The Whole Gang's Here!

Around late Spring/early Summer, every year for many, many, many years the dust began to boil down the old dirt road to the old family farm. The rumbling came from the North and from the West. What could this be? What could be causing such a ruckus? Oh No! Could it be?...The Basshams have all traveled home for a reunion! Back in their younger days (I hear) it was quite a party! Fast cars, boats, fishin', lot's of drinkin' and people camped out all over the yard of my grandparents little farm house. Now some 40 years later, it's a little more quiet. Now theres lot's of game playing, hangin' out talking about politics, stock market, telling stories of the good old days, and of course FISHING! We always enjoy visiting with all of them each year! John is very sweet to let me and the girls take off for 2 weeks to just go and hang out with the FAM!

What a bunch of "LOOKERS"!

This is the creek that runs through our family farm. The first day we were there, Aunt Annie, Aunt Pete, Loraine, and I took the girls down to go swimming! Sky was a little unsure of walking around on the rolling rocks, but she eventually started to splash and have a good time!

But, this is where the TRAGEDY happened! My girls are used to swimming in the lake or a pool. They didn't quite get the concept of a "current". While swimming and having a good time, Summer lost her flip-flop. It started to float down the creek and I don't think they realized it would just keep going. Lake decided she would save the day a get it for Summer. She started to run after it, but it was still out of reach and staring to pick up some speed as it neared the rapids. She finally just dove for it. When I say dove, I mean like she was diving for home base in the World Series! She through her whole body into it and reached with all her might! Alas, her little hand missed it by about 3 inches. The flip flop floated on down the creek, never to be seen again. Then the screaming began. You could have probably heard my screaming kids up into Missouri! Lake was so upset that she missed it, and Summer had to walk across the rocks with only 1 shoe. After this incident we just went back to the old farm. I drove the van to the to the creek, so I drove back with the girls. My Aunts decided to just walk-I can't imagine why! After that Lake didn't want to go to the "con-creek" ever again!

It wouldn't be a reunion with out a good ol' fashioned "Hootenanny"!

Uncle Rusty and Mom played their guitars and a little banjo, while the rest listened, made requests and sang along!

Uncle Rusty and the Girls!

One of the things that my Aunts love to do when they come back is to go fishing! That is my families THING! When my Aunt Annie met John for the first time she asked him "Do you like to fish?". He said "No, not really". She said "You'll LEARN!" Anyways, they do a lot of fishing while there here and then we always have a big fish fry. This is a big event!

Yummy!

The girls had fun playing with Aunt Annie! Cousin Dennis is a retired Art teacher, so he kept the girls amazed by all the paper dolls, snowflakes, and airplanes. They kept him pretty busy!

Aunt Annie colored with them and gave them a root beer float everyday that we were there! She also brings us Michigan (Kogels) hot dogs each year! We are always so sad when these run out! They are so good!

She brought Summer a game called Rummikub! She played at least 2 games a night with Summer and all the rest of us took turns. It was fun! Summer loved it!

Sky just ran around the house getting into every ones stuff! Here she is wearing Aunt Annies slippers!

(Lake, Uncle Duck, Pat, Uncle Rusty, Aunt Annie, Sky, Pawpaw, Aunt Pete, and Uncle Chub)

I'm glad my kids get to be around all their old Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. I'm glad we live close to Nana and Pawpaw so I can get a break once in a while (Thanks Mom)! I sure am grateful to get to be with my family for these reunions! I come from some tough, hard working, loyal people. I just imagine how my grandparents felt when all 10 of their grown children returned home with husbands, wives, and kids -All at the same time! I'm sure it was pretty crazy! I sure do hope that my kids want to do the very same thing when they are older! I can't think of anything better!