The Hall Summer Recap

So Elijah and I have had a very busy Summer!  It started off in June we flew out to Georgia for the Hall Family Reunion.  My brother in law Forrest came and picked us up from the Atlanta Airport and the adventure began.  That night the family all was together and we enjoyed a dinner together, that dinner turned into family karaoke and dance night.  Monday we all made our way to Orange Beach Alabama for the rest of the reunion.  Elijah's parents own a condo on the beach front and rented 2 more for us all to stay in.  We rotated cooking and activities.  The beach was beautiful!  We had beach volleyball, corn hole, bowling, and Scattergories.  We even drove to Pensacola Fl to watch the Blue Angels and go to the aviation museum.  My parents and Val drove down on Thursday night to pick us up and take us back home Friday.  Friday morning Randy (Elijah's dad) took us sailing, which was amazing!  I think Elijah would love to own a boat of some kind now.  After boating we went to change and head over to the Hangout for dinner.  The Hangout is a restaurant that is unlike any other I have ever been to.  The food wasn't stellar in my opinion but the atmosphere is worth the cost.  They had trivia, a kids bar and playground, they had little shops, face painting,  they also had live music.  When we were done eating and waiting on the check we had a magician come and entertain us.  He did a lot of card tricks, put Val's phone in a balloon, made a fork bend till it made a "flower," and he also stole my big huge watch without me noticing.  He was very good at his illusions!  Mom even got to keep the fork!  After we finished eating Elijah and I had to say our good byes to his family as we were leaving to spend the rest of the weekend with my family.  I am glad I have become a part of the Hall Family.  I still have a lot to learn but I definitely enjoyed my time there with them!

 That weekend was short with my family but we played volleyball, bocce ball, Frisbee golf, and several card games.  Sunday was Father's day so we all went to church and I got to say hello to everyone there in Albany.  Of course there was popcorn that night, it wouldn't be a Sorensen gathering without it!  Monday morning was Renee's birthday and we had to be in Atlanta to fly back home.  So we drove up early to spend lunchtime with her.  We brought her lunch from the Publix Deli and mom was nice enough to stop by Zaxby's so I could get some of their stellar chicken and Zax Sauce!!  (Zaxby's is an eastern thing, so I have missed it out here in Utah.)  Renee showed us their new house and all of the things they are still working on.  It looks like they have come a long way.  After a quick game it was off to the airport.  We had to RUN to catch our flight at "last call" but we made it and had our little layover in Denver and then it was back in the air to get to Provo.  Last 10 minutes of that flight my stomach decided I was not waiting and I blew chunks on the plane...Fun Times! (more on that later!!)  We landed gathered our stuff and went to find Dani and Andrew waiting for us!  They are awesome friends!!

Then just in time for us to get adjusted to being back home and living like usual, it was time for another family reunion.  My grandparents had just returned from serving a mission in Thailand so of course we had to celebrate their homecoming by having a family reunion.  We were having it up at Bear Lake like we did a few years ago when we celebrated Grandma and Grandpa's 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Five out of the six siblings (of mom's) were able to come along with most of my cousins, if not for the whole long weekend then for part of it.  Elijah was only able to stay till Saturday afternoon (saying goodbye to him for those few days was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do!!)  But we went boating (my Uncle Rich owns a boat and brought it along) tubing, wake boarding.  Then there was card and board games galore, along with Frisbee, volleyball, boce ball, ping pong, Foosball, air hockey and a new game I didn't catch the name of where you throw sticks and knock over boards.  There was always a game going on somewhere.  Along with games comes food and snacks.  That is one thing about the Johnson family, we do games and good food at all gatherings!

 It has almost been a month and I am just now starting to remember that I have to cook dinner on a regular basis, and clean my house, and go grocery shopping.  I love vacation and being able to see my family but getting pampered and not having to do anything except show up for dinner has really thrown off my schedule.  I have to admit I would definitely do it all over again, and again, and again!!