a real family picture

The other thing I have found that helps make the planning process less stressful is to delegate tasks to other people.  I ask one daughter-in-law to send out the emails to everyone asking them to pick their night for dinner or to update everyone on things like "family talent show - monday night" or "family pictures - tuesday morning."  One less thing I have to do is always good by me!

  And speaking of family pictures and delegating tasks, another daughter-in-law offered to plan our family pictures this year as she has a good friend who is a photographer and would just happen to be in Newport at the same time as us.  I think it has been about ten years since we paid an actual photographer to take our family picture, so everyone decided we were due.  Emily Carroll is actually a Phoenix photographer who spends part of the summer in California.  I highly recommend her, as I adored the photos she took and her presentation of them absolutely made me cry.  Check her out online (right here) and book your family photos today.  And you can see for yourself right here how very talented she is...

Thank you, Emily for capturing our family!

family games

One of the best things I have caught on to when planning a family vacation is how important it is to come up with a couple activities that allow everyone to participate together.  We always put together at least one all family baseball game on the beach, which all the kids love.  The little kids feel so important being on a team with the big kids and getting cheered on by their older cousins. 

And even the girlies who aren't too interested in playing manage to find a way to still be a part of the game...

This year I also asked my son, Peter, to come up with some sort of family olympics we could all participate in.  He created four teams and five events and we had quite a hilarious/wild/intense/fun time.  From events like the "Friscus" (frisbee meets discus) to sumo wrestling (you can bet we got a lot of interesting looks on the beach for this one... especially when we let the little boys have a go at it...) every member of the family was into it and cheering on their team.  

Do you have any all family activities that you find help bring everyone all together?

family t-shirts

One of my favorite summer traditions that we started a few years back was making t-shirts for all the grandkids with their number on the back.  They look so cute all wearing the same shirt and I just absolutely love this idea.  I highly recommend doing this if you are planning a family vacation or reunion.  We use a local lady from Phoenix, Nancy, who runs her own company, Novel Threads (novelthreads.com).  I am convinced she can do anything, from silk screening to embroidery.  I highly, highly, highly recommend her.  Email her at novelthreads@q.com and get going on your family t-shirts!

and, of course, numbers on the back...

family vacation 101

I find myself saying every year after our family vacation at the beach, "This was our best family vacation so far!"  I think it might have to do with the fact that each year we learn a little something from the last.  We stopped caring about having a bed for everyone and realized kids are just as happy to all pile in on the floor.  We've split up dinner nights, so each family is only responsible for dinner one night and get to just enjoy a delicious meal every other night.  We plan family baseball games, card games and board games.  We make family t-shirts and, this year (most of us) attempted to do cross-fit together.  And, of course, the ocean and beach are right there to provide their own entertainment.  I love all being together at the beach for that one whole week.  No one scooting off to jobs or school or camps.  Everyone all together for this one time a year is so important to me.  We celebrate birthdays (and even baptisms).  The kids plan lemonade stands and spend hours out at the lifeguard tower.  There are sleepovers and late nights and early morning walks for coffee and donuts.  And long beautiful days and evenings at the beach.  I thought it would be fun to share a couple of the things we added this year for anyone trying to plan a big family vacation or reunion.  Also, I like looking back at the memories...  So, over the next few days I thought I'd look back to this summer's family t-shirts, attempts at a family photo, our first annual talent show and our family olympics.  And, perhaps, I could get even more suggestions for what has worked for all of you in planning large family vacations.  And then next year I can proudly say, "No, this year was even better than the last!"

sweet sixteen

My daughter Emily just threw a sweet sixteen party for one of her best friends, and I couldn't resist helping with the decorations.  Candy makes a colorful, fun and super easy party theme.  We also set up our own photo booth, had someone drawing caricatures, played games and, after dinner, the girls went on a scavenger hunt!  It seemed to be quite a success.  Oh, to be 16 again...

And, a special thanks to Smeeks!  We love having such a cute local place to buy candy!

Things were crazy at the store yesterday with our big sale going on!  Hurry in today so you can get some of these great deals also!  

Hope you all have a great weekend!

the pumpkin lady is at it again!

Ah, Fall is in the air...  ok, not really, but our favorite pumpkins are back!  Lynne Bonnell has delivered us some of her fabulous pumpkins yet again!  Hurry and get yours!  They always go fast!  

And, crafty as ever, look what else she's up to...

Witches and goblins and festive buntings!

I can't wait for Fall to really be here!