The World Of Woodbury: Reunion Day 1 on the 4th of July

Every year my parents and siblings and all the grandkids get together. Usually this is during the summer and usually we end up meeting somewhere in the east or midwest and mostly that's because so many of them live in those areas so it's easier/cheaper to go there. This was great for us while we were in DC and hasn't been too hard the past 3 years in Utah, but this year they all decided to come here so we wouldn't have to travel and boy was that nice! My kids slept in their own beds and we didn't have to take a 6 week old on a plane or pack any bags. Plus it was much cheaper for us.

We did end up doing most of the planning and a lot of the busy work though so we think it balances out. Everyone arrived on the 4th and we jumped right into the fun. We joined everyone down at their hotel for some good splashing and swimming in the hotel pool.

Isaac insisted he needed goggles although he wore them on his head the whole time. Very cute though!

Miles spent most of the time squirting anyone he could see. Literally. Grandma in the pool. Dry aunts sitting on the side. Even complete strangers weren't off limits for this little wild one.

And in between soaking unsuspecting people, he got in lots of good "jumps" to grandma Tina.

After cooling off in the pool (it was 100 degrees outside). We walked across the parking lot and plopped ourselves down on the grass and sidewalk just in time for the Sandy City parade. This is most of the sitting group although I took the picture too soon as we're missing 9 more adults who were slow.

The kids missing from that shot were actually there- but so excited they couldn't sit down. Seriously. We spent almost the whole parade dragging kids back to sit down and out of the road. People who throw candy from floats but can't get it farther than the road shouldn't be allowed to throw candy. It's a nightmare- especially when you're nursing a baby and trying to jump up every 2 seconds to drag the 2 year old back away from the trucks and floats and marching bands. Oh and see that small tree in the picture? Miles also decided that since he needed to pee in the middle of the parade he could just use that obliging tree. Yep, baby getting pulled off again as I race to stop him before he does his business and pull up the shorts that are around his ankles. The rest of the family got a good laugh though. Apparently I need to have a more detailed talk with him about when it is appropriate to pee on a tree. In our backyard- yes. In the middle of a parade in front of hundreds of people- no.

But a good parade with entertaining bands and floats and lots of people wanting to hold cute Isla.

Afterwards we walked back across the parking lot for dinner at the hotel. A hotdog and hamburger picnic on the grass seemed perfect for the 4th.

After that we walked a block to the street festival they had going on and after finding nothing interesting to buy and not much to entertain the kids, we settled on snow cones. Yes, Isaac's expression is the same each of the children made when handed their delicious, cold, multi-colored treasure. Ohhh... heaven!

After devouring them (and then getting babywipe baths) we headed back to the hotel grounds to wait for the fireworks. Every night of our reunions my mom does the "Grandma Tina" box. A much loved tradition where she pulls out a huge bucket filled with dollar store toys and let's them choose. This year I helped her pick out the toys and decided to have theme nights. The appropriate toys for this night were of course glow sticks. But not just any glow stick would do for the grandma Tina box. So we found glow swords and even glow wands. Here's Claire with her cute pink butterfly glow wand.