alan & Dustin balancing 6 stacked dice on a stick in their mouth

Dustin with his brother Devin

Dustin's parents and brothers

All the sister in laws with our mother in law Carol.  I love these guys!

Alissa, Amy and Molly

Lydia, Ella, Alissa, Amy, Sariah, Alanah, Molly

Later in the evening I got to go take Alan & Pam's pictures at the temple and made my girls sit still for one too.

Sunday we headed home.  We left about 12noon and made it home about 9pm.  We made a stop at the Golden Spike near Bringham City.  They closed at 5 so we got there just in time to see the train going to be parked.  Oh well, it was still fun to see and learn about this railroad.