We Are Family

My internal alarm clock woke me up at 6:00 am like usual.  I blogged in bed for a while and checked emails, which was so nice.  Then I got up and went around front to Rufio’s apartment and this is what I saw.  She had been up before the sun and was out front spraying off the driveway b/c Cade had mowed the lawn last night.  She is so active and gets around great for being 85 years old.

I made some pasta salad while she went and got her hair done.  Then I got cleaned up for the day and played computer and phone games w/ Andy & Ellery & Klancee while Jill & Rick cooked and got the food ready for the family party today.

Everyone got there around 11 and it was SO FUN to have so many little kids running around and having fun together.  Rufio has so many great grandkids now that I can’t keep up w/ all of them and their names.  Here’s 12 of her 27 great grandkids.

Klancee, Abby, Hadlee, Brecklynn, Andy, Ellery, Mackensie, Austin, Jackson, Andrew, Carter, & Tyson

We also had to get a picture of as many of the cousins & cousins-in-law that were there.  We had 6 ouf of the 15 grandkids.

Jon, Rachelle, Me, Lexie, Jennifer, Rufio, Carly, Cade, & Melanie

The kids were having a blast playing inside and outside.  I was SO HAPPY to see that Aunt Jill has this “Toddle phone” that Grandma used to have.  I remember playing w/ this as a kid.  We would put coins in the slots and it would make the eyes spin around.  I bet the kids now wonder why the phone has a cord attached to it! LOL!  Good memories.

We had a huge spread of food w/ homemade slopppy joes, pasta salad, incredible Cottage Cheese Clam Dip, fruit, chips, and drinks for lunch.  After we ate, we sat around and talked for a while.  It was so fun to love on all the cute babies.  Andrew sat on the couch w/ Rufio and was reading his Batman book to her.

Since it’s Andrew’s 6th birthday tomorrow, Jill & Rufio had gotten him a cake to celebrate.  We gathered what kids were left (some of the other kids had gone home by this point) and we sang to him and had cake & ice cream.  I was telling Jon this has to be the most drawn out 6 year old birthday party ever b/c we had a party for him at Mom & Dad’s and then they had their own family party and then he had one at Jon’s sister’s house, and then were having this one.  How fun for him!

I texted Jason to see how Autumn Bottom was doing b/c I was sad she didn’t get to see all these cousins.  But I am so glad she’s spending this time w/ her siblings b/c that’s important for her to have memories w/ them.  He sent me this cute picture of Autumn & Jewelsy having some art time.

At 6:00, we finally went over to Grandpa Johnson’s house to say hi to him.  I saw this picture of him & Grandma at their wedding and knew I had to take a picture of it, b/c I’ve never seen it before.  I LOVE old pictures like this.

He had this beautiful bright yellow flower in a vase w/ some roses and they all looked so pretty.  Grandma LOVED fresh flowers, so he keeps them in the house in honor of her.

I knew I had to go outside and get a picture of my hand and foot print in the cement slab in the backyard.  They had just poured this concrete ramp back on 5/24/1980 (I was 7 months old to the day) and we happened to be there so Grandpa took me out and put my hand and footprint into the wet cement.  Mom was not happy about it b/c I got messy, but I am SO GLAD he did that b/c now I have this fun permanent imprint to look back at.

I wanted to get my picture next to it, even though you can’t see it in this pic b/c it was too sunny and its blown out.  Plus, I think I look good in this pic.  LOL!

It was fun to spend some time w/ Grandpa and see the house and reminisce w/ him.

Lexie & her family w/ Grandpa.  After we visited for a while, we went down to Brick Oven to meet up w/ the family at 7:00 for dinner.

Kelsi, Lane, Max, Cooper, Kyler, Tristen

Haley, Adeline, Jim

Jaxon, Hillary, Birklee, Chad, Elly, Maddy

Andrew & Uncle Wes

Todd, Cohen, Jody, Lindsey, Braian

I know part of this picture is way blown out, but I still had to post it to show how big of a group we had.  We took up 1/2 of their largest banquet room and they had to add 2 more tables at the end b/c there were so many of us.  I was talking to Grandpa and asked him if he’s proud to look down the table and realize all of these people are his & Grandma’s posterity.  He got teary-eyed and said he is so proud of his family and knows Grandma would have loved getting together like this.

Here’s out big motley crew, and this wasn’t even 1/2 of the Johnson family.  It’s hard to put into words what days like today mean to me.  I cherish and love my family so much and getting to spend time w/ a few (or even a lot) of them makes my heart and soul so happy.  I love getting to create memories and strengthen our family bonds.  I’m blessed to have such incredible family on both sides.