Stefanie Ackerson, August, Plan Family Reunion

My project for August was supposed to be update photo albums, but of course then life happened and plans had to change (although I am planning on getting to those photo albums next month!).  I ended up having two other projects that had to be done.  First, I was put in charge of my family's first ever annual family reunion, a lot more work than I had anticipated.  And second, since my husband and I moved to St. George at the end of July, I decided I simply had to get my new house completely unpacked, organized, and decorated.  I haven't started a new job here in St. George yet (not for lack of trying, just waiting for the schools and hospitals to make up their minds about when to let me start!), so luckily I had the time to get to both of my projects.

My immediate family had never held a formal family reunion (I guess because we're so small and lived so close to each other), but I decided back in the spring that it was high time we started!  Since it was my idea and I was the one who really wanted it to happen, most of the planning and preparation fell into my lap...and wow, it was a lot more work than I had imagined!  But it was all worth it.  When I first started planning this back in the spring I had no idea I'd be moving away from all of my family in Logan down to St. George this summer, so the chance for all of us to get back together for something like this was a well-timed treat for poor homesick me!

My husband's parents have an amazing cabin near Midway and Park City which I thought would be the perfect setting for our first Rieben family gathering and they generously let us reserve it for Labor Day weekend.  Which was perfect!  I was able to plan a hike up Memorial Hill in Midway, browsing the vendors' booths at Swiss Days, the Frontier Days Rodeo in Francis, shopping in Park City, and of course games and hiking outdoors in the area around the cabin.  I created an elaborate agenda (with pictures and website links for all of the various activities I had planned), brainstormed with my mom for meal plans, and sent out everything, including maps to the cabin, to all of my family members the week before the reunion.  Then my husband and I packed up our car and headed north!

We had an amazing time!  My family was so impressed with the beauty of the cabin and the surrounding area and had such a fun time hiking, roasting marshmallows, playing badminton, cooking and eating a TON, and going into Midway and Park City.  It was all so fun and relaxing.  Thank you to the Ackersons for being so generous and letting it happen!  Here are some pictures of my family enjoying the grounds and facilities:

My July post was all about my move from Logan to St. George, so I'll just give a quick update on what we've been doing since then.  I am proud to say that we have unpacked almost every box in the house, hung every picture, organized every closet, and even cleaned the garage!  Believe me, it has been a HUGE accomplishment!  We've also made a few fun furniture purchases for our second living room and outdoor covered patio.  Here are some new pictures (as requested):

It's been a very busy month but I feel like I've accomplished a lot and made a lot of great memories!