Smith family reunion day 1

We had our Smith family reunion this week. We went up to Nana and Papa's house on the 4th. We visited, visited Great-grandma and Great-grandpa (better known as granny and grandpa), ate good food, played a game, then went to the rodeo grounds to watch the yearly fireworks show. I have to say, it was one of the best fireworks show I've seen in a LONG time! It is done by their local firefighters, and they do an awesome job. Then we went back to the house, put the kids to bed, then was up until 2:00am listening to the town people put on their own fireworks show. WOW. There was a lot of fireworks. We got up Tuesday morning and drove out to the Ranch. The ranch was homesteaded by the hubbies Great-Great-grandfather. So it's been in the family a few years. It's beautiful out there! Granny and Grandpa lived out there part-time till a few years ago before their age kept them from being away from everyone. The hubby has a lot of great memories of time HE spent up there, and we have tried to go up every year ourselves. We also get our Christmas trees from up there, so we kinda like it up there! Anyways, the Ranch now belongs to the hubbies Uncle, but they have kept one part for the whole family to use as much as they want - the Campground. We went up to the Campground for our reunion this year.

We got to borrow Granny and Grandpa's camping trailer, so it was MUCH easier camping this time. But while we were getting unloaded, I let the girls take the camera. Here's how they view life today:

(The group sitting and chatting after lunch.)
(E found and unloaded the game drawer.)

It was really hot and humid (humid for Idaho humid. Not humid midwest/eastern states humid). But a summer thunderstorm rolled in. So while it was nice and overcast I made the girls pose. I love taking pictures with it being overcast. The clouds make a nice sun filter!
Here's a shot of the storm coming our way.

While it rained, Nana and Papa took a nap while our family and Uncle Z went into "our" trailer and played games. E needed a nap, so it worked well for us to turn a show on the iPod and let K and O watch the show while we played Five Crowns. We had fun.

After the rain stopped, it was time to try to get the wet wood lit so we could roast hot dogs. But it was still overcast while we were waiting for the fire to be ready, so I made the girl's pose again.
Here's Papa chatting while we were getting the fire ready (and if you are wondering, he cooks a mean dutch oven potato and cobbler!!)
Here's the family cooking their hot dogs.
After dinner we went for a ride in the back of the truck to look for deer. It was so muddy in the fields, we had to put the truck in 4-wheel-drive to get up the hills! But it was SO pretty! Wouldn't you want to put a homestead in on this? (except not blurry. ride was a BIT bumpy!)

Then we went back to the campground and went to bed.