Snowflake, Arizona

In July we went down to Snowflake, Arizona for the Ericksen Family Reunion.  This year was special because it took place at the home that Michael's Great Grandpa Rogers built.  We had a great time catching up with all of the extended family.  Michael loved showing me all the places he played as a kid, only for some reason everything was a lot smaller than it used to be.  I guess the world is a much bigger place to an 8-year-old.

By dinner the first night Elijah was so tired.  It only got worse as the reunion went on.  He was a trooper though.

 

Jumping with grandpa during the concert in the park.  Elijah LOVES Grandpa Allred.  He can always get a smile out of Eli.

Playing with Brightley on the swing.  This girl absolutely adores Eli.  She is constantly coming up to him and rubbing all his hair and chubby cheeks. He mostly loves all the attention.

Eli was so tired and fussy when the Pioneer Day Parade started, but the frozen otter-pop we handed him sure cheered him up.  The picture on the right is little Lia sitting on grandpa's lap.

Sisters (Michael's mom and Aunt Christine) watching the parade.

They grew up in the house where the reunion was held. 

After sufficiently chewing on the otter-pop until it was melted Eli fell asleep in Daddy's arms.

Swinging on the rope swing that Grandpa Allred made.

This Cute Lady was a tour guide at one of the pioneer homes as well as a distant relative.  When she made the connection that she was related she grabbed Michael's hand and started walking off with him.  Isn't she just the cutest thing!

Michael reading clues to our group during the scavenger hunt.

 Family picture in front of the house.

All tuckered out after a good weekend of play.

My only regret is that I didn't get more pictures of the rest of the family.  Maybe because the weekend was so relaxed I didn't think to take too many.