Griffiths Family Reunion

Dear Gabriella,

You are so blessed to have a family that makes an effort to all get together.  I feel closer to the Griffiths extended family than I do to my own because they have a family reunion every other year where your Great-Grandmother, Nana Griffiths, and her nine children and their families all try to plan a few days of fun together.  This year we were very fortunate that the reunion happened to be planned in Vista where your Nana and Papa live, and it is nice and close to us.  Your Dad had to work, but I took you and Charlie because I wanted you to be able to play with your cousins, and I was excited to meet all of the new babies (Devin, Lena, and Liam).

We arrived at the reuinion on Wednesday afternoon just before lunch.  Your Papa decided to take everyone to Upper Crust Pizza.  We all thought he was crazy for wanting to eat at the restaurant with 9 children under 5, but we went along with it to please Papa, and you all did very well.  Later that evening we spent some time at the campsite where the whole Griffiths clan was staying.  You immediately went and hung out with your cousins and played in the dirt. 

That evening, your Papa took you and your cousins to the little park near the campsite.  Having your Papa push you in the wagon was probably one of your favorite parts of the trip.

One of the nights we were at the campsite, your Uncle Mike found a big bullfrog.  You were so captivated by this, and you almost gained enough courage to touch it.  You really wanted the frog to jump through your legs, so you kept spreading them apart and pointing in between them yelling, "Tunnel, tunnel!"  This is a game you play at home with me where you say "tunnel" and then run underneath my legs.

The next day we all went to Mission Bay.  I was worried this whole week about how I was going to be able to watch you and Charlie with so many other little ones around, but everyone helped out, and we had a great time.  You especially liked going on the waverunner with your Papa and playing in the sand with Reese and Adelyn. You and Charlie both got a little sunburn, but it was totally worth it!

Friday was beach day, and the whole Griffiths clan went to Oceanside.  This is the beach your Daddy grew up going to.  I was, again, a little worried about having you and Charlie at the beach, and I only planned on staying there a couple of hours, but you two had so much fun that we stayed there most of the day.  You especially liked building sand castles.  I tried to get you to hold a sand crab, but you just wanted to look at them.  It was so warm that we all enjoyed spending time in the water too.  It took you a while to get used to the waves pushing you over, but you got the hang of it after a while.

Your new cousins: Liam (4 weeks), Lena (2 months), and Devin (5 months)

Saturday was the last day of the reuinion, and we all had a pool party at your Nana and Papa's house.  You had fun playing in the water and having Nana push you on the swing. 

Aunt Kari and her boyfriend Alec

Your cousin (and buddy) Tyler getting ready to make a splash

Aunt Alex and Uncle Kurt

Nana Griffiths with the new Pyne baby (I can't remember the name)

We ended the day with some delicious carne asada and pictures of all the grandkids.  It was a bit of a circus trying to get all the babies to sit still and smile for the camera, but you and Charlie did a great job.  These were my favorite pictures of the bunch:

I love this picture of you giving baby Liam a kiss.

We had to leave that night so that we could be home for church in the morning, but we had a wonderful time.  I really appreciate all of the hard work that goes into planning these reunions.  So far, I have been able to just show up and enjoy the festivities, and I hope to be able to continue to attend in this fashion.  We are so blessed to be part of such a large, close-knit family.  I am proud to wear the name Griffiths . . . most of the time.

Love,
Mom