We almost skipped our yearly trip out to Utah to visit family this year! I'm so glad we decided to come! The first weekend proved to be a foreshadowing of what our entire visit would present: fun, family, and exhaustion! We traveled to Ogden to attend the FIRST Despain Family Reunion in 12 YEARS! Yes, the Joseph Despain family has not been all together since the early '90s. All the babies are now unrecognizeable teenage boys, and all of us gawky kids have grown up to have our own families! It was nice to see that one thing hasn't changed after all these years and added generations: the "Despain Nose" runs deep in our genes, and adorns most all the faces of our extended family!
Staci and I found some rather unusual ways to entertain ourselves involving the children's craft supplies.
It was great fun, but as you can see, also sort of....scary!! Ignore the blur - besides the fact that he was laughing, my dad (who was taking this shot) was also a little startled. NO, it's not photoshop! We are actually making that face!
I got to see my cousin, Christina Cook face-to-face for the first time since I stayed with her and her family in Ogden as a 12 year old, and toilet-papered a neighor's house with 64 rolls. Her oldest, and my youngest are the same age, and would be great friends is they ever saw each other again before they graduate from Highschool - note to Dad: tell your siblings you all need to get together more often!!
Everyone had a great time enjoying each other's company - I've never seen my Dad smile so much for so long! We stayed at Pres and Sheryl's house in whichever Jordan they live in (south, west, don't know!) , and visited Salt Lake City Temple Square. I haven't been there in about....9 years?! Alot has changed, and we really enjoyed it. My boys can't wait to go to their Primary classes and brag about being able to go to the Salt Lake Temple and see the statue of Jesus!
So thus began what would be our month-long invasion of Mom and Dad's house in Hurricane...good thing they have a basement!!
The Tomkinson Family Reunion (my mom's family) was held in Fillmore, Utah at what we like to call "The Homestead". It's the same home my grandparents have lived in since just after they were married. The place holds a LOT of memories for 4 generations of kids! It has been labeled the "best reunion yet", and I'd have to agree. I really enjoyed it this year!! Adam was the only one missing from our clan this year. I've contemplated Photoshopping him into this picture somewhere....
