We just got back from the Roper Family Reunion 2013 (okay, so it was a month ago, but I’m going to go ahead and pretend that I’m not as behind as I really am). It is fun doing them at different places every time. The destination this year was Surfside, TX!
It is amazing that despite the family continuing to grow, Glenn’s mom always manages to find a place to stay where we all fit. The count is now up to 33 people including 18 kids under the age of 10, which was quite the party at the beach house!
We started off with a 2 hour drive from Houston to Surfside. We decided it would be more economical and fun to rent a big 15 passenger van with Glade and Amy’s family. There is nothing quite like the Cousin Bus cruising down the highways of Texas!
As usual with our Roper family reunions, we spent the bulk of our time hanging out on the beach (complete with matching cowboy outfits made by Grandma Roper).
Adam had fun getting within seconds of being totally swamped by large waves, only to be yanked up out of the water at the last moment by Glenn (a game that shows more trust and bravery than I realized until I crouched down to his level and watched in fear as the giant wave came barreling toward me).
Derek learned to boogie board, which was pretty fun for him!
He also spent plenty of time being tormented by Uncle Glade- a pastime I think they both enjoy.
I decided that I need a 9 year old daughter. Seriously, Liberty was so helpful with Amelia! She held Amelia and kept her happy. Libby has 4 younger sisters (including one Amelia’s age), so she knows what she’s doing! It was wonderful to have an eager helper, and Amelia loves her older cousin!
It is also fun to see her with her little twin, Lacey, who is almost exactly a month younger than Amelia. I love Amelia’s face in these pictures. That is her reaction to her Uncle Steven, who is taking the picture. He has a scruffy black beard. At first it is just sheer terror, then she at least attempts to hide her negative feelings toward his facial hair and has a really fake trying-to-look-pleasant look on her face.
I love getting together with family! We sang songs together, made sand paintings, shared family history stories, went to an ocean museum, ate Texas Barbecue, and celebrated the birth of little Miles, the newest cousin. He was born the day after we arrived there in Houston. Most of all, we spent a lot of time relaxing and being together. I even read an entire book start to finish while we were there, which felt like a huge luxury. We owe a lot to Glenn’s mom. I’m sure the reunion was anything but relaxing for her with all the work she put into it, but she sure made it fabulous for the rest of us! I always feel so lucky to have joined such a great family. We’re already counting down the days until 2015!
