Summer = Family Reunion

This is probably true for many of you.   Summer provides the opportunity for families large and small to gather together to celebrate being together!  For some a family reunion is an hour at the local park. Or getting together for a 4th of July barbaque and street side fireworks.  Still others gather as many together for as long possible.

Lately I have noticed that family reunions have become more fashionable.  Which if you are a more recent convert to the sport of family gathering, don't be worried, jump on the old band wagon and hang on.  This is one trend I hope never falls out of style.

But my family has been having a family reunion for 50 + years now.  No, I'm not trying to brag.  I just excited about it. Really!  We get together for a weekend of camping, hikes, water fun, stories, skits, food, little sleep, cousins, Really old Uncles, really young 3rd cousins and just fun.

Anyway, this year my parents are in charge of this 3 day event of fun.  It's next week.  And I'm excited.!!!

Water Fight - here we come!

Another type of reunion happened just this week for my family.

My sister Amy Loveless returned home safely after being gone for 18 months on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She served in the Conception South Mission.  She loved it.  She loves the people.  We love her.  Welcome home Amy-lu.

                        
                                   

oh...did I mention Ashby is sooo excited your home!

Driving to the Reuion

July 16th was largely spent in the car. Here are some of the highlights:

At a gas station pit stop in a rural area this nice guy was the neighbor. Ashby really was amazed at how big he is in real life!

We had a blanket picnic under the trees for lunch.

Jared, thanks for the funny expression! :)

Stopped to strech our legs and take in the view:

We enjoyed the Grand Teotons National Park Visitor Centor
It was a very modern building and center!

Ashby liked comparing her hands to the paw prints of animals.

And before we set up camp we saw this fuzzy black bear, the first of many animals we would see.

Loveless family trip and reuion!

July 16th and 17th

It may appear that we packed as many of the Loveless family and had a wonderful holiday on the coast, but you would be decieved. All of these beautiful sences were taken while walking the "mudpot" loop near Yellowstone Lake (the water viewed in most of the pictures).

The weather was hot but not killer and there was actually a breeze during all of our touring at Yellowstone National Park. I hadn't been in a while and it was Ryan (and Ashby's) first time! I think that all of the National Parks that I've visited to be amazing, but this time Yellowstone seemed particularly great.