The kids

A rare picture of Lauri not making faces at the camera. She is Gary's youngest sister.

Gary, the oldest and my husband, in front of the family cabin where they spent many childhood summers. It belongs to someone else now (who wasn't there) so we snooped around to check it out. He said it was mostly how he remembered it. Gary realized what a wonderful childhood he had growing up in these mountains.

Sister Jeri was getting tired of people taking her picture. Some people just never cooperate!

Ken and Robin's daughter Emma, a most precocious 8 year old.

My daughter Amber without contacts or make up or hair done, she's going to kill me if she ever sees this. Fortunately I don't think she ever checks out my blog. We'll see. Willie, Vicki's husband, Ken, Emma and Gary in the background under the tarp where we ate huge, delicious meals.

My other daughter, Alyson, Willie, Vicki, Jeri's daughter, Ken and Emma.

Vicki's son Hunter, 8.

Vicki's oldest son, Matt. What boys don't like playing in the water???

Or on bikes?

Vicki's daughter, Keira, who looks just like Grandma Jeri, but you can't tell because Jeri wouldn't cooperate.

My mother-in-law used to say, "No matter how old you get, you'll always be the kids to me." She would have been so pleased that we all got together this year. It's still a little hard emotionally for all of us that she isn't with us, it's only been a year and a half. When we get together we have happy memories and continue to make more of them. Emma mentioned to her dad that she noticed someone was always smiling or laughing the whole time we were up there.