Life is Beautiful: family time

It was a very busy weekend for us as we had our Hanson family reunion at the cabin. All 4 kids and their families got together for a weekend which means 4 couples, nana and papa, and 9 grandchildren. It is too bad I didn't take more pictures but frankly there was no time. Ehren and I rented a cabin with Brent and Ingrid and our 5 kids which helped a little so we weren't all cramped under one roof. Yet somehow, with the ages of all of our kids (anywhere from 1 to 8 years old), no matter what a person does it is exhausting. :) I feel like I'm pretty used to big commotion at our house with taking care of 7 kids all by myself, but it wiped even me out. I was so glad to get home to our quiet house and do nothing. There was a moment when I just sat on a couch and stared out the window for a while and couldn't get myself to do anything. Just recharging. All the adults were worn out by the end and the kids were overly tired because of skipping naps and not getting enough rest at night. Yet at the same time it was so fun to watch the little cousins having a blast together and enjoying every moment of the weekend. There was fishing, swimming, gathering shells, tubing, running, laughing, eating, birthday party, Sunday family church and so on. At one point, I think it was while the kids were having a time of their life on the tubes, I couldn't help but think how our kids are growing up so quick and pretty soon we'll be getting together like this, except our kids will be teenagers and will be so independent from us. So I don't mind the craziness and the fussiness of the tired babes because it lets me know they still need me, their mom. They still depend on me, they still want to be nurtured by me, they want me to watch every little new thing they get to do and it is good. It is how it's supposed to be. Since Ehren's brother Seth and his family live in New York state it is a very rare occasion when we get to see them and it was so nice to be around them again. It is also fun to watch their children grow and become their own persons and to interact with them again. We are so blessed to have such a big and healthy family and I really hope I never take any of them for granted.