Reunion # 2

 We enjoyed spending the last half of our vacation down south with Paul's family.  We did so many fun things and had so many firsts.  Audrey went on a zip line for the very first time, fell of the tube for the first time, and met Paul's cousins and Aunts and Uncles for the first time.  

Going on the zip line and ropes course was amazing.  The guide asked Audrey if she wanted to go on her own or with him and she bravely decided she would go on her own.  If you know anything about Audrey's fear of heights then you'd be applauding her bravery. The ropes course on the other hand was a little more difficult for her.  She didn't feel as save walking along shaky and moving paths.  At one point there were too many people on one of the paths and Audrey and I went over the side while I was trying to help her.  She wasn't so happy about falling and she did get a little scratched up, but I'm proud of her for getting back up and finishing even when she was scared.  Paul was able to go on a zip line with Grant that was 4000 ft long at 60 mph over the lake.  It was fun to watch them enjoy this Christmas like excitement together. They both said in some amount of words that it was epic!  Thank you Rod and Anne, it was an adventure we won't soon forget.   

Boating was also fun as always, Audrey realized for the first time that not all rides end in being pulled back to the boat.  Sometimes you have to take a dip into the water and she didn't like that.  As time goes on, I'm sure she'll get used to it.  Going on the boat is still one of her favorite things to do.  

Later in the week we visited pioneer ancestor grave sites and the family pioneer homestead which surprisingly is still around.  There was a building next door with some sort of equipment inside.  Nicole and I laughed as all of the men lined up along with Audrey with their noses pressed to the window to take a peek and talk about whatever treasure was found inside. 

We also played Kubb a couple times, Bad Mitton, did a Halloween craft, and went to an extended reunion for Paul's dad's family.  It was so fun to see people I haven't seen since Audrey was tiny.  Time has flown by and I hope that it won't be another 8 years till I see them all again.  As a parting gift Paul's Grandpa gave Audrey one of his roses.  She lit up and held it almost all the way home until she fell asleep in the back seat.  She cried when we had to dispose of it when it started to die.  I tried to explain to her that memories are stronger than things and that her memory of grandpa will linger even when the rose is gone.  It seemed to help her heart a little bit.  It was a whirlwind of almost 3 weeks, so so fun and so so exhausting.  I'm so grateful we got to go before this next baby arrives.