Last Stop: Family Reunion

Both of Brian's parents are one of nine children.  This makes seeing "everyone" a logistical nightmare for those of us who live 900 miles away!  When we were first married and had more time and energy, it was nothing for Brian and I to hop all over North Florida and South Georgia visiting aunts and uncles and cousins.  Not so anymore.  It's just not doable these days . . . that's why it's a good thing his dad's siblings get together each October.  We've not been able to attend these gatherings since Shawn and Clayton were born, but this year things were finally stable enough (the stars lined up!) for us to make the trip. 

 Brian and Clayton with Brian's dad and sister, Hannah.

Jackson took right up with his distant cousin, Rhett, who didn't mind at all entertaining a one year old!

He kept Jackson giggling forever just by running back and forth.  It's the little things that they love the most!  He also loved on Jan (Rhett's mom and wife to Brian's first cousin, Michael)--he "needed" her to hold him A LOT during this long afternoon.

And as soon as Rhett took a seat on this rock, all of a sudden Jackson had to sit there as well.  Monkey see, monkey do!

Clayton preferred (as usual) hanging out with Aunt Cynthia in the kitchen and around the fish frying.

 Brian, with more cousins.  And yes, those are my kids who won't look at the camera.

And Jackson with his first cousin and our niece, Emily.  Can't believe this little girl (who was our flower girl in our wedding!) will be 18 this month!!

I'm normally not a huge fan of family reunions, but I'm so glad we went this year.  We're hoping we'll get to this gathering more often now that Clayton is older and doing better.  Most of these people are the kind of people who you just pick right up with no matter how much time has passed.  I like that comfortable feeling!