Burns Family Reunion in Bozeman

My dad flew in with his wife Laurie. My older brother Patrick and his family drove from Minnesota. Mary Ellen's family drove from Idaho. Matt and his wife Rebecca drove up from California. We drove out from Seattle, reminiscing about the similar road trip across Montana we'd taken two summers ago for Matt's wedding, which was the last time all of us had been together. Through three states, Xavier wanted to hear "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain When We Come" again and again.

We all arrived the week before the 4th of July and it was hot. My sister found the big house we rented for four nights and the setting was so perfect, we hardly left the property. She and my Dad and Laurie had done a huge grocery run and all the couples took turns cooking meals. We had a swimming hole, a firepit, games, gorgeous mountain views in every direction and space for the kids to run. The days were leisurely and unplanned. We cooked, chatted, swam, played, napped and played some more. I feel so lucky to have siblings I enjoy so much. My only wish is that I could see them a lot more frequently.

A few highlights:

Fierce backgammon games

Matt jamming on the electric guitar with Finn and Liam on the piano

Fireworks
Cousins playing baseball, Xavier's current favorite sport

Chicken fights in the pond, boys on the shoulders of uncles

4-year-old Mabel and Rebecca's flowing interpretive dance on the lawn, each taking turns following the moves of the other
Finn's magic tricks

Uncle Patrick nominating Georgia for the Outstanding Camper Award

Uncle Andrew taking Finn and Fiona fishing

Uncle Matt and Auntie Rebecca taking Fiona rock-climbing at Hyalite Canyon

Patrick taking Liam zip-lining

Auntie Paula making her famous lemon tart

Temporary shimmer tattoos all around

The big box of presents Mom sent out for everyone

The babies, Georgia and Evelyn, splashing at the edge of the pond and napping in the shade on blankets in the grass

Fiona and Finn racing on the blow-up orca and dolphin

Sipping calvados under the stars, sitting around the fire, laughing

Family photo shoot, curtesy of Rebecca

Patrick streaming a Grateful Dead concert

A thunderstorm rolling in and the beautiful calm afterwards

Bird Bingo with Xavier, Mabel, Uncle Patrick and the big cousins