Summer is my favorite season. Of course, I live in Texas so we basically have summer for more than half the year! You know what I’m talking about! Summer fun and activities always make me happy.
Family Reunion
The Woodley Family Reunion this year was a super success. This is the first year I have been to the reunion. I have always been invited but this is the first time I was actually able to go.
There were tables, awnings, and chairs scattered everywhere. People were mingling around and the kids were playing. It was the perfect reminder of why families need to get back to having reunions. We don’t get to see our families as much as we did years ago. As the older generation pass on, I notice that the rest of us are dropping the ball on keeping the family together. Let’s do better!!!
Don’t you remember how much fun you had as a kid at the family reunion….running and playing with all the kids your age? Why are we depriving our kids of making the bonds with their extended family? In fact, why don’t we start including family and family friends? It’s a great time to get back to making REAL connections. The lack of connection with family and friends will continue to divide us and that will lead to further decline.
Keep It Simple
When planning the get-togethers, parties, reunions, and fun days, try to keep it simple for everyone. If you make it something stressful, it won’t be as enjoyable and you will likely choose to avoid it the next year. Pick a nice time of year. You want the kids to be able to run and play. Sunshine is healing and makes you enjoy the world that we live in. The adults will mostly likely want to let loose and play outside, too!! Find a big enough place for everyone. Does anyone in the family have a large backyard or a pasture? If not, plan it at a good community center and split the cost. Plan a potluck. Don’t ask for a few family members prepare food for everyone. Again, this will keep everyone from stressing out. Make it a BYO___ day. Everyone can bring their own chair, drinks, table, awning, and yard games. When the party is over, the area will be automatically cleaned, for the most part, when each person packs up their own stuff!! Plus, imagine the fun you will have being able to play all kinds of outdoor games such as horseshoes, ladderball, cornhole, and washers simply by mingling and hanging out with different members of the party. I know there are tons of other games that we could all enjoy – by simply asking for the option!
Kids will play if you give them the opportunity!! There is no need for phones or tablets or TV when you have family to play with. I cannot tell you how hard I laughed at Kynlee as she tried to sit with Traci in this chair. Apparently she didn’t realize that there was an opening that she could fall through. She dangled there like a deflated balloon long enough for me to spray sweet tea all over everything and grab my phone to take pics as I was choking on my laughter.
Make time to be with your family. Make time to be with your friends. Make time. One day, there won’t be any more time.
Pool Fun
We had a small party at the house. Basically it was a get together with food and playing in the pool to keep cool. That makes it a party, right? But nothing beats spending time with family. Nothing fancy, just a little bit of food, floating in the pool, and laughing.
Kynlee and Mimi had plenty of fun. Kynlee was a little skeptical at first, so like all fun parties……we sang Baby Shark. When that didn’t work, we played 1, 2, 3. That worked. I don’t know why, but it always works with kids – either way….1, 2, 3 or 3, 2, 1 – and the child immediately realizes we are playing a game and voila!! For our 1, 2, 3, we “flew” Kynlee, Superman style, from one adult to another. After a couple of times, she was having a blast. She swam, she counted, she dipped, and she dunked – all with a smile on her face.
We laughed so hard at our attempts to get inside these rings. It wasn’t easy to get into but it was even harder to get out of! I thought I would have to wear it until the air seeped out and it hung like a cheap mini-skirt. Luckily the water and wiggling helped to free me from the donut prison. Mom stayed in it for a little longer and the added time gave me enough time to snap a pic.
Not all days will be considered major events. But every small event will be something to treasure. Collect those treasures along your journey!!!
