Waetjen Family Reunion week in Sunriver. We stepped it up this year with official swag – went rogue forgoing the standard T-shirts and opted instead for custom water bottles:

But what about the Christmas card shot? Quick, behind your backs!

 Crazy cousins:

Relaxing with Papa:

My sis organized an impromptu Scavenger Hunt and we all paired up with a partner outside our immediate family. We scrambled to gather everything from pine cones to golf tees.

Traditional cousin B-day party:

J and I took a relaxing afternoon float trip with the kiddos down the Deschutes, packing a lunch and allowing the current to carry us at a leisurely pace:

Hads proved to be a lil’ buckaroo at the stables:

Spent an afternoon at the Lava River Caves. It was refreshing to escape the mid-90s heat and literally see our breath as we went deep underground a mile in. Brrr! I did my best to relax and not get claustrophobic when the cave walls started shrinking.

Blueberry pancake morning with GaGa:

C + H took group swim lessons each morning at SHARC. On the last day they all got to go on the waterslides, regardless of the height requirement:

Waetjen Family Fun Night! A tradition dating back to my 70s childhood. When my mom caught wind of Jason making balloon animals at his brother’s birthday party as a teenager, she promptly presented him with the necessary props when he tried to opt out. “Uncle Jason, if you can make a balloon hat and a balloon dog, can you make me a dog hat? ” Why yes, Yes he CAN!

And as always, my parents did not disappoint with the last act of the night:

Happy Trails from Amy D on Vimeo.