Charles Family Reunion 2010

Six years ago, there were seven.  Now, seventeen.  Next year?  We're knocking on twenty's door... This family grows fast.  And it just gets better and better with time.  For this year's Charles Fam Reunion (which I argue should be called "trip" or "vacation" since 82% of us live within 10 miles of each other), we packed up our little families and drove to Duck Creek Village, UT.  Less than an hour away from Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, it was an excellent spot from which to experience what Southern Utah has to offer.  It was a week full of adventure, dee-LISH family meals, late-night games, sight-seeing and some sleepless nights for one Liam Charles and family.  

Liam got to meet the Travis Charles fam for the first time, and they were an instant hit.  They spent a couple of nights with us prior to the reunion.  Liam and Avery especially bonded, but we have decided to wait a few years to break the news that kissing cousins is somewhat taboo...  

Behold- our humble abode for the week.  The grandparents and two families with crib-sleepers got dibs on the three bedrooms while the Kevin Charles and Mike Wilton families roughed it in the above-ground car-tents exhibited below.  Way to go, troopers!  

Note to self: Think twice about picking up and lugging a rhino from Draper to Southern Utah with a crying baby in tow.  Not fun.  I wouldn't wish the extra few hours it added of that on anyone.  I'm glad everyone had a good time on it, but next time it's your turn!  Thank you to Milli's sweet parents who loaned it to us.  

This was a common scene.  Liam was busy bouncing in the Johnny Jumper around the corner in the kitchen, but he had a fantastic time watching his six cousins interact over the week.  He totally wanted to join in.  I bet he can't wait until he can play!  

Mammoth Cave.  Liam's first spelunking adventure.  Sort of... We forgot to bring serious flashlights (genius), so Liam only went as far as the daylight could reach.

Cedar Breaks.  When I see scenes like the one below, I kind of feel like I'm on another planet.  Southern Utah has such a unique, beautiful landscape that is singular to the area (and maybe somewhere in Nigeria).  

I wonder what Liam and Avery are communicating.  I'm guessing Avery was downwind of Liam's diaper...

It was a little on the colder side at such a high altitude, so we huddled as much as possible.  

The munchkins learned about the formation of the rocks over millions of years.  They were riveted.  

Liam got in some good bonding with MoMo over the course of the week, who graciously watched over him while Mama and Dada went on solo adventures.  

I can't take credit for over half of these pictures, because I forgot to bring my Nikon (genius).  Regardless, these are some of my favorites, thanks to Kevin and Tracie.  

This was taken just after Alex fell into a stream and Uncle Mike rescued her...I think she inherited a few genes from her Uncle Wes.  She's a tough cookie.  

The highlight of the trip for me was hiking Bryce Canyon.  Cranky Liam stayed with MoMo at the lodge while Wes and I frolicked on the trails.  

There was a bench on a trail on which dozens of people had carved their names/dates/etc.  Wes made a little addition, and I'm pretty sure it's supposed to read "R + W".  Close enough.  

Overall, it was a glorious week.  Thank you so much to MoMo who organized everything without a hitch, and to everyone for being so helpful and such good sports.  With that said, I'm not going to jump at any opportunities to take Liam on long roadtrips until he's at least a teenager.  I'll keep that in mind when Wes and I plan next year's reunion, aka family trip... ;-)