This week, we packed up the whole house and went camping just outside Bryce Canyon at Ruby’s Inn Campground.  It was time for the bi-annual Elton Family Reunion.  Yay!

Here is the view from our campsite:

I wish I’d gotten a picture looking the other way, because you would also see the tents of the other families in my family, the gazebo in the middle, and the group fire pit where we gathered each night for s’mores and visiting.  But in this picture, you do see what a peaceful, secluded group site we got.  It was really fun.  Oh, and that shade is from the tall pine trees interspersed throughout the site.  It was a pretty spot.

We arrived late Wednesday night and set up with the help of other family members in the dark and dazzled by the brightness and sheer number of stars.

Thursday we went on a hike to a cave and waterfall nearby.

 

We suffered some minor injuries, but there were cousins around to help.

We also went wading and didn’t lose any cousins over the waterfall – just one shoe!

Savannah tried on this new look.

Anyhoo, we all made it back alive and it was an amazing oasis in the desert.

That afternoon, most of the little kids headed to the campground pool.  The wind really kicked up that afternoon, too.  But, luckily, my brother, never one to take the scout motto lightly, was prepared with KITES!

That was fun, too.  The rest of us visited and rested.  Bethany tried out all the chairs.  She found one that was just right!

  My brother also brought a craft for everyone – leather bracelets with stamping tools.  I didn’t get a picture of that.  Too bad!

After dinner, we gathered around the fire for s’mores, and when we were completely cold, we headed back to our respective tents for the night.  It did get cold there at night!  But, with many blankets on top of our sleeping bags, we managed alright.

On Friday we headed to Bryce Canyon!

What a gorgeous place!

Benjamin thought it was tons of fun!

Look at all those cousins!

 

That afternoon, most of the cousins headed back to the pool.  Grandpa, Savannah, Sarah, Bethany, and I went back to the visitors center to look at books!  We also saw the little museum.

After dinner, some of us headed to “Old Bryce Town” for ice cream and funny pictures.

Around the fire that night was the best, as each couple, starting with Grandma and Grandpa, took turns telling the kids how we’d met.  It was neat.

Kevin took some time that night to point out some constellations to the girls.  The stars were really magnificent.

And that was that.  We packed up the next morning, gave last hugs, and last lingering visits and drove on home.  The reunion was over, but the memories will last a lifetime!